It is human nature to want to be the best at what ever we decide to invest our time in, and in the case of Track and Field that instinct is no different. However, it is hard to be at the top of your game if you are using the improper equipment, especially track shoes. First off, lets define track shoe,"Spiked running shoes are typically very light-weight, close-fitting, situated on a firm rubber or plastic outsole, and come with metal “spikes” of ¼ – ½ inch that are screwed into designated holes in the bottom of the shoes."2 There are a few different factors when selecting the proper track spikes for yourself, and one of the main ones is what event you are participating in. "There are spikes designed for short sprints, long sprints, middle distances, long distances, cross country, the steeplechase, and field events."1. This is a very crucial factor because the wrong type of spike could highly inhibit the performance of the athlete, or at a much greater cost even cause injury. Here are some differences in track spikes for a reference:
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- Short Sprint Spikes: These spikes generally are fairly easy to spot due having a harder more aggressive spike plate with the most spikes of any other shoes. They also have a hard plastic covering spanning from the heel to the spike plate.
- Long Sprint Spikes: These spikes share many of the same characteristics of the short sprint spike, but differ in the fact that there are less spikes in the spike plate and the covering spanning from spike plate to heel is considerably less rigid or does not have one at all for additional flexibility.
- Middle Distance Spikes: These spikes are identifiable by having a much less aggressive spike plate style, and being considerably lighter in overall weight than the shorter distance sprint spikes. Also in place of the rigid plate spanning the heel to the spike plate is a soft foam pad for comfort over long distances.
- Long Distance Spikes: These spikes are are characterized by being the lightest of the track spikes with the least aggressive spike plate. This spike will have the most foam cushion of the running spikes and is ideal for long distance on the track.
- Cross Country Spikes: These spikes generally share many of the same features that you would find on the long distance spikes, and where they differ is that is looks more like a shoe than your traditional spike along with having a much longer spike itself.
- Field Event Spikes: These spikes differ in many ways due to the wide range of needs due to the variety of field events, but they are easy to spot due to the fact that they are generally identified with initials that represent the event itself.
With the different types of spikes in mind the next major issue to address is the matter of comfort and fitting. The track spike should fit more tightly than your normal shoes, but they do not need to cramp the toes or cause restriction. It is recommend that multiple shoes with varying sizes be tried on to ensure the proper fit, and the easiest place to do that is at a running shoe store. After buying do not forget to break those game changers in to avoid painful and unsightly blisters.
By remembering to stay within the proper spike zone, in relation to your event, and ensuring that your shoe fits perfectly you should be well on your way to the medal stand.
1 Heinenon, E. (2007, April 28). Everything You Need To Know About Spikes. Retrieved January 26 ,2015 ,from http://www.runnersworld.com/running-shoes/everything-you-need-know-about-spikes?page=single
2 http://www.runningshoesguru.com/2012/09/first-time-buyer-guide-to-spikes/
Considering the short sprint spikes, do you think that the difference in the amount of spikes is more of a factor in take-off at the starting line or to give the athlete a more powerful push-off while running? I find it really interesting that the amount of spikes and spike plates would be different for each running event, but it makes sense now. It makes me wonder if the aggressive spike plate is harder on the athlete's foot when running, therefore, can only be used for short distances and periods of time. Coming from a small school that focused mostly on ball sports, I never had a coach that actually knew how to coach cross country or track. So, it's interesting for me to see the differences in what a good shoe, for the right event, can make. I think it would be beneficial for running coaches to be informed with information like you've provided so that they can provide their athlete's with shoes that will improve their performance and keep them from injury. You may be surprised that many coaches buy 50 of the exact same running shoe for every athlete on their cross country or track team. After reading your blog, it's clear to see that not every shoe fits different runners the same way. If a school is going to provide running shoes for their athlete's, wouldn't it be better for everyone if they allowed the athlete's to try on and pick spikes for their specific events?
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