spikes?

banjobongo

I help out with my local athletics club, with the kids that train here. If somebody could give me some brief guidelines as to when kids should use spikes I would be very grateful! also, if the kids are running on mixed terrain (concrete, road, path and grass) should they wear spikes?
thanks in advance!

helpisontheway

banjobongo wrote: »

I help out with my local athletics club, with the kids that train here. If somebody could give me some brief guidelines as to when kids should use spikes I would be very grateful! also, if the kids are running on mixed terrain (concrete, road, path and grass) should they wear spikes?
thanks in advance!

In my opinion kids shouldnt be running on concrete,road or paths regardless of what footwear they are wearing.If somebody insists on it then definetly not with spikes,very well supported runners.
As for grass its debatable;i ask my kids to wear spikes as it can be wet alot of the time in Ireland so they are needed for grip to be able to run and also for safety in events such as high jump and long jump.The flip side of that is with kids the chances of spiking other kids increases as some amount of messing will always go on.I would advise that either everyone wears them or nobody wears them but always be safe.
Again track is different,in the exception of speedwork and field event work i would always have my athletes wear good comfortable runners.If they have to wear spikes then a well supported multi purpose spike is best,specific event spikes such as sprint spikes should only be used when absolutely necessary! Otherwise you may be increasing the chance of injury.It really works,i havent had an athlete miss any County,Munster or National event in 2 years due to injury! Other excuses yes but never injury.:D

Irishathlete_1

I agree on the concrete/path part!

Many coaches advocate the use of spikes only when doing top end speed work. If you read Clyde Hart/John Smith/Lance Brauman etc...they will only allow their athletes wear spikes when they are doing top end speed work on a track. Other times they will stay in their running shoes and racing flats. I would recommend that your athletes stay in running shoes for as much of their training as possible and uses their spikes very sparingly. If you do want them to do rep work in spikes, they I would go with a very flexible long distance spike, no matter what even they do. If they are doing long reps (400m+) I would suggest they invest in a pair of flats like the Nike Marathoner.

Hope this helps

banjobongo

so as a general rule, with kids, try to avoid spikes?
the route I was thinking of was mostly on a path beside the river (back of UL if anybody local is reading this!) but to get to it they have a small run over concrete, maybe 300m each way. My problem is that the kids always are so keen to put on their spikes, they are begging to put them on!
Should I tell them from now on that they are not to use them?

ss43

banjobongo wrote: »

so as a general rule, with kids, try to avoid spikes?
the route I was thinking of was mostly on a path beside the river (back of UL if anybody local is reading this!) but to get to it they have a small run over concrete, maybe 300m each way. My problem is that the kids always are so keen to put on their spikes, they are begging to put them on!
Should I tell them from now on that they are not to use them?

The path there is way too hard for spikes in my opinion. Not too hard to run on, just too hard for spikes. They can use the spikes on the infield of the track (if there's no throwing going on) on the track itself, or on the hill beside the track. The pitches could be an option but they can be pretty mucky.

Irishathlete_1

In my opinion, I don't see why children need to wear spikes at any time other then racing. I guess this comes down to your philosophy on coaching really.

Spikes do not give you the support your foot needs when you are still developing, so overuse could lead to injuries in the long term. If the kids are begging you to wear them, why not use the example of an athlete they idolise (Wariner, Gay, Bolt, Bekele etc...) as very few of these will wear spikes in training unless they are doing really top end speed work and/or final race prep.

thirtyfoot

I would try keep them off wearing spikes for as long as possible too. As already mentioned, keep them off the concrete too. Just don't give in and tell them they can't wear their spikes, maybe "treat" them every couple of weeks and do a session in spikes (they will feel so fast when they put them on after an absence).

Generally regarding spikes it will depend of the surface you are on and what pace you want to hit. At this time of the year especially on the track it isn't possible to wear flats for all sessions due to it been slippy due to rain or in the past couple of weeks, ice. We always try to do sessions in flats but sometimes due to the weather and if the session is fastish (even if it is only 80-85% of max pace) we have to wear spikes. For technical stuff like acceleration, speed, jumps, hurdles, you would need to wear your spikes at all times as your technique will be very different with and without spikes.

Irishathlete_1

Tingle - a suggestion would be to wear a decent XC spike as an alternative to a flat. Something like the Nike waffle XC (or whatever they've renamed it). It has a heel, is well supported, but also has spikes to allow you to grip the track.

banjobongo

thanks guys, some great feedabck here, just as I expected!
Its great to have a forum here where more experienced people can help out!
So to summarize, try to avoid the kids wearing spikes if possible, right?
Exceptions are: technique sessions on speed work; Long and high jumps; hurdles. Also possibly if doing cross country running in muddy grass/field.
Apart from the above, dont use spikes.
Correct?
thanks again!

thirtyfoot

Irishathlete_1 wrote: »

Tingle - a suggestion would be to wear a decent XC spike as an alternative to a flat. Something like the Nike waffle XC (or whatever they've renamed it). It has a heel, is well supported, but also has spikes to allow you to grip the track.

Yeah, I have a nice pair of New Balance distance spike, very comfortable with a nice heel. A few others use the full blown cross-country but one guy was using his sprint spike and his calves were killing him for days on end of the longer track sessions. He now wears flats until he gets his XC spikes.

Interestingly, I know a hurdler (low/mid 13's for 110) who uses a middle distance spike as his race spike!

Irishathlete_1

Maria Mutola famously wore a Nike spike designed for 100m runners throughout her career!

RoyMcC

On this subject guys where would be a good local (Dublin) retailer of spikes, one you could recommend to young athletes? Mick Dowling?

RoyMcC

Bump. Any suggestions as to good outlets for track spikes in Dublin guys?

DangerMouse27

Mick Dowling might be the best in Dublin...although Runways in the city is pretty good but they dont carry all brands and will try flog Pearl Izumi off on you.
iF your brave and know your sizes,then try online or order from JohnBuckleySports.ie

RoyMcC

I guessed Mick Dowling might be best - thank you Mr Mouse

banjobongo

My kids took part in the Primary Schools Cross country final Rathkeale Co Limerick last week. As per guidelines/rules they did not wear spikes. Some children ran barefoot in this event. Some children ran in spikes, against the rules!
They were never checked for same before the event.
Same thing occurred last year.
I would imagine that an official should check all participants BEFORE the race is run to ensure that all runners are not wearing spikes, to ensure a level playing field and more importanly to prevent a child ending up in hospital.

DangerMouse27

Fair point but i could imagine the football dads who would tear the place up after little johnny and jill were told they couldnt run because they were wearing spikes.
Depends on the official on the day...one guy in athletics wont start a race until everyone has their club singlet tucked in.

banjobongo

if your child ran in bare feet and their feet was stepped on by another child wearing spikes, I dont think you would be very happy!
In the interest of safety, it should be made very clear that spikes are not allowed by any runner in the event, and any child wearing spikes will either have to run in another pair of shoes without spikes, run barefoot, or will not be allowed to take part.

cfitz

banjobongo wrote: »

if your child ran in bare feet and their feet was stepped on by another child wearing spikes, I dont think you would be very happy!
In the interest of safety, it should be made very clear that spikes are not allowed by any runner in the event, and any child wearing spikes will either have to run in another pair of shoes without spikes, run barefoot, or will not be allowed to take part.

How many kids were in the race? What age would you suggest allowing spikes at?

banjobongo

around 8 yrs old.
However my point is that either ALL entrants should be wearing spikes, or NONE, it should be a level playing field. To have some children running bearfoot and otheres in spikes is inviting danger.
So if the official race instructions are forbidding spikes in the event, the officials on the day should explain same to all children before the race starts and then inspect all entrants before each event to ensure compliance.
If spikes ARE allowed on the day thats a different issue really.

DangerMouse27

In my own experience,cross country officiating can be vague,especially at schools events.It wouldnt have been uncommon to have a kid wearing spikes,another wearing football boots and a third wearing nothing but bare feet.
In cross country,your never going to be totally safe.Many a time i and many others on this site got spiked at juvenile level and lived to tell the tale.
If its still a worry,then throw a pair of runners on them and tell them to keep to the far side of the field where its not so cut up.Think of the other dangers of barefoot running...stones,thorns,cow poop!