Bristol Running Resource

Nike Zoom Waffle XC VIIWhat a mouthful. Since I’m getting into regular interval sessions on the grass at Coombe Dingle and doing the BMC Mike Sully Mob Match tomorrow, I thought now was the time to invest in my first pair of spikes.

It’s difficult when you get the first of anything, because you don’t really know what you want. Anyway, I went to Easy Runner, because it’s the nearest shop to my house, and it was p***ing with rain, in case you hadn’t noticed.

They were kind enough to let my 6yr old boy try the treadmill while I tried on the Nikes and some Brookes. First new thing was getting my head round the increased snugness of these shoes. I just looked on the Nike website and they say “go down 1.5 sizes” - well I went up 1, and I’m still a bit worried about tightness. But the Brookes seemed to let my toes slop out over the side of the sole, so I went for the Nikes. My daughter thought they looked cooler too, so there’s an added bonus.

So, its all systems go for a satisfying quarter of an hour of misery in the mud tomorrow - but no slipping over. I’m looking forward to running in something firm and positive, instead of spongy things - I think…

Update on November 22 by Mike

Well, I’ve run in them now and liked them. It has been particularly wet, and I still felt I was slipping a bit, but I never felt I would fall. It did feel like some grip on the heel would be good, but I guess there’s a reason why manufacturers don’t do this. But these Nikes have 4 spikes, wheras the Brookes had 6. Would that have made a difference?

They didn’t feel too tight while I was running, and I wouldn’t want them looser, as I wouldn’t want any feeling of my foot slipping in the shoe as they grip.