Unpopular opinion: If you're running a 6 minute mile pace, there's no point to wearing spikes

it is in the sport's best interest that people are buying things related to the sport.

if we are gatekeeping gear, the shoe companies are going to make even less money than they currently do on track stuff and won't even bother producing them anymore.

we'd actually be better off if the sport was more like cycling where people who dont even ride like that are buying tens of thousands of dollars in gear.

I totally agree. All these super shoes and spikes are being wasted on slow people. I have two friends that run over 6 hrs in the marathon and shelled out bucks for the Alpha Fly’s because that’s what they heard you should do. It seems like they are going to crush them out in one race after using them that long.
In the store I work, I’ve always wanted to have a standard for kids that are buying spikes. It’s tough telling a parent that “these spikes will definitely help your kid” when the kid is running 19 minutes for 5k or 11 min for 3200. But then I remember, who the hell am I to judge and tell someone where to spend their money. You wanna get the latest and greatest and feel like you’re fast, then just tap your card and have a good day.

Unless the track is wet and slippery, this is probably correct. At 6min/mile pace you are landing on your heel and still have a relatively long contact time with the ground. Racing flats would probably work better.

That is why I only wear mine when I’m going 5:59.9 pace. Everyone knows biomechanics are exactly the same for all people.

what pace do you think you should start wearing spikes?

If I have carbon spikes, a banked mondo track, a skin tight racing suit, fat timing and proper mid race refueling, I'm sure I can go 5:59.

I typically don’t care, but it’s annoying when hobbyjoggers/slow HS runners bought all the Vaporflies and Dragonflies so I had to wait for them to be restocked. Look, I’m running low 9:0x for the 3200 - I deserve a pair of dragonflies much more than someone running 11:30

The free market says that the 11:30 runner deserves those Dragonflies more than you because they had the money and the courage to make the transaction while stock was available. The bold seize the opportunity while the timid wait their turn.

No, you don’t deserve it more. If you did you would have a pro contract and wouldn’t have to worry about buying them by yourself.

O.p. has a bad business brain.

Parents of 6 minute milers fund track & field.

(50 to 60) minute 10K runners fund this sport.

N.F.L. players don't post on social media it is foolish for kids to walk around in expensive jerseys.

N.B.A. players don't say on social media it's foolish for youth to buy their shoes.

You foolish people wonder why Sydney McLaughlin is rich and you're not.

As a parent of a kid whose feet grow every 4 months I'm not shelling out $150+ for a pair of fancy spikes.

The feet are probably growing a little each day.

Well Matt Sonier couldn't get a pair last year and he ran 3.32..admittedly he doesn't have a pro contract. He was borrowing spikes for each race. We finally got him a pair but it took a lot. And we got them through one of those shoe collecting auction sites.

Stonier

As a parent of athletes I have and I do buy them the best gear. What are you going to do with the money you save by not buying your kids the best gear? Go from drinking P.B.R. beers to drinking expensive craft beers? I have never told my kids to wear the best gear but I have never told them no regarding athletic gear. My kids respect me. They don't ask for new gear every month.

just bte it could be they're getting more benefit from super shoes bc 1) they're running longer so there's more time to reap benefits, and 2) this is just an assumption but theyre probably larger/ weigh more than an elite runner so it gives them more benefit

If your goal is to run as fast as you can on the track, then spikes are recommended. Spikes should make you faster no matter what pace you're running.

I started track at age 13 at 5'-1" and 72 lbs. I'm glad I had a light pair of spikes to move through my first goals of sub 6, sub 5:20, and sub 5:00 miles.

If anyone wants to spike/ carbon plate up, good for them. Whatever other deficiencies they have as athletes are unrelated to their shoe choice.