Question for Sprint Geezer: I ran a 100m in flats and am wondering how much time I would save if I wore spikes? Just coming off injury so am not ready for spike work yet.
How much time would spikes save you over 100m opposed to flats?
Question for Sprint Geezer: I ran a 100m in flats and am wondering how much time I would save if I wore spikes? Just coming off injury so am not ready for spike work yet.
How much time would spikes save you over 100m opposed to flats?
Flats to spikes is worth about 0.6 seconds in a 100, I'd say. Maybe 1.0 in a 200, as a lot of that benefit is in the start.
Yeah I was thinking at least a quarter second minimum, but more sounds good haha.
.6 sounds about right. Would also depend on what type of sprinter you are, heavy or light.
Instead of asking a bunch of distance runners, you could just put spikes on and run a hundred and then you would know for yourself.
DUHH wrote:
Instead of asking a bunch of distance runners, you could just put spikes on and run a hundred and then you would know for yourself.
This is the best advice.
It totally depends on what kind of runner you are, what your sprint form is like, and whether you are trained to run in spikes or not.
When guys who run in flats first put on serious sprint spikes, they tend to not keep their foot cocked so much, and to "run on their toes" so that the non-existent heel of the spike doesn't come anywhere near the ground.
Running high on your toes, or the ball of your foot, will slow you down in the 100m--you need to keep that foot cocked, and contact the ground in a power position.
Try the spikes, but don't go all-out in them at first, as you will be tempted to do. Work on the strict form that will allow you to get the benefit that the spikes can offer--which in sprint spikes is that hard plate on the bottom (kind of like a foot-long blade), and the very light weight, where it matters most. Learn to feel the ground in them.
If you're just recreational, stick with the flats. They will be way easier on your knees and your achilles.
Guys:
Thanks for input. I am not a recreational sprinter and have pretty good form. I would classify myself as a power sprinter opposed to one that is lighter with more of a floating action. Just looking for flat to spike conversion ideas as I have been out of spikes for a while due to an injury and raced a hundred in flats on Sat. THX.
The guy who suggested .6 would be pretty close I would think. Power runners would tend to rely on the spikes gripping more than lighter prancing types I would think, but again, just running one would be the way to find out. I think I read that you are coming off injury so if running in spikes is not an option right now, then wait until you can I'd guess.