Best Flats for Mid-Distance Track Workouts

Yea the next% is a fantastic 200m shoe. Not sure why people are only using them for marathons.

New Balance FuelCell 5280 would rock this.

Nike Streak or Nike Streak LT both way cheaper than Next%.

Trainers are for training. Spikes/flats are for racing! Who cares if you run 200s a little faster? Doing your workouts in trainers will help lower your injury risk. If you want to finish workouts in your spikes with some quick stuff that is fine but not whole workouts.

I use my XC victory 5s for track workouts where speed is being worked over strength. They are like mutambos but without carbon fiber so they are a lot softer and forgiving on the joints.

For workouts where hitting certain marks aren’t essential however, I’d stick with some trainers like Pegasus or Pegasus turbo. The extra weight helps build strength and reduce risk of injury

Adizero adios

Saucony A9

Nike streak 7

Those are the best. These distance guys don’t understand our need to wear flats.

most definitely some pegasus's, i recommend the turbo 2's!

citius5000 wrote:

Trainers are for training. Spikes/flats are for racing! Who cares if you run 200s a little faster? Doing your workouts in trainers will help lower your injury risk. If you want to finish workouts in your spikes with some quick stuff that is fine but not whole workouts.

My trainers (boston) get me black toenail in high speed curves. Flats (adios) have better lockdown, feet are more secure. Lighter, so faster turnover.

1979 wrote:

citius5000 wrote:

Trainers are for training. Spikes/flats are for racing! Who cares if you run 200s a little faster? Doing your workouts in trainers will help lower your injury risk. If you want to finish workouts in your spikes with some quick stuff that is fine but not whole workouts.

My trainers (boston) get me black toenail in high speed curves. Flats (adios) have better lockdown, feet are more secure. Lighter, so faster turnover.

There is practically no difference between the Boston and Adios . Half an ounce, roughly. Both distance racers.

If you were comparing, say, an old Supernova Glide 3 with the Takumi Sen, then yes, different.

Nike Streak or Adidas Adios / Takumi Sen

Any updated guidance from anyone on good training flats? Going through the Letsrun boards, most of the suggestions (LT4, Hanzo, etc) are no longer available/for sale on Amazon (at least in my size 9). I know it is best to try several options in advance, but in In the area I live near SF, the only thing I can find right now are XC racing waffle (Nike) which might be fine or spikes.

I am looking mostly to do 400-1200m repeats and 20 min tempos on the track and perhaps up to a 5km race. So not spikes, and the $250 road racing shoe options seem like overkill.

Thanks in advance.

strunner wrote:

Any updated guidance from anyone on good training flats? Going through the Letsrun boards, most of the suggestions (LT4, Hanzo, etc) are no longer available/for sale on Amazon (at least in my size 9). I know it is best to try several options in advance, but in In the area I live near SF, the only thing I can find right now are XC racing waffle (Nike) which might be fine or spikes.

I am looking mostly to do 400-1200m repeats and 20 min tempos on the track and perhaps up to a 5km race. So not spikes, and the $250 road racing shoe options seem like overkill.

Thanks in advance.

Saucony endorphin speed might work for you. $150 or so, but they have a plate and good foam (plastic not carbon but the plate is less important than the foam anyway). I use them for tempo workouts and early season intervals.

I spent a lot of college using my XC spikes, spikes removed, as track flats for exactly what you're describing. I believe I used the NB XC5K. I use Streaks these days, but don't think I'd have any issues with the XC5Ks if I had to go back.

i really like using xc spikes to train in on the track, new balance xc 7 or xc5000 is what i used a lot of the time. the xc7 is basically a flat with spikes, no aggressive spike plate

I’ve ripped some nice workouts in the endorphin speed. They also save your legs! Good luck finding them in your size though. Might have to pay up for the second version. I wouldn’t buy spikes or flats.