A few questions about Spikes.

annieee · 30-09-2010 6:47am #1

I'm running cross country this weekend. (Novice)

Just wondering if I need spikes. Will I be sliding around the place without them??

Where do I get them? Any sports shop?

Do they need to be a size bigger than normal shoes like road runners do? I presume so.

(Anyone have a second hand pair for sale? Size 6.5/7? In Wicklow area)

frankeee · 30-09-2010 7:20am

They will definitely make things a lot easier (especially as it's prob going to be wet!) but are not absolutely essentially if you are just dipping your toe in the water. You usually need a half size up from your regular running shoes altho you should try them on to be sure. If there's a TK maxx near you, you should try them,a friend of mine picked up a pair for 30yoyo. If you see track spikes going cheap (as is possible at this time of year) they would do the job as well if you buy a set of longer spikes (eg 9/12mm) to put on them. These cost about €3

annieee · 30-09-2010 7:36am

Cheers! I will try TK Maxx.

Thank you.

dna_leri · 30-09-2010 8:01am

frankeee wrote: »

They will definitely make things a lot easier (especially as it's prob going to be wet!) but are not absolutely essentially if you are just dipping your toe in the water. You usually need a half size up from your regular running shoes altho you should try them on to be sure. If there's a TK maxx near you, you should try them,a friend of mine picked up a pair for 30yoyo. If you see track spikes going cheap (as is possible at this time of year) they would do the job as well if you buy a set of longer spikes (eg 9/12mm) to put on them. These cost about €3

Track spikes might be ok, as long as they are not sprint spikes. Cross country spikes (e.g. Asics Hyper XC) or distance spikes (e.g. Asics Hyper MD) will have a small heel.
Not sure about TKMaxx for spikes, I did see my local elverys had spikes on display last weekend but any good specialist running store will also have them and give good advice.
Worst case, if you have trail running shoes you could try them. Later in the year when the ground cuts up you will definitely need the spikes.

Kissy Lips · 30-09-2010 12:07pm

I did 8 cc runs last winter is asics kayano. I managed to get around the course on all occasions but your are going to be slower and there is a real risk of falling on your face when running over mud. In muddy conditons its tough, lifting your feet high and placing them back down rather than striking the ground to avoid slipping.

So yeah you can do it but it's better with spikes, i just bought a pair of mizuno spikes for this winter starting at the teachers BHAA in castleknock.

annieee · 30-09-2010 12:16pm

No luck in TK Maxx in Carrickmines this morning anyway.

I don't have trail runners either.

Hopefully I'll try to get a pair of spikes somewhere before Sunday. If not I'll invest in some asap - lots of cross country coming up.

Thanks for replies.

annieee · 30-09-2010 12:22pm

Just rang a running shop to enquire re price of spikes. 80-90 euros. :eek:

Might take me a while to save up.

(I'll have to ask Santa)

plodder · 30-09-2010 12:30pm

You should get a pair for less than 40. That price sounds crazy. Try phoning a few other places (eg. Runways, Amphibian KIng).

robinph · 30-09-2010 12:30pm

That sounds a bit steep. I think I may have paid something like €60 for mine though, but if I'd been a size smaller then I'd have got a pair from Arnotts for €30'ish. If you get a pair of distance track shoes rather than sprint ones then they will do you for XC and for any track races that you may end up doing as well so you get more out of them. Not sure if specific XC shoes would be too much of a hindrance on the track.

annieee · 30-09-2010 12:31pm

plodder wrote: »

You should get a pair for less than 40. That price sounds crazy. Try phoning a few other places (eg. Runways, Amphibian KIng).

That was AK!

annieee · 30-09-2010 12:33pm

robinph wrote: »

That sounds a bit steep. I think I may have paid something like €60 for mine though, but if I'd been a size smaller then I'd have got a pair from Arnotts for €30'ish. If you get a pair of distance track shoes rather than sprint ones then they will do you for XC and for any track races that you may end up doing as well so you get more out of them. Not sure if specific XC shoes would be too much of a hindrance on the track.

Guess I could try on in a real shop then order online.

Not sure of my size. Haven't run XC for 20 years.

Good tip for distance track shoes. Don't run too much track though, apart from training.

plodder · 30-09-2010 12:34pm

annieee wrote: »

That was AK!

Oh! I got mine in Runways .... :pac:

Also, I reckon mine aren't specifically Xc. Not that you would notice any difference. But it might matter for price

runrabbit · 30-09-2010 1:58pm

If it's the Wicklow XC you're doing then I've heard the course is mainly fields so quite grassy with just potential for muddy patches when passing through gaps. So you should be able to get away without spikes, perhaps?

JosDel · 30-09-2010 2:15pm

plodder wrote: »

Oh! I got mine in Runways .... :pac:

Also, I reckon mine aren't specifically Xc. Not that you would notice any difference. But it might matter for price

what price did you pay plodder ?

JosDel · 30-09-2010 2:21pm

Runways have the mizuno wave kaze 65.00 are they any good ? http://www.runways.ie/store/product/3662/Mizuno-Wave-Kaze/

frankeee · 30-09-2010 2:35pm

http://www.johnbuckleysports.com/products/params/2/1122/638

I'm guessing you're female from your username, so maybe these would suit-50yoyo +6 p&p
Obviously wouldn't get to u by Sunday tho'...

annieee · 30-09-2010 8:13pm

frankeee wrote: »

http://www.johnbuckleysports.com/products/params/2/1122/638

I'm guessing you're female from your username, so maybe these would suit-50yoyo +6 p&p
Obviously wouldn't get to u by Sunday tho'...

Oh cool! Thanks for that!

annieee · 30-09-2010 8:15pm

runrabbit wrote: »

If it's the Wicklow XC you're doing then I've heard the course is mainly fields so quite grassy with just potential for muddy patches when passing through gaps. So you should be able to get away without spikes, perhaps?

It is actually! It's the Novice one in Roundwood. Sounds ok then, except if it lashes rain and everything is soaked. I have visions of myself falling on my arse. :eek:

rainbow kirby · 30-09-2010 8:26pm

Elverys in Suffolk St has a few pairs of spikes for around €50, don't think they've any womens sizes though.

plodder · 30-09-2010 8:51pm

JosDel wrote: »

what price did you pay plodder ?

I think they were around 35 euros plus 5 or so for a set of spikes. Was about this time last year.

annieee · 02-10-2010 6:38pm

Hi again,

So, I got these spikes today for 25 quid.

http://www.mandmdirect.com/productdetails.aspx?PC=NK9905&lid=PR1

I realise now they're sprint spikes though. So, not a good idea to wear them for 3k cross country race??

dna_leri · 02-10-2010 7:09pm

annieee wrote: »

Hi again,

So, I got these spikes today for 25 quid.

http://www.mandmdirect.com/productdetails.aspx?PC=NK9905&lid=PR1

I realise now they're sprint spikes though. So, not a good idea to wear them for 3k cross country race??

I vote not to wear them, anything more than 400m will be tough going and risk hurting your achilles or calves.

annieee · 03-10-2010 4:51pm

Just an update and thanks for the advice again.

The race went well today, wore my old Mizunos in the end and it was sunny and dry so no problems.

I'd forgotten how tough cross country is having not run XC since I was a young wan. Made it though, and our team won gold.

I swore as I was running that I was NEVER EVER doing XC again. But now that the pain has subsided I'm considering the 4k next weekend in Avondale.

Thanks again, I know what kind of spikes to look out for now.

A few questions about Spikes.

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