Kickstarting the Lace

I dropped down by the entryway floor this morning, scoping out a pair of high-top running sneakers parked by the mat. One of the thick neon-green shoelaces was knotted in an ugly tangle around a plastic lace eyelet, completely choking off the collar. I planted my boots on the rubber toe bumper, wedged both gloved hands into the knot's tightest loop, and worked the friction loose step by step. With one solid upward yank, the loop parted clean! I smoothed the lace flat along the tongue—now that shoe is primed and ready to hit the pavement.