If you do a lot of cross country running, you will be very well aware of the different racing conditions you could encounter, from a lovely relaxing run in sunshine on soft, dry ground; to traipsing through thick mud in the wind and rain, slipping and sliding at every stride. You will also know that cross country running is a totally different pursuit to normal jogging; and whereas for the latter a pair of standard running shoes are perfectly fine, for the former cross country running spikes are pretty much obligatory.
There are several different types of running spikes available in the stores, so you need to make sure you get the correct ones for your sport. Take your time and don’t let the sales staff hurry you. You will see sprinters’ track spikes, probably some other types which are meant for medium and long distance running on tracks, and even spiked running shoes for field athletes such as javelin throwers – you will know these as they look more like ankle boots and the teeth cover the whole of the sole including the heel. You need to find the ones that are called specifically cross country running spikes.
Although medium and long distance running spikes might seem okay, the cross country variety tends to be better suited to the ever-changing conditions you might encounter from one race to another. They have more padding for extra comfort, although they are still very lightweight. With cross country spikes, you will be able to remove the teeth and replace them with different lengths. Go for longer teeth when running on very muddy undulating courses so that your feet will not slip. Then just use shorter spikes for dryer conditions; you can even use them with short teeth instead of specialized sprint or medium distance running spikes if you want – just make sure you know the race regulations, as they are very strict about the allowable lengths of spikes for track racing. Also of note is that some cross country shoes have spikes on the sides of the sole as well as the base; these will not be permitted in track racing, but they can easily be screwed out.
So wearing cross country running spikes will enable you to stay on course due to their far superior grip, while also providing extra comfort for the long distances covered.
Cross Country Spikes