To quick tie or not to quick tie

Saving time in transition can make a big difference to your overall day, but not if comes with the cost of discomfort later in the run.  Elastic quick tie laces can help you get your shoes on very quickly.  However, in order for the elastic laces to feel ‘normal’, there is a tendency to overtighten.  This can lead to sore feet which become unbearable over the Ironman marathon.  You may have been able to push through the discomfort on shorter races, or never even noticed during your long training runs, but feet are often more swollen on race day.  At the other end of the spectrum, undertightening can lead to blisters, sloppy feet, and breakdown of form (especially after a few soakings at aid stations).  A good alternative is to use the spring loaded plastic pincher thingy (technical term) on regular laces.  The trick is to have your laces loose enough so you can slide your foot in easily.  It is a little bit slower in transition because you have to pull the laces tight, but you don’t have to actually tie them, and you get your nice familiar feeling of snugness and comfort. 30 second lost in transition pales in comparison to minutes lost from sore feet on the run.