Do spike sizes really matter in cross country.? Like if I use 3/8 needle spikes instead of 1/4's, will I see an improvement in times. My coach told me that I should switch to 3/8's for the state meets because they are larger; they will allow me to climb up long hills faster and I may see drops in my times. I've only use 3/8's twice before and I didn't see THAT much of a difference in anything, but the courses I ran were relatively flat and not much hillage was involved.
Long spikes help a little in mud, but other than that it doesn't matter too much.
My spikes are also 1/4 inch, but wonder if I should switch to 3/8 for a hilly course that might be slick from the morning dew
I typically will just use 1/4 spikes, but for county championships I used 5/8 spikes on a very muddy and hill course. If it’s going to be very slick then I’d recommend bigger spikes.
oppformyodd wrote:
Do spike sizes really matter in cross country.? Like if I use 3/8 needle spikes instead of 1/4's, will I see an improvement in times. My coach told me that I should switch to 3/8's for the state meets because they are larger; they will allow me to climb up long hills faster and I may see drops in my times. I've only use 3/8's twice before and I didn't see THAT much of a difference in anything, but the courses I ran were relatively flat and not much hillage was involved.
I think it should be a relatively dry maybe a little soggy on the course day of the state meet. Should I still make the switch?
What kind of course? Is it rolling hills, like a golf course with grass and hard packed dirt? Or is it steep hills?
what kind of course wrote:
What kind of course? Is it rolling hills, like a golf course with grass and hard packed dirt? Or is it steep hills?
Hereford High School, Bull Run.
Mostly long rolling hills for the bulk of the course with some flats and one extremely large hill that you go up once and down once.
bump and its been raining all day today
I'm not familiar with that course. Hopefully someone who is familiar with it will give you their thoughts. I would think the 1/4 inch spikes would be fine, especially if you have never run in the 3/8's.
spikes wrote:
I'm not familiar with that course. Hopefully someone who is familiar with it will give you their thoughts. I would think the 1/4 inch spikes would be fine, especially if you have never run in the 3/8's.
I have used them before and they feel fine, but I don’t see much of a difference. Tomorrow I’ll probably use em though since it’s going to be a mudslide tomorrow seeing as how much it has rained today