The new study finds that advanced footwear technology (AFT) spikes, often referred to as ‘super spikes,’ can improve times in middle-distance track races by an impressive 2%. As the next wave of professional athletes includes this groundbreaking discovery, it quickly is going to create havoc in the 2024 Paris Olympics.
The Spike Revolution
A ‘super spike’ (pictured) allows a runner to gain an advantage over the shoe they are running in Revolutionary new track-and-field footwear (file image) is turning the sport on its head, with five world records falling the last two weekends alone. Proprietary lateral-motion-control golf shoe technologies, or AFT — spikes took on a whole new meaning in the world of golf when it was discovered they were driving athletes to peak performance.
Fresh from being led by the University of Massachusetts Amherst, super spikes can be worth as much as a 2% gain in middle-distance races — say, the 800-meter and 1,500-meter events — researchers now say. The researchers say that given that in the past race times differences of less than 0.5% have separated gold, silver and third and not even making it on to the podium, this would be a “game changing” discovery. If it could make the games 2% faster, that would be huge for what is being prepared as a showcase in Paris in 2024.
The Science Behind the Surge
What, then, is so unique about these super spikes? According to the study authors, the secret is in advanced shoe technology. A thicker yet lighter midsole that is more resistant and less compliant (working against the ground’s buckling to keep your foot straight) combined with a stiff carbon-fiber plate embedded within the midsole. This unique configuration provides a better energy transfer. That, in turn, means less steps are needed to go the same distance with even longer strides.
In their tests, the researchers pitted a variety of super spike prototypes against traditional track spikes that are normally light with limited cushioning and no additional bending stiffness elements. The results were unambiguous, with the super spikes always beating out traditional spikes for speed: between 1.8% and 3.1% faster.
This, the researchers noted again in their Nature commentary, also provided a reminder that all super spikes are not equal. While some models like the PUMA evoSPEED LD Nitro Elite+ and Nike ZoomX Dragonfly had large 2% improvements, a third model from a different brand improved only 1%, statistically no better than classic spikes.
Conclusion
There is no debate that super spikes have had an impact on track and field performance. This new research provides not only scientific evidence of the great benefits these elite shoes can offer, but also demonstrates why it’s so critical to appreciate the minutiae variability between the spike designs. With the world holding its breath for Paris 2024 Olympics, it is evident that the spike technology revolution is here to influence laurels of glory in these much anticipated events. The implications of this work extend far beyond top-level athletes, however, as it allows a renewed context for recreational running and track demographics that can be marketed to in order to understand more about the role footwear plays in athletic performance.
