I have aways run in Mizuno Cross Country Spike shoes.  The same pair for the last 6 years in fact.  The spikes seized up about 4 years ago so as this year started they were quite blunt and short, I ran 3 cross country races in them and then I decided to splash out and get some new ones due to having serious grip problems.

I went for the Saucony Grid Shay XC 3 and I took them for a spin on Sunday 24 November in the South Yorkshire Cross Country League at Campsall Country Park.  I ran with 12mm spikes in and I only had one slip in the entire race.  I also ended the race with dry feet.  The route was quite stoney for perhaps 15%  of the course and I think 9mm would have been better.  I bent some of the 12mm spikes and 1 broke.  I have got a painful right heal, this was caused by jumping ditches and landing quite heavily, hopefully this will not be a recurring issue when using these new shoes.  I think I like them which is a good job as my old Mizuno’s are in the bin.