Falling when using track spikes

Were you drunk?

I don't drink alcohol.

Serious replies and own experiences are welcome.

This can happen but you also need to strengthen your glute muscles with a hip and leg circuit to ensure maximum coordination, form and control even when tired late in a race.

Two sizes two big? You probably look like a goblin out there.

Are you by any chance tripping over yourself? Are you tripping with the front part of your shoe?

Just get some Vaporflys. They're good enough to win NCAA 10k track championships closing in 55.

https://www.letsrun.com/news/2019/06/clatyon-young-byu-wins-10000-ncaa/

Consider going to a 3/16 or even a 1/8 inch pyramid spike.

Nike zoom rival s are sprint spikes. If you're using them in distance races, the shape of them is not going to suit the style of running. They're designed for sprinting, running on your toes. So it may well be that you're scuffing the floor/catching the floor with them and tripping. So that solves what might be going on with that.

But you said it's happened with the zoom victory too.

6mm spikes shouldn't be causing a problem. The omni lite/coloured ones are nowhere near as sharp if that helps. You could try something like this:

https://js-athletics.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/17.-5mm-Green-Lite-Pyramid-Spikes--500x480.jpg

It sounds like you're catching your foot on the ground. Personally at this point I'd probably start afresh and try a different brand MD spike (e.g. adidas) but if it happens with that you probably need to get your gait analysed.

K-son800 wrote:

I don't drink alcohol.

Perhaps you should start.

The only times I have tripped while wearing spikes was either before the race started or after the race was over. Just walking normally and not picking my feet up enough and then the spike catches on the track or other surface. Have never fallen due to wearing spikes while running.

I've caught my spikes a few times. The cause is either that your foot is still going forward when the spike touches OR you are dropping your forefoot down on the pull-through so the ball or front spikes are catching on the forward movement.

In the former, you're overstriding. In the latter, you are getting tired and letting your foot drop out of the dorsiflex position when your foot is moving forward.

Oh, and one more question... does it happen just on one foot or has it happened on both feet?

Regardless, a quick fix is to go with shorter spikes. If the toe is catching, just go with shorter spikes on the toe part of the shoe.

I've noticed that the shape of the shoe affects whether the spikes catch. You might be able to resolve the problem by changing spikes, but you won't be addressing the actual cause.

Like some of you have said the spike probably cathes on the track if you don't pick up your feet enough. I have had that feeling when walking, at least when using the Nike Zoom Victory shoes. Not so much with the old shoes. When I raced with the Nike Zoom Victory shoes I fel I had to run in a more controlled way. Hard to explain. Pick up the feet. I probably don't have the best running style while sprinting. But I run on my toes while running short sprint. When running 400m and 800m I have a tendency to "forget" this when I'm starting to get tired (but not during the last 100m). Here I think it's not optimal with track spikes two sizes to big. But I have never been afraid of falling while beeing tired during a race (except for the mentioned 1500m race).

I have only used Nike Zoom Rival S in one session. Never during a race. I was quite surprised by the fall because it came all of a sudden. It would be even scarier if it happened in the middle of flying 30s or 40s.

I sometimes run 1 or 2 sprint sessions a week and I usually wear spikes. So it's not that I'm completely new to sprinting. I'm self coached nowadays.

Some day I might buy a pair of Vaporflys or similar but aside from the risk of falling track spikes are really lightweight and have a "speedy" feeling I like. It might be a good idea to try differend kind of spikes.

Thanks.

What do you mean by the toe part of the shoe? Can you change just some spikes but not all?

Sometimes I increase my step frequency while sprinting, especially during training if I feel that I'm feeling to slow midway though a 100m repetition for example. Does that increase the risk of falling? It feels like I'm faster during the later part of a repetition (but I'm a slow starter with bad acceleration). I don't know for sure though.

I don't fall, but I do lose efficiency.

I put a blank or two up front. It helps.

Also you don't need long spikes on a track. It's not XC. 1/8" pyramids work great. Or do the 3/16" tree spikes.

When racing/competing, I'll put in a fresh set of spikes. After the races are done, they turn into training spikes till they are worn enough to get rid of them.

I really like Omni-Lite ceramic spikes. Been using them for years. I bought all sizes and shapes they offer.

https://www.omni-lite.com/Track_Spikes/

https://www.omni-lite.com/Track_Spikes/

I would ask Cory McGee or Brenda Martinez.