on choosing spikes

With the wide range of races you'll be running I would look for a spike with a "not very agressive" spike plate. If you are going to stick to nice synthetic tracks that are soft and won't hurt a spike with permanent pins, then I would look at some of the Nike distance spikes, i.e. new Eldoret, Ventulus Plus. I know you said don't drop names, but both of those are very comfortable spikes. The Eldorets have a very nice upper and a full length plastic plate with four permanent pin spikes. They are agressive enough to make a difference from flats, but not so much that your calves will cramp up in the longer races, plus they are very light (around 4.5 - 5 ounces). The vent Pluses and the original Ventuluses have a softer plate and 4 permanent pin spikes, too, but I think they are slightly less agressive than the Eldorets. These are my favorite distance spikes on the market now (I'm a Nike fan) and they are often available on Ebay or on www.Eastbay.com, if you want to get a look at them. Good luck.