If you are a fitness enthusiast or a runner, you may have noticed that your sneakers have an extra eyelet at the top. Do you know what it is for? A fitness student has revealed the surprising answer on TikTok, and it could make a big difference in your performance.
The student, Nico Felich, who goes by @nicofelich on TikTok, said he was shocked to learn that the extra eyelet is called a “heel lock” and it can help you tie your laces in a special way called a “runner’s loop”.
He demonstrated how to do it in a video that has gone viral on the platform. He said you need to:
- Lace your sneakers normally until you reach the second eyelet from the top on each side.
- Instead of crossing over, pull each lace up on the same side and insert it into the top eyelet on that side, creating a loop.
- Cross each lace over and put it through the loop on the opposite side.
- Tighten them as usual and tie them up.
Nico explained that this technique creates more “lockdown” and prevents your heel from sliding in your sneakers, which can cause injuries such as “heel slippage issues”.
Many people commented on his video, saying they were amazed by this tip and thanked him for sharing it. Some said they also use this method for other sports like hockey. Others said they have long laces that they usually tuck into their sneakers, so this could be very helpful for them.
One person said their coach taught them this trick last year.
