Hey college kids, do you wear road super shoes on the track?

Have you worn spikes recently? If not, don't even think about it.

Yes, I wore them last spring for a couple solo time trials and didn't have any issues with them. I'm not worried about them destroying my calves or anything, maybe because I'm a heel striker? More just debating what would be faster for an indoor track mile.

And I didn't have this debate when I did my time trials in the spring because I hadn't even used a pair of super shoes yet. I only raced in them for the first time this fall and obviously discovered how much faster they are than the road flats I had used in the past.

Yes, I use the Reebok Floatride Run Fast Pros for 3k and up - they feel light and cushy, although you definitely feel the lack of grip from spikes, which I use for 1500 and down

Unless they're protecting an injury your not gonna find any college kids in super shoes in the mile as most anyone will now be in dragonfly's or something similar. However there may be a debate in the performance of old spikes vs super shoes. I'd probably lean towards the supershoes and sacrifice a few seconds to protect my legs, unless it was a big race or the last of the season.

Not to say the supershoes will make you slow in the mile. We had an athlete run multiple sub-4 1500s over a season in Alphaflys due to issues that prevented them using spikes

Are the Endorphin Speed 2s even considered super shoes?

I thought the only shoe in that category from Saucony were the Endorphin Pros (and even that shoe is rubbish compared to the Vaporfly).

I'd go with the spikes.

Shows how behind the times I am in the super shoe world, I didn't even get the name of my own shoe right. You are correct, my shoe is the Endorphin Pro 2, not the Speed 2. I've definitely noticed a boost from them compared to normal shoes, but you're probably right that they aren't as good as the vaporfly. I borrowed my buddy's pair of vaporflys for a workout once and felt like the Nikes propelled me forward more.

Sounds like what performance benefit the super shoes might give may be sacrificed with lack of grip on an indoor track, so might be a wash either way whether I use old spikes or the Sauconys.

Spikes

Yes, I am a collegiate distance female and raced every mile, 3k, and 5k I ran during indoor in the Endorphin Speed 2s. I loved the bounce and felt like they kept my legs feeling fresher than spikes would've especially on banked tracks and during two day meets

5k and 10k college runner here - Yep! I rock the Alphafly for track races!

How did it feel going around the turns quickly? The only time I’d consider supershoes would be if I were doing a 5k on a track like Note Dame’s (320m). Do you feel in control going around the turns, especially if you’re kicking?

Everyone wore super shoes at 5th Ave mile. Even on track, I think the advantage of grip of spikes will not enough to offset the bouncy super shoes.

coach a collegiate team (and also do workouts on my own still) - most athletes definitely comment on feeling more "wobbly" in some super shoes anytime we test that 1500-mile type pace. we get more of those comments from our athletes using alphaflys than vaporflys.

i also have quite a few pairs of super shoes myself, including vaporflys, endorphin pro 2s, and 3s. imo i found the endorphin pro 2s to be the "fastest" in terms of felt the lightest and smoothest in running ~mile pace. 3k pace and up i was most comfortable in vaporflys or the pro 3s.

If you can run on your toes, your spikes will be better for the mile.

If you haven't run in spikes much, use the Saucony Endorphin Speeds. They are basically the same shoe as the Endorphin Pro which is like a "baby" super shoe. Also, buy yourself some Vapor Flys.

Can I bump this up? I haven't raced on the track in a bit & am gonna do an indoor 5k in a couple of weeks. Shooting for 15:xx. ~5:00 pace or so. Alphafly's or dragonfly's? I have both. Usually do workouts in super shoes. Wore the dragonfly's last year a handful of times for short efforts/time trials.

Spikes are faster, but not a great idea for some Masters races. The Super Comp Pacer from New Balance is track-legal (max 25 mm stack height).

dragonflies are special