''Spike'' sprinting shoes

[Mike88]

Ok- I was running in a 200m sprint race last week with my new sprint shoes. So I was in the 3rd lane and got off to a great start. I accelerated straight into 1st place ( Out of 6 runners ) in the first 100 meters running on my 'toes'. Then for the last 100m- I totally forgot to run on my toes and ran normally flat-footed and kept on losing time until I got last place. Does running flat-footed on spikes hurt your sprinting time? How do you keep reminding yourself to run on your toes? And does it look weird running on your 'toes'?

[Run4Fun]

For me, running on my toes in spikes comes naturally, I have to try really hard to not run on them. Sprinting spikes are designed so that they force you to stay up on your toes, so next time try to think out your race and running fast instead of how you lot, you'll look a lot for stupid getting last in your race than running on your toes.

Also, what spikes do you have? Because some spikes really suck a lot for sprinting.

[Mike88]

I currently use a pair of mitre sprinting shoes. Do sprinting shoes usually weigh more than normal running shoes? My normal running shoe is quite light. Is there a significant change in speed between running flat-footed in spikes and flat-footed in normal running shoes?

[Run4Fun]

Are you sure they are not soccer cleats?

In my experience, your spikes should be really light, so light you won't even notice them. It also depends on what kind of sprinter you are, like if you are a big, strong power sprinter, you should try getting some Nike Powercats or Nike Superfly, they have just about the same plate, so they're both good. But if you're a finesse sprinter, like you're naturally quick footed and agile, you should get some Nike Maxcats or Asics hypersprints, they should work good.

[Mike88]

I'm sure there not soccer cleats lol. If ''spiked'' shoes don't weigh much- would they make a difference if I use them in 800m flat-footed? compared to normal addidas running shoes? I'm not agile nor fast-footed, I'm a big, power sprinter.

[Run4Fun]

You could use them, but don't expect to be very comfortable, there are sprinting shoes and middle distance shoes, they have different names for a reason.

http://eastbay.com

Look there for different kinds of spikes