Friday, November 23, 2012

Screw Shoes



Thinking of hibernating because you don’t like the idea of running on ice and snow?
Have you purchased Yak Tracks and seem to lose one every year on the trail?
Let me introduce you to Screw Shoes.
For under $10 bucks you will have enough screws to do yours, and numerous friends after you tell them how great it works.
To make a pair of screw shoes, you need to get a package of 3/8” or 1/2″ x # 8 hex head self taping screws.  These will be available at a Home Hardware, Home Depot, Lowes or your local hardware store.
Next get a socket to fit the end of the hex head screw, a cordless drill, and of course a pair of trail running shoes.
Decide where you want the screws. Don’t place them too close to the edges or in the grooves of the shoe. For best traction the lugs on the heel and the ball of the foot areas of the tread should be your prime target area. There is no set number of screws that should be used, so you can do some test runs to see what works best for you.
If you have a reasonable amount of tread left on your shoes, you shouldn’t have to worry about screw penetration, but make sure to check before you go running in them.
Place the screws in sufficient numbers to cover the ball of the foot area and heel, and anywhere else you like.  Note the random pattern in the photo.
The great thing about the screw shoe is if you lose a few screws , you just screw some more back in,  In the spring you simply unscrew them and you are back on the roads and trails again, no worse for wear.
WARNING!!!
Do not wear them in doors, as they will ruin the finish on hard wood floors or other surfaces, and you will think you are wearing ice skates if you wear them on ceramic tile.
Or do you want to wear them while driving, as you may find that the screw heads do not slide off the gas pedal when going for the break, and that tiny bit of delay could be a cause of an accident.

Monday, November 19, 2012

Soiled Sport 2012 Series Winners

 1st Overall Female
Simona Dobransky,












1st Overall Male
Danny (Woo Hoo) Murphy












At the London Pacer's Running Club brunch and awards banquet, the audience was at the edge of their seats in anticipation of who this years winners were of the coveted 'Soiled Sport Series' jacket.
Unfortunately for them they first had to wait for me to go through some of the stories I accumulated over the 30 weeks of the series.
And as you know I never let the truth stand in the way of a good story, also I tend to pick on those who are not present. (less law suits for slander and defamation of character)
Before getting to the overall winners I went through the ten others who make up the 'Dirty Dozen' leaders.

  1. Richard B.
  2. Michael L.
  3. Peter B.
  4. Chuck E.
  5. Eric M.
  6. Joseph F.
  7. Melanie R.
  8. Heather Mc.H
  9. Treena K.
  10. Zoe & Johnny Rotten
Thanks to Mountain Hardwear & Columbia for providing overall winners running jackets that they will be proud to wear, and some toques for the 10 others.