The kind of footwear you need will always depend on exactly what you want to use it for. It is like the old adage about “using the right tool for the job”. Generally there are four types of running shoes to consider, although even this is not the end of the story. The four types are: track running spikes, regular running shoes, cross country running spikes and track and field running spikes – although the final category in this article refers to the field sports, namely the throwing and jumping events.
Track Running Spikes
The spiked running shoes used for track racing in competitive athletics are sub-divided by distance. They will all provide excellent performance in terms of gripping the track, to improve times and reduce muscle strain injuries. The main difference is in the amount of cushioning in the shoe itself. For very short sprint races such as the 100-meters and the 200-meters, very lightweight shoes are used. They are fairly uncomfortable, but will only be worn for less than a minute!
As the race distance increases to middle and long distance, it is more important to incorporate some padding into the track running spikes to protect the feet from impact injuries. Long distance runners stride out and land on their heels with more weight, whereas the sprinters are more forward focused, and generate larger impact forces on the front of the foot. So sprint spikes do not have any cushioning in the heel.
It is very important you get the right spikes for your distance.
Regular Running Shoes
Normal running shoes are used for road running, and for training on hard surfaces. They are substantially heavier than running spikes because they have a great deal more cushioning to help the athletes’ leg joints cope with the harder terrain. The soles will have good grip and are made from rubber, so this grip is a result of friction rather than pins digging into the surface.
Cross Country Running Spikes
These are essentially the same as track running spikes, except the pins are longer to maximize grip on soft muddy tracks and trails. They are similar to long distance track spikes in that they are used to cover distance and need to have a lot of padding.
Track and Field Running Spikes
It is always best to do some research before buying spikes if your events are carried out off the track. Jumpers need good grip without being slowed down by long pins, whereas throwing events often rely on the feet staying planted exactly where the athlete puts them. Otherwise they might find themselves crossing the line or accidentally stepping out of the circle and getting penalized by the judges.
So the rule is that generally, a jumper’s spikes will be similar to a sprinter’s running spikes, whereas a javelin thrower’s spikes will have pins over the whole sole area for superior grip. All the other spikes for running, whether sprinting or cross country only have the pins at the front of the sole.
So when you decide to buy new athletics shoes, know your event, know your distance, and know what kind of terrain you’ll be running on. Then the staff at the sports store can help you pick the right running shoes for you.
Photo courtesy of flickr.com.
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