Few high school or college runners are wearing AlphaFly or VaporFly shoes for track races. They are not allowed in world Athletics events which must mean that they are advantageous. Did people stop wearing them thinking they are not allowed?
Few high school or college runners are wearing AlphaFly or VaporFly shoes for track races. They are not allowed in world Athletics events which must mean that they are advantageous. Did people stop wearing them thinking they are not allowed?
I think it depends on the governing body who puts on the meet. Lower quality meets or meets where you cannot use your time to qualify for states/nationals are less strict on the shoes rules and more often than not, they are not policing what the athletes wear. Additionally, I know that some meet officials are less strict in lower heats (for example heat D, E etc) and/or if the athletes are really young or masters athletes.
I think that the technology is quite good now in the sense that most meets have electronic timing and have the correct number of officials/judges that you can pretty much use any of your race results to gain World Athletics points and/or use your time for qualifying purposes.
So having said that, unless you are fine with potentially getting no time/result next to your name after the race, best to use spikes that are "legal" under World Athletics. I can understand that some athletes simply want to have a "hit out" and running in Alphafly/Vaporfly is a pretty decent way to still run well but not completely shoot the legs. Ultimately I think it comes down to the purpose of the race the athlete is doing, what they want to get out of it, the time of their season, and then you can make your decision accordingly. At the end of the day, all the people running in the super shoes now will still eventually have to spike up.
With respect to your statement about the shoes being banned and are therefore advantageous, I'd argue yes and no. It would probably depend on the race distance. I would argue that the Alphafly/Vaporfly are not at all advantageous for the 800 compared to a legal "superspike." However, for the 5,000m or 10,000m, they may give some advantages for example, more cushion meaning you generally pull up less sore, and if the athlete gets tired during the race, more foam in the heel will assist the athlete in continuing to propel forward versus the spikes which have less foam/cushion in the heel and by the end of a 10,000m race, you're so tired and are heel striking in such a way that you honestly aren't getting anywhere. But on the contrary, insane times are posted in athletes running spikes. For the spike work, make sure that the whole calf and achillies complex is extremely strong, and you will actually always reach for spikes for the track over any super shoe.
I’d say it’s pretty clear the NCAA allows any shoes considering Dylan Jacobs wore next percents in his 10000m championship
Yeah okay didn't realise. Interesting to know thanks
They are allowed in HS and college.
They are allowed in HS and college.
local duel meet 3200 last night:
1st place dragonflys
2nd place alphafly v1
3rd place dragonfly
4th place endo pro 2
5th place vaporfly 2
6th place zoomfly
7-9th spikes
Good eye. How fast was winner?
A lot of people are going to run faster in a track spike than even a high stack carbon plate racing shoe such as the vaporfly. Its really that simple.
nickey run wrote:
Good eye. How fast was winner?
10:46 lol
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