Running - Laces loose or tight?

I do not run in training using speed laces/yankz ..... for this express reason.  They simply are too hard to modulate the level of "snugness" that I need.  Especially when I'm marathon training at 40 - 50+ miles a week.

Never run with the shoes loose.  That is just asking for blisters.

I recently started a new pair of shoes, including the addition of my speed laces.  I too was getting blisters and finally yesterday tightened them up quite a bit.  Viola!  No rubbing yesterday, even in 90+ degrees.  I've always liked my shoes tight, so I don't know why I didn't think of tightening the speed laces sooner.

ETA:  my blisters were also on the inside of both heels, and one below my right ankle.

Edited by ras26 2009-07-17 10:16 AM

I like my laces just a teensy bit loose, not enough for my foot to slip around inside, but enough to get good blood flow to my feet/toes.  I have super wide feet anyways so I have to be careful with the numbness thing.  Oh, and don't forget that they should feel somewhat loose at the beginning especially in the heat because your feet tend to swell ~1/2 a size when running.

X2.  Forgot to mention socks in my cross post.

Hey PDS!  I have to say that once I started using Yankz I bought 3 more of them for all my running shoes.  To answer you question though, I agree with most everyone that tighter is better than running with loosely tied laces.  I used to get blisters a lot but when I got into distance running and tri-training.

May I suggest:  My sister works at a running shoe store and she got me some freebies of "WrightSocks".  They are pretty much a double lined, technical fabric, athletic sock.  Check out their website @ http://www.wrightsock.com/anti-blister.html
What happens with the socks on is that any movement or friction happens between the outer sock liner and the shoe itself.  This is in contrast to a normal sock, where the friction or rubbing would happen between your skin and the sock/shoe.  I can honestly say that I've had no blisters since I started using them in training and racing.  So, with the inner sock liner protecting your skin, you have a far less likelyhood of getting blisters.  I've raced with them as I mentioned above and had quite a bit of sand on my feet when I put them on...and no blisters!  They go on so easily with wet feet that I don't have to do the whole "triathlon with no socks" thing that everyone promotes.

I hope this helps in your blister war...

I won't wear anything BUT Wright Socks these days. I blister super easily and have not had one since I started using socks designed to stop it from happening.

My laces are always tight, but I have a narrow heel and without tight laces my shoe would realllllly rub on my heel, resulting in much ouchiness for the runner.

I wear my laces loose for distance. I lace tight for speed. I always wear socks.

They're Peal Izumi somthings from the a "tri" store.  The staff checked my stride and this is supposed to be a good shoe for whatever pronate/supinate thing I do.  I wasn't wearing socks but like I said, I was trying to see if I could race that way.  Hardly any time running, much less in these shoes so I'm sure that was a big factor.  I have tech socks or whatever you call them that aren't Hanes cotton, but aren't some double layer triple wicking super high end material.  I tried experimenting with different lacing techniques but the Yankz make that impractical so I'll see what volume does for me.