TRACK SPIKES ARE BACK WITH A BANG
Attention all middle school, high school, collegiate and post-collegiate athletes! With Indoor Season in full swing and outdoor right around the corner it’s time to take a hard look at getting yourself in a fresh pair of spikes! We have spikes for the majority of track and field athletes here at TRWS!
There are four important tips to consider when shopping for a spike:
1.) Unisex spikes are incredibly common during both track and cross-country sports. Sorry ladies, it’s not fair. As a women owned business, we think all spikes should come in women’s and men’s sizes, but most come in unisex (aka “men’s). We do carry a few New Balance spikes that are designated for women and men. To fit yourself for a men’s spike you will size down a size and a half. So, if you are a women’s size 9 you will purchase a men’s size 7.5 spike.
2.) Consider your event when purchasing a spike. We mostly sell middle distance spikes because of the variety of the spike. In a middle-distance spike, you can run sprints, take on hurdles and tackle the mile. Most freshmen who are uncertain what events they will compete in we fit in a middle-distance spike as we know it will be great for many events. That being said a sprint spike would be a terrible option for anything under the 400. Throwing spikes are for throwing and high jump spikes are just for high jump. Athletes tend to purchase these spikes once they know their events and have competed.
3.) How the spikes feel are important. It won’t feel great, but it shouldn’t cut off blood flow and be uncomfortable. You will likely run in a spike in one practice and then use them only when competing.
4.) Get a thin sock. Super thin. A spike is meant to fit sung unlike your trainers. The thinner the sock the better. Some athletes even go sockless in their spikes!
See below for more information on the spikes we have for the 2023 season.
Where to Start
Picking out the right track & field spike is critical for optimal performance in the events you compete in. We carry track & field spikes/shoes for the following events:
Sprints: 100m, 200m, 400m and their respective relay events.
Middle Distance: 400m, 800m, 1600m, 3200m and their respective relays. These spikes also work for the following field events: Long Jump, High Jump, Triple Jump, Javelin, 100/110m hurdles, 300m hurdles and Pole Vault.
Long Distance: 1600m, 3200m, 5000m, 10000m.
Throws: Shot Put, Discus, Hammer, Weight Throw
Sprint Spikes
These spikes come recommended for sprint events because ideally you would be on your toes. Sprint spikes are built with as little heel cushioning as possible to reduce weight and shift weight towards the forefoot. Each of these spikes are built stiff and aggressive to make sure no movement gets lost between your foot and the ground.
Unisex Hyper Sprint Women’s SD 500 Men’s SD 500 Unisex Sprint 4 Unisex EvoSpeed Sprint 3
Middle-Distance and Multi-Events:
If you are doing events ranging from 300m hurdles up to 3200m or field events such as Pole Vault, Long Jump and Triple Jump, we would strongly recommend these spikes. The additional heel cushioning helps with the longer track events and with more explosive events where you may land harder on your heel. If you are new to track and field and are uncertain what events you will compete in, a middle-distance spike is a great option as you can compete in a sprint and distance events with a middle-distance spike!
Hyper MD 7 Crescendo MD Men’s MD 500 V8 Women’s MD 500 V8 EvoSpeed Star 8
Specialty Spikes
Brooks Wire 8 – $149.95
The Brooks Wire is a stiffer spike made for long distance track events (1,500m to 10,000m). This spike uses a nitrogen-infused DNA midsole to absorb force and shock and keep your legs fresher in the later parts of the race. This spike is made for personal bests and gives athletes the best chance to PR on the track.
Puma Evospeed Throw 10 – $109.95
The Puma evoSPEED Throw is a shoe made exclusively for shot put, discus, weight throw and hammer throw. If you are in the ring then you’ll want this shoe for optimal traction. It comes in unisex sizing so if you wear a women’s shoe, you’ll want to size down 1.5 sizes. This shoe has a thick rubber sole on the bottom to grip well on the concrete ring. It features a pivot point under the forefoot for optimal rotational movement on spins and slides. The evoSPEED Throw also has a thicker heel counter than other shoes for stability. Finally, this shoe has a lace strap to keep the laces tucked to prevent slipping in the ring.
Puma Evospeed High Jump 10 – $134.95
The Puma evoSPEED High Jump 10 is a high-jump ONLY spike. This spike features 7 spike elements in the front and 4 in the back for optimal traction before takeoff. The narrow sharkskin heel and rounded toe shape help for keeping the feet exactly where you want them during the approach. We strongly recommend this for athletes that know they will be participating in the high jump in the spring and get an alternative pair of spikes if they participate in any running events.
Replacement Spikes:
At TRWS we carry a variety of replaceable spikes. Each length has its own use, and some are not allowed due to KSHAA, MSHSAA, and NCAA rules. (If you have any questions or concerns please check sites directly).
1/8” Pyramid Spike
- Sprints
- Jumps
1/4″ Pyramid Spike
- Sprints
- Distance
- If athlete is unsure of which events they will be running this is the most versatile size
3/8” Pyramid Spike
- Javelin
- Cross Country
- This length is PROHIBTED in all track and field events except Javelin
1/2″ Pyramid Spikes
- Javelin and Cross Country
- This length is PROHIBITED in all track and field events except Javelin
Shop All Replacement Spikes
Are spikes mandatory?
The Running Well Store Gurus get asked this question quite often. We all would answer that an athlete does not need track spikes to compete in Track and Field. But a runner, especially a new runner, needs a good pair of training shoes. These shoes will be worn everyday at practice and most of their running will be done in these shoes. A lot of throwers wear basketball, court shoes, or cross-training shoes to throw in. At The Running Well Store, we fit the shoe to the runner to make sure they are in a shoe that is right for them. You can come into one of our three locations (Lee’s Summit, Northland and Mission, KS) for a free stride analysis. No appointment is necessary, but if you would like to schedule an appointment, click here. We take in-person and virtual fittings. Want to do research online? We have a find my fit tool that will help you narrow down footwear options.
If you shop in-store at any one of our three locations through the end of March, we offer a student discount of 20% off to athletes in middle and high school, and The Running Well Store will guarantee our shoes for 30 days.
We hope to hear from or see you soon! As always, Run Well!!
About TRWS GURU Will
I’m a local runner from Kansas City currently living in Parkville. Running has been a big part of my life since I joined my high school cross country team 11 years ago. I ran collegiately at Park University and post-collegiately with Kansas City Smoke for two years. I currently run competitively for First City Track Club based out of Leavenworth, KS. I’ve been a part of the Running Well Store family since 2015 as a fit guru, starting at the Barry Road location, and now as a product purchaser, at our Mission location.
Not certain if this shoe is right for you?
We understand! There are a lot of options of footwear on the market and deciding what model is the right model for your needs is not easy. We are here for you! You can come into one of our three locations (Lee’s Summit, Northland and Mission, KS) for a free stride analysis. No appointment is necessary, but if you would like to schedule an appointment, click here. We take in-person and virtual fittings. Want to do research online? We have a find my fit tool that will help you narrow down footwear options. We hope to hear from you soon!
