Obviously running down a hill is faster than running on a track but, even on the flat a hard road has more energy return. Do the spikes grip that much better that you can actually go much faster on a track? Has anyone ever been timed running more than 25 miles per hour down a road?
Yes, definitely. There is just too much movement even in the very best trainers on a road surface.
Think about it - the very best most modern tracks have a lot of engineering going into them. Things like MONDO, new developments (I am out of date though). It is going to be designed to be the fastest surface - although different tracks may have different strengths, like one being very good for short sprints and so on. Spikes have also progressed over the past years, although the metal spikes themselves haven't changed vastly to my knowledge.
Spikes are bound more tightly to your foot, but it's the plate and the spikes themselves that IMO make the most difference. On the road there would be a small bit of slippage with each step but with spikes your step is locked in. They are designed to go fast.
Also think of the start and how that would be in trainers.
YARLY wrote:
Do the spikes grip that much better that you can actually go much faster on a track?
Yes.
YARLY wrote:
Obviously running down a hill is faster than running on a track but, even on the flat a hard road has more energy return. Do the spikes grip that much better that you can actually go much faster on a track? Has anyone ever been timed running more than 25 miles per hour down a road?
Already tested this theory when I took out my track spikes on my track shoes and ran a 60m dash all out.
I ran something like .60 of a second slower with the spikes out. The track spikes def help.
The spikes definitely help with acceleration. .6 difference means you could have had close to the same top speed.