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What are Sprint Spikes
When someone refers to sprints spikes in regards to what events most athletes would use them for. It would be between the distances of 60m up to 400m.
The main difference between sprint spikes and any other track spikes like Long Jump & High jump in is down to the heel support, rigidness & stability of the sole. Sprint spikes have minimal to no heel cushioning. As a majority of athletes while sprinting will strike the floor on their toes and make no contact with the heel at all.
Also, the spike plate (sole of the shoe) is very rigid. This is because sprinters are exerting a huge amount of force into the floor while running. Therefore the spike plate has to be rigid in order to cope with this stress and give the athlete the best spring back from the track. The more force the athlete is able to put into the track is going to propel them further on each stride.
How To Choose Sprint Spikes
There are quite a few different types of spike plates available. Which vary between the different manufacturers. You can find Spikes which are aggressive and hold the foot in position while sprinting like the Puma Evospeed Unisex Disc Sprint Spikes. These are the Spikes Usain Bolt wore. The more “aggressive” The spike would tend to better suit the shorter sprints between 60m to 200m.
Obviously, there are less aggressive spikes which can be purchased like the Adidas Adizro Prime Running Spike. Athlete’s running the 200m to 400m will normally gravitate to a spike like this. This is because running at the latter part of the race in the longer sprints will produce fatigue. Running with less aggressive spikes is more comfortable for most athletes.
How To Run in Sprint Spikes?
Out of all the specialist shoes within track and field, sprint spikes certainly feel the weirdest. This is because everyone is used to walking around in shoes built for comfort. But with Sprint Spikes, Because of the force is the athlete would push through the shoe. They don’t start to feel comfortable until you’re up and running.
A running shoe is always lightweight & sprint spikes are no different here. Most of the newer running spikes we see today are made from a synthetic breathable mesh.
There is a wide range of styles to chose from these days, with every make having a different spike plate. This can change very slightly the way you run from one pair of spikes to the next. This is because the shoe will change how your foot hits the floor and can change the direction of the force you generate. This is why it can be important to find a pair of track spikes which suit you and your running style.
How Long Should Sprint Spikes Be?
Apart from field events, sprinters will tend to have the longest spikes in their shoes out of all the other running events. Most of the time the size of the spikes will be dictated due to track requirements. This is because most facilities will only allow a spike up to 6mm long.
Because of the explosive nature of the event, sprinters will be needing as much traction as possible during first 30-40 meters of the race (known as the drive out phase). So you’ll find a majority of sprinters been their spikes in good condition to maximise grip during the important parts of the race.
What Size Sprint Spikes Should I get?
I always tend to get half a (UK) smaller than my usual size for that particular manufacturer. For Example, When I but Adidas footwear, whether it’s trainers or casual shoes. I would always get a size 11. But when purchasing a pair of Adidas running spikes, I look for 10.5. I have been sprinting for many years and tested many different sizes and this is a rule I found worked for me.
The main reason why I would always go for half a size smaller is that I wanted as little movement of my foot inside the shoe as possible. Plus don’t forget track spikes are mostly made of synthetic, slightly stretchable material. This will allow the shoe to mould to your foot and allow as little movement of the foot as possible.
Can I use Sprint Spikes for Long Jump?
Believe it or not, there are a few long jumpers that use sprint spikes for jumping in. American Olympic Champion from Rio 2016 Jeff Henderson used Adidas Adizero Prime spikes to clinch gold. Reasons for not opting for Long Jump spikes do vary from one athlete to the next. But Sprint Spikes are so well made this day and age they do hold up well to the punishment that long jump will inflict. If you’re a long jumper with a sprinting background you may prefer jumping in sprinting spikes as you may feel more comfortable and faster on the runway.
There are quite a few disadvantages though. First major one is jumping on a wet day. Because the long jump board is made of wood and the heel of the sprint spikes from plastic, they don’t give you any traction at all. So there is a high chance you could slip on take off.
Also, because sprinting spikes are built to be as light as possible and most sprinters will be running on their toes. The heel of the spikes will have very minimal padding between your foot and the impact of taking off. Over time this can cause bruising to your heel which is extremely painful.
What People Look For
Pretty much all athletes will look for the best spikes which will give them the best performance. This can vary massively between athletes which is normally based on their running style. You’ll get the best performance from a pair of spikes which you find most comfortable whilst running flat-out.
But you might be asking…
How can I test this?
Clubs
A lot of athletics clubs now have Spike Banks, athletes past & and present can donate old or unused apparel. This could be a great way of testing out various spikes and finding A type of shoes which you enjoy running in.
Other Athletes
Within your training group or club, there may be an athlete with a pair of spikes you may like the looks of. So before parting with your hard-earned cash, You could ask them nicely to give them a tryout. This way you get a good test of running in spikes before purchasing them.[/text_output][/vc_column][/vc_row]
