XC Spikes, could I put blanks in XC Spikes for courses with pavement?

I've never understood this. You can run in cross country spikes on pavement without the spikes or blanks in. I've done this hundreds of times. Why do people put blanks in for pavement?

FWIW, my recommendation is to have a pair of racing shoes that you can interchange blanks and different size spikes. Do not leave the spike holes empty; stone and gravel can get in there and screw up the grooves so it will be close to impossible to put spikes in when you need them.

I also recommend having a pair of regular road racing flats. Sometimes, runningwarehouse.com has a liquidation sale and you can get the Nike Zoom Streak for real cheap. I simply do not like the feel of using xc racing shoes on pavement. Too much pounding on the joints for my preference.

woah woah woah woah. hold up. wrote:

I've never understood this. You can run in cross country spikes on pavement without the spikes or blanks in. I've done this hundreds of times. Why do people put blanks in for pavement?

...SO when the course DOES go off the road you don't get the holes filled with dirt, mud, rocks, etc. And you have better traction. Not too difficult to understand.

Would fell shoes not be a better option?

Light, lots of grip on mud/grass/rocks and OK on tarmac too.

Inov8 X-talon 190 are basically ultralight racing flats with rubber studs.

have a pair of CC spikes, but also have a pair of road flats and use them. Back in the day my CC spikes were small and dull anyway but they gave me enough grip for CC so it didn't matter that there were small pockets of pavement.

If you are in California, don't bother. Most courses have pavement involved. It's VERY rare to find an all dirt course.

Asics pirahana is the way to go

jhb wrote:

Would fell shoes not be a better option?

Light, lots of grip on mud/grass/rocks and OK on tarmac too.

Inov8 X-talon 190 are basically ultralight racing flats with rubber studs.

Does mud stick to these things? Looks like they could possibly end up weighing 10 pounds on your feet at the end of a muddy course? Or does the sole material keep the mud from sticking?

run with the wom wrote:

jhb wrote:

Would fell shoes not be a better option?

Light, lots of grip on mud/grass/rocks and OK on tarmac too.

Inov8 X-talon 190 are basically ultralight racing flats with rubber studs.

Does mud stick to these things? Looks like they could possibly end up weighing 10 pounds on your feet at the end of a muddy course? Or does the sole material keep the mud from sticking?

I'll attest that they really are a great shoe. But it is a bit heavier than a good XC spike (Shay XC, NikeZoom Victory XC, etc). They are meant to be used on trails and mud and are great to race intense trail runs in. As such, they shed mud pretty quick. But they aren't friendly on the road which, in your case, isn't what you're looking for.