This is how my PT taught me to lace my running shoes

Mizuno Enigma
 
I am considered to be a neutral runner. I was even tested at physical therapy to prove it. I don't over pronate or underpronate yet I must have been doing something to cause that same old injury to come back. 
Well after a year and a half of Physical Therapy and changing out the brand of running shoes I wear, I was on the path to recovery. I will be the first to say that I have the best Physical Therapist and I have learned so much from the people in that office. One of the things I was taught was how to  properly lace my running shoes to

 give me a bit more support. I don't need a stability shoe or anything but he thought this little trick would help me.

lacing shoes for plantar faciatis1. Go ahead and keep your shoes laced as normal. We don't do anything fancy there. But we are going to go ahead and use those extra holes in the back (you know those ones that hardly anybody uses).  Insert the lace through the hole from the outside of the shoe .  Do not pull it all the way taught. You want there to be a little loop.
 
 
2. Do the same on the other side (I guess that would be a no brainer).
 

 
 
3. Now take the lace on the left side and put it through the loop you made on the opposite side.  Do the same for the lace on the right side.


4. Once both laces are through the opposite loop, pull tight.   Then you can tie as usual.

I can use this method with both pairs of my Mizuno Enigmas because the laces are long enough.  Unfortunately I have a hard time doing it with the Wave Runner 18's because the laces aren't long enough. I can do it, but it makes it VERY tight. I usually modify it a bit

So if you are not to the point were you need a stability shoe ( which I would really try to avoid if you can because I heard of lots of runners becoming injured after switching to stability shoes, but again everyone is different), Anyway, if you don't need a stability shoe but need a little more support, this method of tying should work for you.   Go try it out and let me know what you think.   -M

36 comments:

  1. Say waaa!! Great tip! Doing this today! Pinned too.

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  2. I lace my running shoes like this and it works like a charm. I have never - and I mean NEVER - had to stop to re-tie my shoes.

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  3. I never use those holes at the top and I was just thinking about my new shoes that they don't seem to provide quite enough support at the top. I'll give this a try the next time I run in them :)

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  4. Whenever I'm fitted for shoes, the LRS employees lace my shoes that way. I am in stability shoes because I overpronate, but I never laced the shoes that way. I might have to try it.

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  6. I have narrow heels and use this lacing technique. But I also have wide feet so I am always short of lace!. I tie my laces using either a square/reef knot, or surgeon's knot. My shoes never come undone and I don't have to over tighten!

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    1. Sometimes I do feel like mine are a bit tight at first. Could be because the laces aren't super long!

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  7. I never knew there were so many ways to tie show laces until I started running! Its crazy! but makes such a difference

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    1. Yea, so many different ways for so many different problems!

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  8. My first running club coach showed me that trick for keeping my shoes tied; I never knew it helped with stability, but that makes sense!

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  9. Glad you found a trick that works for you. It amazes me how small little tricks can help us to avoid and/or prevent injuries.

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    1. I've learned all sorts of tips from all that time in PT!!!

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  10. Love this trick, thanks for putting together the detailed how-to with pictures! I use it on my current workhorse running shoes (Saucony Rides), and it makes a huge difference in reducing heel slippage and friction! Lace length is a big factor, though. I also wear Mizuno Wave Riders and the laces are so short I can barely lace them up the normal way.

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    1. Yea, those waver rider laces are really short. The Enigmas have a nicer, thicker lace that is a bit longer.

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  11. Yea, I wish I could do this "comfortably" with my other mizunos. I would hate to have to change out the laces!

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  12. Have used this technique for quite awhile. Totally works!

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  13. I did this a few years back and cannot remember if I liked it not perhaps I will give it try again. Thanks for sharing!

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  14. I use Lock Laces and those work well for me. I know my regular laces would never be long enough for this, but actually I have heard of this type of lacing before. So glad this is working for you.

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  15. What's funny is some runners can run decades without ever knowing that this is what the extra holes up at the top are for, LOL
    When I was in High School I think it was a guy at a running store who showed me this tip, my dad was with me and he'd been running his whole life and it was new to him at that time. LOL

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  16. Interesting! My laces are never long enough since I keep them pretty loose, but I'm going to see if I can try to do this to see how it feels. Thanks!

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  17. I have pinned a few of these tutorials, but have yet to look at them. Thanks for the reminder!

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  18. The current laces on my Mizuno Waves Inspire 11s would not be long enough for that. Some of my older Inspires had lots of extra lace (why is this?). I'm going this on an older pair just to see how it feels.

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  19. Never seen this one! I run in a stability shoe but don't overpronate TOO much.

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  20. I am curious about this. Think i will have to try it out to see how it feels.

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  21. I have done this on some of my shoes, but you're right, some of them the laces are just too dang short to do it on!

    Yet here I am with ankle issues anyway.

    My understanding is that this is a heel lock -- to keep the heel from sliding out of your shoe. There are other ways to lace up, too, and I've tried one because my toes tend to rub at the top of the toebox, even though it's roomy enough.

    There's some image floating around if you google it about lacing up for different issues.

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  22. I used to have a lot of problems with my right calf until I got a stability shoe. I haven't had a problem since. I used to lace my shoes that way but the laces are never long enough. I actually run with my laces really loose, though. I'm fairly certain I'm in the minority with that one, lol.

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  23. This is how I tie my shoes, too. I also wear stability shoes AND have an insole. I'm using all of the hacks from my PT. ;) (but it works!)

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