Track Spikes

"TenKMan" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
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Quoted message said:

I need a recommendation for really good track spikes for milers. We don't have any stores close
that carry many spikes and the ones they do carry are cheap. A lightweight miler spike for a
lightweight kid (men's size 9) is what is needed. Also, if some knows of a good website for
ordering such things, I would appreciate it. I have looked at Road Runner and Eastbay so far.

Nike makes a couple of nice middle distance spikes in the $50 range. One is the Zoom Rival S+ and
the other is the Zoom Rival MD. You can spend more but the $100 spikes are so close to the $50
spikes that I don't know why you'd want to. Try www.espikes.com.

Jim Johnson www.johnsrunwalkshop.com

TenKMan said:

I need a recommendation for really good track spikes for milers. We don't have any stores close
that carry many spikes and the ones they do carry are cheap. A lightweight miler spike for a
lightweight kid (men's size 9) is what is needed. Also, if some knows of a good website for
ordering such things, I would appreciate it. I have looked at Road Runner and Eastbay so far.

Thanks in advance

(Lyndon is being solicited specifically for his advice as well as anyone else that might have
an idea.)

The answer depends on your budget, your son's weight/footstrike and which events (besides mile) he
might want to participate in. Also, you might consider the spike requirements of the tracks where
your son will run. Many will accept 1/4" spikes, but some (Mondo surfaces in particular) will limit
you to 3/16" spikes. For example, the mondo track at San Diego State and the indoor track at Reno
that I race on both require 3/16". If your son is going to run in any of these (this might include
Boise State) you have to make sure that you have replaceable spikes. Nike makes some spikes with
fixed 1/4" spikes to provide minimum weight, but these are not acceptable on all tracks. The Jasari
has fixed spikes, and they also make a similiar spike called the Zoom Miler which also has fixed
spikes. Unless you are sure about spike requirements--or you buy a racing spike and a training spike--
you have to stay away from fixed spikes.

Full disclosure: I use the Zoom Kennedy for 1500/mile, Jasari for 800, and JSC for 60-400.

The present WR for the mile (might have been 1500) was set in the Kennedy. The deal here is two
things: there is an air unit in the heel, and it is a bit of a stability shoe. There is also an xc
version of the Zoom Kennedy and both are very popular with high school runners that have parents
that can afford them. This is probably THE fastest shoe for the mile if you can't wear the Jasari.
You can use the Kennedy for 3000 or 5000 on the track (Bob does) but not the Jasari. If your son is
a neutral runner like me, you have to think about whether he should do a lot of mileage in the
Kennedy (i.e., track workouts plus racing), but if you just use the Kennedy to race in, there
should be nothing to worry about. Of course, if your son wears a stability shoe, the Kennedy would
be perfect.

The Jasari weighs the same as the JSC (at least mine does). It is a lightning fast shoe for a wide
variety of events (it is very fast for even 100 but the heel gets in the way in the 400). But the
thing here is that the heel provides very, very minimal cushioning. If you can wear it for 1500 it
will be faster than the Kennedy, but at 6'4"/195 I can't wear it beyond 800.

If your budget is lower, Nike's cheapest spike would be the Rival MD (Adidas has an equivalent
called Cosmos). But also look at the Zoom Shift (not the Zoom Shift Fly, which is a long sprint
shoe). This is a mid range choice that is presently on sale at a large discount at Eastbay. Eastbay
also has the Jasari P and the JSC at a large discount.

I would think that your 2 safest choices would be the Zoom Kennedy and the Zoom Shift.

Websites:

www.eastbay.com www.final-score.com www.espikes.com www.hoys.com www.springcoathletics.com

Lyndon

"Speed Kills...It kills those that don't have it!" --US Olympic Track Coach Brooks Johnson

"Lyndon" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
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Dude, that is what I call a wealth of information. I will either get him the Jasari or the Kennedy
as they sound perfect. They will be only for racing from 800-3000 but the 1500 will be the main
event. Thank you again.

Thanks man. I appreciate it.

"Jim Johnson" <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:WuHJb.725007$HS4.5404687@attbi_s01...

Quoted message said:

"TenKMan" <[email hidden]> wrote in message "]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

I need a recommendation for really good track spikes for milers. We don't have any stores close
that carry many spikes and the ones they

do

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

carry are cheap. A lightweight miler spike for a lightweight kid

(men's

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

size 9) is what is needed. Also, if some knows of a good website

for

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

ordering such things, I would appreciate it. I have looked at Road Runner and Eastbay so far.

Nike makes a couple of nice middle distance spikes in the $50 range.

One is

Quoted message said:

the Zoom Rival S+ and the other is the Zoom Rival MD. You can spend

more but

Quoted message said:

the $100 spikes are so close to the $50 spikes that I don't know why

you'd

Quoted message said:

want to. Try www.espikes.com.

Jim Johnson www.johnsrunwalkshop.com

"TenKMan" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Dude, that is what I call a wealth of information. I will either get him the Jasari or the Kennedy
as they sound perfect. They will be only for racing from 800-3000 but the 1500 will be the main
event. Thank you again.

One thing to keep in mind is that the Kennedy runs very narrow. If his foot is very wide it might
not be the best fit.

Jim Johnson www.johnsrunwalkshop.com

At least when you're wearing spikes, there's ONE protruding object of value.

TenKMan said:

size 9) is what is needed. Also, if some knows of a good website for ordering such things, I would
appreciate it. I have looked at Road

I found this place firsttothefinish.comfirsttothefinish.comOpen ↗ when I was looking for spikes for my son last
summer. No affiliation other than a satisfied customer. Kevin --=20 E-mail: [email hidden]

"Kevin" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

TenKMan said:

size 9) is what is needed. Also, if some knows of a good website for ordering such things, I would
appreciate it. I have looked at Road

I found this place firsttothefinish.comfirsttothefinish.comOpen ↗ when I was looking for spikes for my son last
summer. No affiliation other than a satisfied customer. Kevin
--
E-mail: [email hidden]

Thanks man. Those prices look good.