IronLace shoe and boot laces are for those that want the best possible laces with durability and protection. Their round Unbreakable laces are made with advanced para-aramid fibers that are 20 times stronger than Kevlar laces, have a higher strength to weight ration than carbon fiber, are waterproof, will never freeze, are fireproof, and are corrosion and chemical resistant. The Unbreakable Sport laces are made with the same fibers and features as the Unbreakable laces but are flat. The round …
Disinfecting Your Shoes
Many of us have shoes or boots that stink. It’s a fact that many of us go for a run or hike and then put them back in the closet when we get home. I’d even bet that a high percentage of us never think about really cleaning our footwear. Wearing socks can help reduce the odors that are inside our inside our shoes. When you don’t wear socks, the odors can get worse even faster. To save your shoes from faster than normal deterioration from the excess moisture, here are a few tips. Stuff …
New Insole for Plantar Fasciitis
Plantar Fasciitis (PF) is an issue for many athletes. Some are able to work through it is a few months. For other it’s a recurring issue. I always keep my eyes open for new products for those suffering from PF. Today I read about a new insole from Tuli’s, a brand of Medi-Dyne. They are introducing a new insole specifically for PF. Tuli’s is a long-time and respected brand in footwear products. Here’s the text from the product’s webpage. Tuli’s Plantar Fasciitis Insoles are a full-length …
More on Toes
Here’s another series of emails that are great at showing how I worked with a runner to try and solve his problems. April 18, 2020 - David, a runner from Ireland sent me an email: I picked up your 6th edition Fixing your Feet last week on Amazon. I've never taped but I'm practicing taping on myself and my wife already. I'm running a marathon this Wednesday doing 2.5 mile laps of the area around my home. I always run in 1000 Mile fusion socks. They work fine for me as a blister-on-the …
Sharp Toenails
Those who know me have heard my thoughts on toenail care. All athletes should know how to care for their toenails. So here’s the story. A runner was talking about how his socks were getting holes in them. He buys good socks made by good companies. But, here’s what he said, “Apparently I have sharp big toenails, so I am less prone to splurging for one of the latest Drymax, Wrightsock, etc products, but if a sock has proven to be particularly durable, I'm all ears.” He wants durable socks. I …
The World’s Toughest Race – and You?
If you have Amazon Prime, I hope you are watching the 10 part series on Eco-Challenge Fiji. This multi-day non-stop multi-discipline race took place last fall. Sixty-six teams started the race, each with four members, with at last one member of the opposite sex, and one crew member. The last Eco-Challenge race took place almost 20 years ago - in Fiji. I encourage you to watch this amazing adventure. You may find yourself inspired and motivated to consider doing it yourself. Well, you are …
What’s in Your Kit?
One of the chapters in Fixing Your Feet is Foot-Care Kits. I like the chapter because it’s important for athletes to have a good kit, in whatever form they need. It could be a basic home kit, a small fanny pack kit, or an event kit. I even describe a 2-ounce kit that fits into a small Baggie. Every kit should have supplies that are important to the athlete himself or herself. A larger kit can have supplies for others. A kit is only as good as the knowledge the athlete has of how to use the …
Reduce Friction in Your Shoes
I want to share a question I received about painful hot spots and how to prevent them. Mike wrote: “I have a pair of Merrell Moab's, which have been incredible for many months. When I wear shorts, I only use Merrell's ankle-length hiking socks and when I wear long pants, I use the Merrell socks and I put a pair of regular white socks over them. “I tend to get painful hot spots on the balls on my feet. I don't get them all the time though. I had a really bad one before I bought the …
Biomechanics
Biomechanics is a topic often overlooked by athletes. I think it's important for athletes to have a basic understanding of how everything fits together. I hope you'll take a few minutes are read this article. Many athletes who have participated in extreme sports have learned firsthand how one minor problem can be magnified over time and eventually have major consequences. Typically this happens when a blister affects the gait, a backpack’s weight throws off balance and stance or stressed or …
Do You Condition Your Feet?
My question for today is, "Do you do any conditioning of your feet before a big race or long hike, or any other adventure?" Or do you just go out and hope for the best—because, after all, what could go wrong with your feet? So, what is the best way to condition your feet? Your feet must be conditioned to endure the rigors and stresses of your chosen sport or sports. Train in race conditions in the shoes and socks you will wear on race day. Do short hikes with a pack on your back before taking …
