Start with a NEW pair of running tennis shoes to avoid injury!
Start looking for a new pair of running shoes. If you ran cross country, you should still get a new pair for track to avoid injury. You can often find last year's models at a discounted price until they run out of stock. These can double as your school shoes. Middle school students are especially prone to knee pain as they grow. As old shoes break down, they no longer protect your joints from injury. Every running season you need to start with a new pair of shoes to prevent injuries. Coaches recommend Brooks Ghosts, Brooks GTS, Nike, or New Balance for running tennis shoes. When you buy a shoe, you want one that will provide support where you need it to keep your alignment neutral. Some will say if they are for pronators or supinators in their description. This will help prevent ankle and knee pain from running. Long jump is sandy so if you do not have spikes, you may want at least an old pair of tennis shoes for the event to keep your others nicer.
Start looking for a new pair of running shoes. If you ran cross country, you should still get a new pair for track to avoid injury. You can often find last year's models at a discounted price until they run out of stock. These can double as your school shoes. Middle school students are especially prone to knee pain as they grow. As old shoes break down, they no longer protect your joints from injury. Every running season you need to start with a new pair of shoes to prevent injuries. Coaches recommend Brooks Ghosts, Brooks GTS, Nike, or New Balance for running tennis shoes. When you buy a shoe, you want one that will provide support where you need it to keep your alignment neutral. Some will say if they are for pronators or supinators in their description. This will help prevent ankle and knee pain from running. Long jump is sandy so if you do not have spikes, you may want at least an old pair of tennis shoes for the event to keep your others nicer.
Where is the best places to buy running shoes and/or spikes?
If you are looking for an inexpensive option, try shopping at Ross or ebay. If you are are looking for more guidance finding the right shoe for your foot, specialists will help you at 1-on-1 at Fleet Feet in Mishawaka and offer a discount for school sports. Schedule an appointment in the store or virtually at https://www.fleetfeet.com/s/mishawaka If you want another option where you can try on different styles and sizes, Dicks Sporting Good usually has a decent variety. Due to COVID, there is less sales on running tennis shoes and very little options for spikes available online and at stores right now. They are just not getting shipments in form manufactures. Fit to run often has good deals online and Point 2 is a small company with a great return policy that would be willing to help you navigate any questions you would have. Sizes are even limited buying online straight through manufactures like Brooks and Nike.
If you are looking for an inexpensive option, try shopping at Ross or ebay. If you are are looking for more guidance finding the right shoe for your foot, specialists will help you at 1-on-1 at Fleet Feet in Mishawaka and offer a discount for school sports. Schedule an appointment in the store or virtually at https://www.fleetfeet.com/s/mishawaka If you want another option where you can try on different styles and sizes, Dicks Sporting Good usually has a decent variety. Due to COVID, there is less sales on running tennis shoes and very little options for spikes available online and at stores right now. They are just not getting shipments in form manufactures. Fit to run often has good deals online and Point 2 is a small company with a great return policy that would be willing to help you navigate any questions you would have. Sizes are even limited buying online straight through manufactures like Brooks and Nike.
Does my child need spikes?
Spikes are optional not required. Middle school students grow so quickly that the size they wear this year will probably not fit them next year. We encourage parents to be cost efficient in deciding to buy track spikes for middle school students who are just beginning. All events are able to be done in running tennis shoes, and unless athletes are in a scoring position there is really is no need to buy specialty spikes other than personal preference. Spikes should not be used for every workout and training should be done in running tennis shoes as much as possible to protect your feet, shins, and knees from injury. However spikes should be worn a few times before competing in races. Spikes are not as comfortable as running shoes and can cause lower leg and foot pain if your feet are not adapted to the spikes before wearing them to race or you wear them too much for training. Spikes should fit more snug than tennis shoes more like a sock so that they do not slide around. You can often wear a half size smaller than your shoe size. We can have kids try on different sizes at our last practice before spring break so that they know what size would be best for them to look for if needed after we have done trials to help kids determine their events.
Spikes are optional not required. Middle school students grow so quickly that the size they wear this year will probably not fit them next year. We encourage parents to be cost efficient in deciding to buy track spikes for middle school students who are just beginning. All events are able to be done in running tennis shoes, and unless athletes are in a scoring position there is really is no need to buy specialty spikes other than personal preference. Spikes should not be used for every workout and training should be done in running tennis shoes as much as possible to protect your feet, shins, and knees from injury. However spikes should be worn a few times before competing in races. Spikes are not as comfortable as running shoes and can cause lower leg and foot pain if your feet are not adapted to the spikes before wearing them to race or you wear them too much for training. Spikes should fit more snug than tennis shoes more like a sock so that they do not slide around. You can often wear a half size smaller than your shoe size. We can have kids try on different sizes at our last practice before spring break so that they know what size would be best for them to look for if needed after we have done trials to help kids determine their events.
What is the difference between spikes?
Spikes can be tricky to buy because they are not all the same, but mid distance spikes are the most versatile all around spike that could be used for most middle school track events. Distance spikes have more heel support and cushion in the heel to plant and roll through. Cross-country spikes have more support on the heel because a cross-country runner does not want to run the entire race on the balls of his feet. There is still a slight upward angle on the toe plate but it is not as much of an angle as the sprint or track spike. Cross-country spikes have more grip for courses that are muddier or more hilly. Many cross-country runners use their cross-country spikes on the track for longer races, such as the 3000 m to 10000 m races. More of an arc in the toe and less heel support as a mid distance spike is recommended on anything under 3000 meters. High jumpers will benefit from a spike where they can plant on their heel either as a high jump , distance, or mid distance spike. Sprint spikes are very rigid with a plastic heal to force you to run on your toes. These would be very uncomfortable for longer distance races. Mid distance spikes are more in between the two. Long Jumpers could really wear any spike but sprint spikes would be the best if not using a long jump specific spike. High Jumpers would be better with more heel support in a distance or mid distance spike if not using a high jump specialty spike with the plate design and spikes in the heel to give you the right amount of stiffness and a better push-off. |
DIRECT FROM MANUFACTURERS
BrooksRunning.com - shoe finder / spikes Nike.com - running shoes / spikes NewBalance.com - women / men / spikes Saucony.com - womens / mens / spikes |
ONLINE STORE OPTIONS
Dicks Sporting Goods - mens shoes / womens shoes / spikes Eastbay - spikes Fit to Run - womens shoes / mens shoes Point2 - mens shoes & spikes / womens shoes & spikes Ebay - new & used spikes ... may need to search by specific name of shoe to find |
Which do the abbreviations mean on spike names?
S/SD = Sprints/Short Distance up to 400m (no heel cushion and more stiff to require running only on toes)
M/MD = Mid Distance 800m - 3000m (medium heel cushion with medium heel lift)
L/LD = Long Distance over 3000m (more heel support and cushion)
LJ = Long Jump Specialty (lighter with more spring than sprint spike)
HJ = High Jump Specialty (heal designed with more support and spikes for planting with heel)
X/XC = Cross Country (designed with more heel support and cushion with more grip for rugged terrain)
# = the model number that increases by one each year
S/SD = Sprints/Short Distance up to 400m (no heel cushion and more stiff to require running only on toes)
M/MD = Mid Distance 800m - 3000m (medium heel cushion with medium heel lift)
L/LD = Long Distance over 3000m (more heel support and cushion)
LJ = Long Jump Specialty (lighter with more spring than sprint spike)
HJ = High Jump Specialty (heal designed with more support and spikes for planting with heel)
X/XC = Cross Country (designed with more heel support and cushion with more grip for rugged terrain)
# = the model number that increases by one each year
Which spikes do coaches recommend if looking for specific events?
100m / 200m / 400m - Nike Zoom Rival S # / Saucomy Spitfire #
400m / 800m - Nike Zoom Rival M # / New Balance MD# / Saucomy Ballista MD
800m / 1600m - Nike Zoom Rival M # / New Balance MD# / Brooks Wire or Mach / Saucomy Ballista MD
3200m / 3000m - Nike Zoom Rival D # or XC # / New Balance MD# or XC# / Brooks Wire or Mach / Saucomy XC#
Long Jump - Nike Air Zoom LJ Elite / Under Armour Hovr Skyline LJ OR any of the above but ideally more like sprint spikes to increase speed on the runway
High Jump - High Jump Elite / Saucony Uplift HJ # OR any of the above but ideally more like distance spikes with cushion in the heal
Shot Put - Running Tennis Shoes for middle school to move on concrete (Smooth bottom throwing shoes without spikes for high school)
Discus - Running Tennis Shoes for middle school to move on concrete (Smooth bottom throwing shoes without spikes for high school
100m / 200m / 400m - Nike Zoom Rival S # / Saucomy Spitfire #
400m / 800m - Nike Zoom Rival M # / New Balance MD# / Saucomy Ballista MD
800m / 1600m - Nike Zoom Rival M # / New Balance MD# / Brooks Wire or Mach / Saucomy Ballista MD
3200m / 3000m - Nike Zoom Rival D # or XC # / New Balance MD# or XC# / Brooks Wire or Mach / Saucomy XC#
Long Jump - Nike Air Zoom LJ Elite / Under Armour Hovr Skyline LJ OR any of the above but ideally more like sprint spikes to increase speed on the runway
High Jump - High Jump Elite / Saucony Uplift HJ # OR any of the above but ideally more like distance spikes with cushion in the heal
Shot Put - Running Tennis Shoes for middle school to move on concrete (Smooth bottom throwing shoes without spikes for high school)
Discus - Running Tennis Shoes for middle school to move on concrete (Smooth bottom throwing shoes without spikes for high school