In track and field, elite athletes strive to make the most of every factor that affects their performance. And footwear is undoubtedly a very important part of it: Good grip on the track, significant improvement in technical control and speed When using the most suitable one.
At track and field events you will often see footwear that catches the eye at first glance because of its bright colors, Except for nails, The use of adapted carbon plates and midsoles greatly reduces the weight of the shoes.The weight of this pair of shoes and feeling of propulsion According to the athletes’ own evaluations, the two most outstanding advantages it produces are.
Why do sports shoes have spikes?
nails on sneakers Prevent heel from being impacted when stepping, they help support the midfoot, thus propelling the runner rather than slowing him down. Of course, they also provide players with greater grip on the court, especially with improvements in the materials they are made from.
With no cushioning in the heel, spiked shoes force you to run with the middle of your foot, something track and field technology clearly dictates. Improve grip strength, technique and reflexes There is a clear target on the track: some studies in this area show that this performance An increase of up to 1.8% Use spikes. To put it into more affordable terms: In mid-distance and long-distance testing, with proper adaptation, the gain can be between 5 and 8 seconds per kilometer run. Usain Bolt himself used a spiked model to break his 100m and 200m records, but he later assured the Guardian that if the new model incorporated the advanced technology, his The results will be better.
exist. .between shortcoming Wearing this type of shoes can be mentioned muscle overload, especially posterior training (calves, Achilles tendon area). It is always recommended to progress to spikes as athletes who do not run using correct technique will suffer from the lack of cushioning in such shoes.
type of nails
exist three types of nails Sneakers with different shapes and functions: pyramid, compression and stiletto. this pyramidal They are the most common and have a conical shape with a wide base that narrows until it reaches the apex. They are used to improve traction because they penetrate the track material through contact.
Another possibility is compressed, they are also conical, but have a “stepped” shape and end in a flat tip. It is because of this shape that they are called “Christmas trees.” They are designed to compress without penetrating the track and work well on rubber surfaces. Pin nails are the third type of nails; Having a narrower body and sharper apex will cause more wear and damage on the course.They enhance grip but also require athletes to extra energy Loosen the shoe every time it touches a surface.
How many nails do sneakers have?
Most of the time, sneakers have nine or eleven nails. World Athletics, the global governing body for athletics, says the shoe is designed to “provide protection and stability to the foot and a firm grip on the ground.”It also specified the number of pegs they could have: “The soles and heels of the shoes will be made in such a way that they Use up to 11 nails. Any number of nails up to 11 may be used, but the number of nail locations shall not exceed 11 inches.
The regulations also state that “the portion of each nail protruding from the sole or heel of the foot should not exceed 9mm, except for high jump and javelin events, which cannot exceed 12 mm. The studs must be constructed so that at least the half closest to the tip can be inserted into the 4 mm square cross-section specification. Shoes with 3 mm studs are typically used for long distance running. 5mm studs for mid-distance running. deep.
