Advertisement
If you have a new account but are having problems posting or verifying your account, please email us on hello@boards.ie for help. Thanks :)
Hello all! Please ensure that you are posting a new thread or question in the appropriate forum. The Feedback forum is overwhelmed with questions that are having to be moved elsewhere. If you need help to verify your account contact hello@boards.ie
Hi there,
There is an issue with role permissions that is being worked on at the moment.
If you are having trouble with access or permissions on regional forums please post here to get access: https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058365403/you-do-not-have-permission-for-that#latest

Cross country races - spikes or flats

  • 28-08-2008 9:24pm
    #1
    tracy1002
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 61 ✭✭


    Have a 12 year old who needs to wear orthotics while running. Will be doing cross country over the next few months (max distance 1500m). Any advice on whether to wear spikes or racing flats... what are the benefits of both. :confused:


Comments

  • #2
    aburke
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 606 ✭✭✭aburke


    Spikes for grip.

    Unless some miracle happens, and it stpos raining and the sun shines, and suddenly all cross country courses are rock solid.. then there is no choice.

    Use spikes.

    Alan


  • #3
    TheRoadRunner
    Closed Accounts Posts: 3,983 ✭✭✭TheRoadRunner


    I'm with Alan.

    Spikes all the way. I would only wear flats if we have a super Indian Autumn and the ground becomes incredibly solid.

    However considering the weather we have had to date I expect you will need shoes with very long spikes for maximum grip.


  • #4
    token56
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,635 ✭✭✭token56


    Spikes is the only way to go on cross country as far as I am concerned. The only worry would be finding a pair which fit comfortably with the orthotics in, I am in the same positions myself trying to find a good pair but you shouldn't find it too hard to get a good pair.


  • #5
    Racing Flat
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,415 ✭✭✭Racing Flat


    Spikes. If you get 5mm spikes he can wear these on the track, get 9mm for when it's not too bad on cross country days and 12 or 15mm for when it is really bad. The different sized spikes only cost around 4Euro each for a set, so worth having a few different sizes so you can change them as required.

    If he needs to wear orthotics, it means he needs support for his feet. There is not much support with flats or spikes, so he is better off wearing normal trainers generally. But for cross country he will need grip, so the spikes are essential if it's any way wet.


  • #6
    ss43
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 384 ✭✭ss43


    Why does he or she have to wear orthotics? At 12 should you not be looking to fix the problem rather than make the child dependant on orthotics his whole life? Inmy opinion it would be better to work on correcting whatever was causing the problem rather than using orthotics which hide the problem without ever fixing it.


  • Advertisement
  • #7
    tracy1002
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 61 ✭✭tracy1002


    thanks for the replies guys... guess spikes are the way to go.

    In regard to the orthotics, they were prescribed after lenghty physio, gait analysis, a&e depts... you name it we've been there. It appears that he has fallen arches which are contributing to what was a recurrent knee injury. 9 months with the orthotics now,,, and thankfully the last 6 months have been injury free... so personally I can definitely see the advantage of them.


  • #8
    Racing Flat
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,415 ✭✭✭Racing Flat


    ss43 wrote: »
    Why does he or she have to wear orthotics? At 12 should you not be looking to fix the problem rather than make the child dependant on orthotics his whole life? Inmy opinion it would be better to work on correcting whatever was causing the problem rather than using orthotics which hide the problem without ever fixing it.


    Or possibly by having them at this age, the orthotics may encourage his still growing feet to grow in a more structurally sound manner and so he may only need them temporarily and then be free of them. As opposed to if he doesn't wear tham now and his bones grow fully in a structurally unsound position he may then at a later stage need orthotics for life. Without seeing him and knowing the histroy we can't really make a sweeping generalisation re orthotics.


Advertisement