Is it possible that wearing very light spikes e.g. Nike Victory Elite is better for 400m than a heavier sprint spike, or is better to wear something more aggressive?
Is it possible that wearing very light spikes e.g. Nike Victory Elite is better for 400m than a heavier sprint spike, or is better to wear something more aggressive?
The Nike Victory Elite is not any lighter than the fastest sprint spike out there, which is the Adidas SP Prime, if you can afford it--comparing with the best Nike has is not even a contest. Asics and Brooks have sprint spikes starting at just over 4 ounces.
The problem with using a distance spike for 200 and 400 is that the heel makes contact around the curve, slowing you down.
Thanks, all the reviews i could find suggest the prime SP up to 200m, any reason why they wouldn't be suited to 400?
Keep in mind this is a bit of a "YMMV" issue. In general I agree with what Coach D says to explain why he doesn't believe distance spikes are ideal for the 400.
However, keep in mind that how you run is probably more important than what spikes you wear. I bought a pair of these:
I might as well have been wearing a pair of spikes. The spikes plate is like a piece of paper with spikes glued to the bottom. They are basically the lightest pair of distance spikes you've ever seen, they don't resemble sprint spikes in any way other than the man who happened to be wearing them.
If you are a distance runner occasionally running the 400 though, I'd just wear your most aggressive pair of MD spikes for the times you drop to the 400. You're going to run fastest in what you feel most comfortable running in.