For many runners, the most important piece of kit is their running shoes. There are one or two extra things that make the experience of running a great one, such as moisture wicking technical shirts, which magically transport sweat away from your body, leaving you completely dry at the end of your run. But without good shoes, you leave yourself at risk of joint injuries which can be time-consuming to put right.
One of the questions that crops up on a regular basis is whether running spikes are a necessity, or whether normal rubber soled running shoes will suffice. The easy answer to this question is that it depends what kind of surfaces you go jogging on. If you run down your local park, on the footpaths, then you are best off using ordinary rubber soled shoes, because the surface will be very hard. Wearing spiked running shoes will not afford you any extra grip in this instance.
If you are a cross country runner, or you run on grass tracks at a park or sports field, then you might be better advised to wear running shoes with spikes. The spikes will give you superior grip on the softer ground in these cases and prevent you from slipping, especially if the grass is wet.
Photo by Mad African!: (Broken Sword)Similarly if you are seriously into athletics and are training for competition, you will need running spikes as you will be competing on modern athletics tracks which are made of material that is soft enough to allow them to grip effectively.
Remember to wear the correct spiked shoes depending on your event though. If you are a sprinter, you will need very lightweight shoes which have the teeth at the front and very little or no padding at all. For longer distance running, some heel cushioning is vital to prevent foot pain and fatigue from leaving you with no other option than to pull out of the race before the end.
For more advice on which running shoes and spikes to choose, it is always advisable to talk to the staff at your local running store, and tell them what kind of running you intend to do.
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