Spikes in a 10k on the track?

considering that I once watched Meb run 27:20 in zoom vapor flats, I always find it interesting that so many insist on wearing them. 26:xx-27min guys, sure. 35min ladies? please, gimme a friggin break! it's painful watching mt sac with 54 ladies all wearing spikes, the fastest of which will run 34min, and the slowest somewhere around 38. just not needed, if some guy can run 27:20 in flats.

not my real name. wrote:

considering that I once watched Meb run 27:20 in zoom vapor flats, I always find it interesting that so many insist on wearing them. 26:xx-27min guys, sure. 35min ladies? please, gimme a friggin break! it's painful watching mt sac with 54 ladies all wearing spikes, the fastest of which will run 34min, and the slowest somewhere around 38. just not needed, if some guy can run 27:20 in flats.

I guess it makes sense that guys running that fast should wear spikes. They must just be super strong to not get injured after something like that. Then again, they don't race 10ks very often in a season, usually.

not my real name. wrote:

considering that I once watched Meb run 27:20 in zoom vapor flats, I always find it interesting that so many insist on wearing them. 26:xx-27min guys, sure. 35min ladies? please, gimme a friggin break! it's painful watching mt sac with 54 ladies all wearing spikes, the fastest of which will run 34min, and the slowest somewhere around 38. just not needed, if some guy can run 27:20 in flats.

Disagree completely. Whether one ought to wear spikes depends on only 2 things and none of them is whether you're the best in the world:

1. Are you hoping to run the fastest you're capable of?

2. Do you have a history of getting injured from running in spikes.

If the answer to those questions are 1. yes and 2 no then it doesn't matter whether you're shooting to run 26:10 or 46:10. Put on the spikes.

Some guys have flat/spike hybrids like the Nike Streak LT with a Matumbo spike plate on them.

Pretty easy to made them yourself if thats your thing.

I wear victories in 8k cross country because I like them. Most elites wear spikes in a 10k on the track. Look at pictures of the final from Londom Oly.

It's preference.

/thread

I wore spikes during my PR Half Marathon last year. It was on a gravel trail and it was drizzling. If it works for you, then why not?

8k xc spikes are a totally different story since you're running on softer ground. I love my xc spikes for 8k.

I've worn streak lt's for a track 10k just fine. And my feet didn't have blisters so painful I didn't want to do a cooldown after. Did it slow me down? Who knows.

feel free to disagree, but when your calves are shot at 4mi, b/c you wore something with zero cushioning, and athlete B feels great b/c he wore flats, then you might consider adjusting your viewpoint. Some ppl run fine in flats, but the VAST majority will feel better at 4-5mi in flats. as the traction benefit is only realistic for a miniscule percentage of athletes, flats provide that ability to still kick well at the end for a greater number of athletes, as their lower legs won't be shot from as much pounding. but that's just my .02

Link wrote:

not my real name. wrote:

considering that I once watched Meb run 27:20 in zoom vapor flats, I always find it interesting that so many insist on wearing them

Disagree completely. Whether one ought to wear spikes depends on only 2 things and none of them is whether you're the best in the world:

1. Are you hoping to run the fastest you're capable of?

2. Do you have a history of getting injured from running in spikes.

If the answer to those questions are 1. yes and 2 no then it doesn't matter whether you're shooting to run 26:10 or 46:10. Put on the spikes.

I never raced a 10k on track, but if I would I would put the spikes on. It gives me a huge advantage, because I am a forefootlander and my feet slip (rotation on ground) a little bit with normal shoes or flats. I have a PB of 15:56 on the roads, with racing flats and a PB of 15:26 on track with spikes.

When I train with someone or I race someone in a race and I am equally fast or slightly slower, chance is big that I am faster with spikes on.

cbenson4 wrote:

How many pro athletes actually race 10k on the track in spikes? It's hard for me to tell what some of them are wearing at times, but I know a lot of them wear flats instead of spikes.

I would be so hurt if I ran a 10k in spikes on the track... ugh.

In my racing experience--which admittedly isn't as much as some people on this board--flats work fine for most of the race. But you need spikes when you really get up on your toes and kick at the end. The runner with spikes on in a sprint has an advantage.

Shawn H wrote:

cbenson4 wrote:

How many pro athletes actually race 10k on the track in spikes? It's hard for me to tell what some of them are wearing at times, but I know a lot of them wear flats instead of spikes.

I would be so hurt if I ran a 10k in spikes on the track... ugh.

In my racing experience--which admittedly isn't as much as some people on this board--flats work fine for most of the race. But you need spikes when you really get up on your toes and kick at the end. The runner with spikes on in a sprint has an advantage.

Adding onto that, when it comes to the track, it's really all about if you're on your toes or not. The Zoom Victory's for track don't have any padding on the back because they expect you to be running fast enough to be on your toes, minimizing the need for padding.

When your only on your toes, you need more traction, thus the spikes. Anything slow enough to be heel striking/midfoot striking does not require spikes.

But as you said, chances are you will be spending the last lap of any race on your toes, so they don't hurt.

The local high school is on the far other extreme. They don't let their kids wear spikes or flats (racing shoes at all) until the very last two meets of the year. What do you all think of that?

Safety First? wrote:

The local high school is on the far other extreme. They don't let their kids wear spikes or flats (racing shoes at all) until the very last two meets of the year. What do you all think of that?

That's just dumb. Fast shoes not only help you race faster, but are also just plain fun to run in every now and then.