Doing workouts in racing spikes?

It depends what event you are training for.

I run the 800m...so I like to do my faster stuff on the track in spikes. The longer intervals: 1000m and up I do in training shoes or racing flats.

I know some 10k guys who do all of their interval training on the track with spikes or spikeless spikes.

feeling fast wrote:What are your opinions on wearing spikes/flats for workouts?

As a HS coach I NEVER allow spikes in practice, track or CC, only races.

I think that spikes have a diffeent feel to them. When they're put on you should ALWAYS get the special feeling of 'I'm going racing'. More condusive to competing.

As Ron Clarke said, Anything you can do to help yourself is to your advantage. Just my opinion only.

At the beginning of the season I wear flats for workouts, I find I tend to blister in trainers if I haven't been running reps/intervals in a while. After a month or so my feet toughen up and I can wear trainers. Other than that I save flats and spikes for races, they're generally a little tougher on the calves and feet. Plus you get a nice little bonus racing in them that you don't get if you wear them all the time in workouts.

you can think that, or you can think that you don't want to be racing in something that you're not used to running in all the time

the fact remains that form and stride change when you wear spikes, and I never liked coming into a race without working out in spikes

It depends on the spikes. Some spikes are very different to others. I trained in spikes for years with a small heel wedge and then bought some which only had a very thin layer of plastic for the heel. I trained and walked around in those and think it was a big factor in me picking up a hideous achilles injury (3 months in and it still hasn't healed). So be careful. For what it's worth I was fine training in the other spikes for years.

As for what should/shouldn't be done in spikes in workouts it depends on your level of fitness and conditioning and I wouldn't say there were any hard and fast rules, although the longer the rep I'd be more careful.

Spikes or waffles for every workout. Even if I'm just doing a track tempo, I still wear racing shoes. I encourage my kids to do the same. Obviously, the athlete's health is a limiting factor. If I've got a kid with a heel issue, he/she's not going to be putting on spikes for workouts.

I think that it's dangerous to put racing on a pedestal, to think that it will feel any different, or to think that spikes, a taper, and shorter shorts will suddenly turn you into a superstar. Ultimately, it depends on your arousal level. If you're not excited enough, then doing special things for races can raise your arousal level and improve performance. However, I believe that 99% of high school runners are too pumped-up, and it inhibits performance. I always remind my kids that it's just another day, that they're running with the same legs that they used to do a workout last week, etc.

I would say that this is pretty smart. Also if you're worried about doing all your hard workouts in spikes, a good compromise is a decent racing flat, some of which are pretty supportive but will still force you to get up on your toes and use the same muscles that you will on race day. I use the Asics Hyperspeed for most of my road tempos/workouts, and only bust out the spikes for very specific track workouts (basically anything 1500-3k pace or under). My teammate does the same thing but he swears by the Brooks T5's.

I agree with you and I am actually sending my kids a workout to their coaches or having to sharpen up on the side. I am a coach outside and train elite youth runners, in the process of going to the college level. Hard to watch these inexperienced coaches! Where are you located?

Agree 100%. Handicapping yourself in workouts to feel better in races will work against you at some point. Have to train to run fast, not just hard.

Hi, I was hoping you might be able to give your opinion on varsity track boys practicing daily in their spikes. My son runs a 400m, and sometimes a 200m, and I imagine they are doing shorter sprints in practice at times. When is it okay for them to run in their spikes, as they practice?

I am interested in hearing more about why you never allow spikes in practice for track, if you wouldn't mind expanding on the reasoning behind that. My son is high school varsity, and I am curious why he would or wouldn't be practicing in his spikes as opposed to his running shoes. I look forward to your response, thank you!

Nikkiplus2 wrote:

Hi, I was hoping you might be able to give your opinion on varsity track boys practicing daily in their spikes. My son runs a 400m, and sometimes a 200m, and I imagine they are doing shorter sprints in practice at times. When is it okay for them to run in their spikes, as they practice?

This topic is for distance runners. Your son is a sprinter, they're more likely to be working out on the track every day and spikes every day would be appropriate.

I always like wearing spikes for workouts, but find just about everyone else wears vaporflys or light trainers. I guess most people are training for the ‘thon.

True. The 'thonners don't ever wear spikes. I'd wear spikes occasionally for speed work, but not for long reps. Just for things like 100 - 300m.