Are running shoes a waste of money?

[Charlie_Francis]

@NumberTwo

Interesting article. I’ve always been curious about the impact of current sprint spike designs on performance and injury incidence. When I was an athlete back 20 years ago, the spikes were more flexible through the mid-sole, with a hard spike plate.

Now, the majority of sprint spikes are much more rigid right through the entire sole of the shoe - as if the rigidity of the spike plate has been extended through the entire length of the shoe.

I know that Charlie has been concerned about the ability of the sprint spike shoe to flex in the appropriate joints along the foot to minimize stress through the achilles tendon.

What have others on the forum seen with the recent designs of sprint spikes?

Of course, I’ve been concerned but I also wonder if the spike are part of the ‘unit’ with the new tracks. i really owuld like to hear something on that topic from the manufacturers. That said, it is still possible to work the foot with barefoot drils if the grass is soft, in perfect condition, and has had every inch of it checked for broken glass, nails, dead bees, etc.