Friday, November 6, 2009

5 Key-Storing Tips for Runners!

Raise your hand if you've ever lost a key on a run. Wow! That's a lot of hands! (Mine's raised too.) Better yet, ever returned from a cold winter run, ready to get in your warm car and out of your wet cold clothes, only to discover your keys are laughing at your from inside your locked car? Yep, I've been there too.

Even if you run from home, you still may have a house key to contend with. So, what's a runner to do? Where can you put that pesky but important key?

1. Lace it!—Slide one end of the lace out of the last hole at the top of the shoe. Then slid the key onto the lace until it's flush with the shoe. Next, insert the lace back through the eyelet and retie your shoe. Be sure to tie your shoe using a double knot. Secure the other end of the key beneath some of the crisscrossed laces to keep it from bouncing during your run. With doubling knotting the shoe and having the key secured on the string before lacing it through the last eyelet, that key's not going anywhere but along for the run.
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2. Pin It!—Those little pockets inside running shorts can often give a runner a false sense of security. Some of those pockets are barely big enough to hold a pair of nail clippers while others are big enough to hold your entire wallet. In either case a key can easily pop out during a run and be lost for good. To make the pocket more secure, add an extra security measure—a safety pin. Simply plop the key in the pocket and then fasten a medium-sized safety pin just above the pin (through all the layers of the pocket). This will keep the pocket opening closed as well as keep the key from jostling around.
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3. Wear It!—Buy a cheap pack of elastic hairbands. Simply affix the band to the key as shown. Now the key is ready to be worn on your wrist or you can attach it to your shorts or shirt with a safety pin.
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4. Tie It!—String the key onto one end of the waistband string of your running shorts. Slide the key as close to your shorts as possible, then using the same end of the string, secure the key with an overhand knot. Next, tie both ends of the string into a bow.
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5. Tote It!—There are several "shoe pockets" on the market specially designed so you can safely store your key and then secure the pocket atop your shoe laces. The Amphipod ZipPod Shoe Pocket is one such handy gadget. Many handheld water bottles as well as hydration belts also have handy pockets perfect for key storage.




11 comments:

Regina said...

I have a wrist wrap thingy that has a zipper in it to hold stuff. It closes with Velcro on the wrist. There are a few versions of this idea out there. Fwiw.

RunnerDude said...

Hi Regina! Awesome! I think I've see those at race expos.

Kenley said...

Wow, I never thought about the whole lacing it up in your shoes thing. Great post man. BTW, just joined a Runners Club. HARRC - Harrisburg Area Road Runners Club. Thought it was time to start running WITH some people and meeting runners of all accomplishments. Thanks for your awesome posts man. Keep it UP!

RunnerDude said...

Hey Kenley! That's great you joined a running group. You'll find that running with others adds a whole new dynamic to your running. I've made some of my best friendships through my running group!

kara said...

I put mine on my shoe - that way I can keep and eye on it.
; )

Lorenda said...

I put mine on the roof of my jeep, there is a little groove and it doesn't show. I make it look like I am leaning against the car to stretch when I put it up there. Another place I can put it is in the spare tire which is mounted on the back of the jeep.
My jeep came with those keys with the remote attached to them so I had them make me what I call my "fake key", it's just a regular style key, it will open the door but won't start the car. I don't know what I'd do with that big ole key/remote combo thing.

RunnerDude said...

Hi Kara! My shoe is my favorite key storage place too, for the exact same reason. Do you lace yours, use one of the shoe pockets, or do you use another method of attaching it to your shoe?

RunnerDude said...

Hey Lorenda! Lots of my friends do that do. My luck someone would steal my prized 10yr-old mini-van! LOL!!!

Kelly said...

Thanks for the great ideas for storing a key. I have lost my car keys and my house keys (never to be found). I have the amphipod hydration belt with a holder for cell phones and the like. I lost one of my keys while it was in the holder so be careful just dropping a key inside pockets.

RunnerDude said...

Hi Kelly! Good point about the pockets. Probably a good idea to use the "Wear It" suggestion and use the safety pin and elastic band to secure the key inside the pocket. Thanks for the heads-up!!

The Boring Runner said...

Hmmm, no "jam it into your underwear and pray?" :)

Actually, I PRed on a 5K race using #3. Of course, it was jingling around so much that I did end up doing both - tying it on and jamming it into my pants!