Coaches Corner: Spike use

[mojo]

Not sure if this should be on the other board but feel fairly confident the powers that be will move it if necessary.

I would like to hear from coaches how often they have their athletes train in spikes. I have no hard set opinion on it but am definitely in the "less is more" category.

old cinder tracks. Now cinder may be slow and messy (remember getting little pieces of cinder embedded in your knees at the start? :lol: ) but it is fabulous for training on. We had very few injuries as compared to today's athletes IMHO because we were not on hard tracks. I don't have any scientific proof of this by the way just my gut feeling and experience.

We coach year round and our athletes are on the track up to four days
week (in season). Our weather is often quite cold. Make that almost always cold. :x
In the fall and winter the only athletes who wear spikes are jumpers and hurdlers when the track is wet and slick otherwise all training is done in flats. In the warmer weather we still only let the athletes wear spikes for some time trials or for some limited speed work(starts for example, quick 40's and 60"s). They never do an entire running workout in spikes.
Many people say you need to condition for feet for spikes which may be true but unless you run a 5K or something you aren't in the spikes for any length of time.
As an athlete I needed spikes when hurdling but actually like training in flats as I knew the spikes would give me that added something in a race. For me spikes meant race time!

So I would love to hear thoughts from coaches, couch potatoes :wink: and former athletes about your spike usage in practice.
Again I honestly don't think there is one right answer but love hearing how different people handle the issue.

[Marlow]

not including a damp track - mandatory spikes

hurdlers - twice a week, for maximum traction to work on step patterns

HJers- 2 or 3 times a week because of slippage in the J
PVers - once a week, at a bar
LJers - 1 or 2 a week working on approach
TJers - twice a week when we jump

I don't handle the sprinters, but they wear them in block work and sometimes in relay work

800 & up - only meets

[mojo]

not including a damp track - mandatory spikes

hurdlers - twice a week, for maximum traction to work on step patterns

HJers- 2 or 3 times a week because of slippage in the J
PVers - once a week, at a bar
LJers - 1 or 2 a week working on approach
TJers - twice a week when we jump

I don't handle the sprinters, but they wear them in block work and sometimes in relay work

800 & up - only meets

Sounds very similar to us.

A coach I know has his middle distance athletes in spikes for every workout. Needless to say I think that is crazy.

I believe of all athletes hurdlers need spikes the most.

So what do you when it snows down there? :twisted:

[guru]

My hurdlers, jumpers, and sprinters - NEVER, not ever, in practice.

[Marlow]

My hurdlers, jumpers, and sprinters - NEVER, not ever, in practice.

So you never practice technique with the hurdlers or jumpers when the track is damp? We'd never get much done.

[guru]

So you never practice technique with the hurdlers or jumpers when the track is damp?

Yes, in training flats.

[mojo]

Our track is very slippery when it is wet (old and covered in bird shit in places) and so we use spikes for safety reasons. I have seen a few bad slips that convicne me spikes are needed.
I think not using them at all can be very valid though.

[guru]

Our track is very slippery when it is wet (old and covered in bird shit in places) and so we use spikes for safety reasons. I have seen a few bad slips that convicne me spikes are needed.
I think not using them at all can be very valid though.

A worn track I can see the safety issue and need for spikes. Fortunately our facility is a year old so footing isnt much of a concern, even when wet.

[mojo]

Our track is very slippery when it is wet (old and covered in bird shit in places) and so we use spikes for safety reasons. I have seen a few bad slips that convicne me spikes are needed.
I think not using them at all can be very valid though.

A worn track I can see the safety issue and need for spikes. Fortunately our facility is a year old so footing isnt much of a concern, even when wet.

Oh rub it why don't you?


:wink:

[guru]

Oh rub it why don't you?

lol, not my intention. But after spending the first 17 years of my coaching career training kids on a 440 mudhole, where we drew lines in the dirt to practice handoffs, I can honestly say I paid my dues in regards to hellacious training facilities.

And to the local, um, state institution of higher learning that wanted to charge us an arm and a leg to come there for practice - I hope you never need to come calling for a place to train if your track ever needs maintenance.

[Marlow]

Our track is very slippery when it is wet (old and covered in bird shit in places) and so we use spikes for safety reasons. I have seen a few bad slips that convicne me spikes are needed.
I think not using them at all can be very valid though.

A worn track I can see the safety issue and need for spikes. Fortunately our facility is a year old so footing isnt much of a concern, even when wet.

That's amazing. No slippage in HJ or TJ in flats on a wet runway!!!

The other thing I've learned over the years is that one's steps in a LJ/TJ approach is different between spikes and flats. I also won't let HJers jump at full speed in flats even on dry apron. Hurdlers who strain to 3-step, do so easier in spikes (though most of the high hurdle repeats are done with reduced spacing (and lower hurdles)).

[guru]

[That's amazing. No slippage in HJ or TJ in flats on a wet runway!!!

We do little, if any, full jumps in practice, and when it's raining we're training inside anyway. It usually only takes a few hours for the track to dry after the rain stops.

[mojo]

look at us nerdy coaches talking track on a Friday night. :lol:

I am surprised you never do full runs in LJ/TJ.Do you just wait until meets to work out a run up?
We always do at least three or full runs-in order to really cement motor skills you need to do the event at full speed and in full sequence.

Yes we do" popups" and drills but always end with a few real jumps.


You don't do full jumps in the HJ either?

[guru]

More in HJ, but not right now - just started it this week - basic drill stuff and low height jumps at this point.

[Kurt Francis]

Oh rub it why don't you?

lol, not my intention. But after spending the first 17 years of my coaching career training kids on a 440 mudhole, where we drew lines in the dirt to practice handoffs, I can honestly say I paid my dues in regards to hellacious training facilities.

And to the local, um, state institution of higher learning that wanted to charge us an arm and a leg to come there for practice - I hope you never need to come calling for a place to train if your track ever needs maintenance.

Oh, come on Karl, what are you really trying to say :lol:

I'll be working the shot at that local institute tomorrow...want me to wear some Walnut garb for you?