• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

Click here to download the  free ebook of Alberto Juantorena’s  detailed training workouts leading up to the 1976 Montreal Olympics

SpeedEndurance.com

Success in Track & Field ... and Life

  • Home
    • About
    • Contact
  • Track & Field
    • 400 meters
    • 800m & Mile
    • 1/2 & Full Marathons
    • Long & Triple Jump
    • Hurdles
  • Training
    • Weight Training
    • Abs & Core
    • Injury Prevention
    • Shoes & Spikes
    • Masters
  • Coaching
    • Freelap Friday Five
    • Interviews
    • Sports Nutrition
    • Sport Psychology
  • Archives
  • Shop
    • My account
    • Checkout
    • Basket

SpeedEndurance TV: Can I Run Faster with Risers in Spikes?

You are here: Home / Coaching / SpeedEndurance TV: Can I Run Faster with Risers in Spikes?
24
SHARES
FacebookTwitter

April 22, 2013 by Jimson Lee 12 Comments

Ever wonder what are those little plastic washers that come with your track spikes?

We call them “risers” or “crowns”.

Do they make you run faster?  Do they prevent slippage?

In this episode of SpeedEndurance TV, I give 3 theories, where the 3rd theory is the most likely answer.

I should elaborate a bit more on my 2nd theory, and that is the “grip”.  I like using risers for the 200m as I felt they provided a better feel for the curve.  Often, these risers would break, especially on the outside of the spike.

I eat my spikes, so often I go through a new pair every year. (I have one set for training and one set for racing)  Thus I have no problems having spare risers or crowns.

SpeedEndurance TV with Jimson Lee with track spike risers or crowns 2

When do you use Risers (or crowns)?

Check out this short video on SpeedEndurance TV, and be sure to comment below if you have any questions.

See also  Sub 10 seconds 100m Times by Age

Category iconCoaching,  Shoes & Spikes,  SpeedEndurance TV,  Track & Field,  Training

About Jimson Lee

I am a Masters Athlete and Coach currently based in London UK. My other projects include the Bud Winter Foundation, writer for the IAAF New Studies in Athletics Journal (NSA) and a member of the Track & Field Writers of America.

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. StewG says

    April 22, 2013 at 5:28 am

    I would agree more with points 1 and 3

    1st is in line with long jump spikes having a “thicker” sole at the ball of the foot to the toes. This is to add a greater length on the pivot and I would say these “risers” can act the same way.

    The 3rd point is also valid in that having the risers you have potential to increase the stretch reflex of the Achilles resulting in greater power and stride length.

    My thoughts

    Reply
    • Jimson Lee says

      April 22, 2013 at 9:15 am

      @StewG, I know high hurdlers love to use them. I could take a survey and find out :)

      Reply
  2. Fabien says

    April 22, 2013 at 8:44 am

    I find risers really uncomfortable so I never use them. I love your spikes Jimson. It’s a very old model (1997). Where did you get them.

    Reply
    • Jimson Lee says

      April 22, 2013 at 9:14 am

      @Fabien, these are the original Adidas adiStar Powersprint Track Spikes… the “2” were baby blue:

      https://speedendurance.com/2010/03/16/review-adidas-powersprint-2-track-sprint-spike/

      Reply
      • Jared B says

        April 22, 2013 at 6:22 pm

        Do you know of any where I can purchase more crowns or risers?

        Reply
        • Jimson Lee says

          April 23, 2013 at 1:11 am

          @Jared, ironically, finding replacement crown or risers are a bitch to find. I know OMNI-LITE makes them, but they don’t sell them. My guess is they are “part of the shoe” so if you want more, you need to buy another pair of spikes, which should not be an issue if you go through spikes as fast as I do.

          Does anyone have other leads? Anybody?

          Reply
  3. Steve Williams says

    April 22, 2013 at 4:44 pm

    In 1974 Host Dassler ( owner of ADIDAS ) and I came up with the “riser crowns’ for the ADISTAR sprint shoe..I tested all types of crown configurations, Adidas German designers one side of the table French on the other ( the translations in the meeting was something to see.
    Mr Dassler asked me, what I wanted a shoe to do I said “keep me on my toes” so we came up with crowns at the ball of the foot was higher than the toes.Test & test races in competition, Mr Dassler loved that I would wear test shoes in races ! The other shoe request I had , well Adidas tech guys did not want to hear ….I said ,”the best 200m shoe was the 1968 PUMA 68 spike-lettes BRUSH shoe” They all growned (Mr Dassler told me later how he had that shoe banned by the IAAF before Mexico games)…So we places little plastic spike bumps all over the shoe bottom …test shoes had mishap, 1975 Jamaica 100m I had the outside lane ,sand on the track erased the plastic spikes. Later that year in Berlin I ran 9.9 ( World record at the time ) in a rainstorm ,the crowns kept my feet out of the water Mr Dassler was very happy that day he loved the tech side of sprint shoes

    Reply
    • Jimson Lee says

      April 23, 2013 at 1:07 am

      @Steve – Thanks for the insight! I had a feeling the crowns were “before my time”, as I bought my first pair of spikes in 1982 or 1983, and they had crowns or risers back then. We’ll need to do a Skype or Google hangout call on this one!

      Reply
  4. Perryn Lord says

    April 22, 2013 at 5:44 pm

    But with today’s pebax and Tpu spike plates, wouldn’t these proven energy return materials make risers as energy return tools obsolete?

    Reply
    • Jimson Lee says

      April 23, 2013 at 1:11 am

      @Perryn, yes, good point, that’s why I think risers are more of a “feel”, and must be tested on a one-to-one basis.

      Reply
  5. Justyn Warner says

    October 8, 2013 at 11:00 am

    Some great theories Jimson! I also wondered that myself about the risers. I use to use them back in high school and to me they always felt weird being lifted up..even if it was just a few mm. Great vid!

    Reply
  6. Juan says

    February 9, 2020 at 12:50 pm

    Can’t see how risers would add 2mm per stride. If your center of gravity was elevated 2mm it would be that way the whole run. You wouldn’t contact the ground 2mm earlier either…coz you’re already elevated that 2mm.

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Primary Sidebar

Recommended

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0xbs-aWxyLk

Shop Our Store

  • Bud Winter (9)
  • Championship Productions (6)
  • Clyde Hart (2)
  • Derek Hansen (1)
  • Electrical Muscle Stimulation (2)
  • Jim Hiserman (6)
  • Jimson Lee (4)
  • Uncategorised (0)

Articles by Category

Products

  • Jim Hiserman - Developing 800m Runners: Identifying, Categorizing and Developing 400m-800m Type Athletes $42.99 $39.99
  • Private Coaching - Monthly Plan $600.00 $525.00
  • Jim Hiserman-Developing-Distance-Runnersv2 Jim Hiserman - Developing Distance Runners Volume 2: A Systematic Approach to Developing Individual Success within a Dynamic Team Culture $34.95 $29.95
  • Feed-the-Cats-Clinic-3-Pack-701 'Feed the Cats' Clinic 3-Pack $64.99
  • Tony Holler's Feed the Cats": A Complete Sprint Training Program Tony Holler's "Feed the Cats" Complete Sprint Training Program $49.99
  • Bud Winter and Speed City presents Arthur Lydiard 509x716 Bud Winter & Arthur Lydiard MP3 [Download only] $9.99

RECENT POSTS

  • IFAC 2022: The Return of In-Person Conferences (with Virtual option)
  • Here is our 400m Discussion Recording… over 2 Hours Long
  • The Best Free Coaching Book – post Beijing 2022 Olympics
  • The Ultimate 400m Track Webinar for Coaches & Athletes
  • NACAC Athletics Coaching Science Series 2022
  • Top Six 400m Predictor Workouts (Number 4 is my Favourite)
  • Best 6 Podcasts for 2021 (and Beyond)
  • Why Karsten Warholm’s 45.94 400mH WR is my Highlight of 2021
  • Sprinting: 10 Research Articles for Effective Sprint Training [Part 23]
  • Pressure in Sports – Reflections from Tokyo 2020 Olympics

Copyright © 2023. SpeedEndurance.com is owned and operated by Aryta Ltd. Privacy Policy
Privacy & Cookies: This site uses cookies. By continuing to use this website, you agree to their use.
To find out more, including how to control cookies, see here: Cookie Policy