Huh? Banning spiked shoes at a track meet? What are you smoking, brother! But that’s what officials of the Sierra Nevada Senior Games have in mind in May — outlawing spikes for sprinters and jumpers and requiring athletes to run in flats. So reports a Reno athlete who said he contacted meet officials to challenge the ban. But lest we go ballistic and picket the meet, cooler heads may prevail.

Gregory S. Moore, director of National Games & Athlete Relations for the National Senior Games Association, wrote me:
“Thank you for contacting me. I am unaware of this situation. No one contacted me, and the buck stops at my desk. Local and state games are free to make rules more restrictive, such as the banning of spikes, but our office, and me in particular, would not have supported the position below to ban them.”
Greg says he’s out of the country now, and concludes: “Please feel free to contact me when I return from overseas.”
The issue of banned spikes came to me in an email.
The athlete wrote, in part:
“My concerns lie in the fact that the decision makers in the parks and recreation department here in Reno, Nevada, have been given information stating that the use of track spikes for Senior Olympic competitors is dangerous and risky.
“So these powers at be, from what I have been told, are considering banning the use of track spikes altogether, for their Sierra Nevada Senior Games coming up this spring. They contacted the National Senior Olympic Committee and the NSOC told them it was a none issue (whatever that means) and as far as performance standards are concerned , there is no difference if track spikes are used or not.
“I would have to disagree with these opinions on both counts. On a personal note I know for a fact that track spikes can lower a top sprinters time in the 50, 100 or 200 by up to 3 tenths or more. As far as a safety issue, I would have to say the injuries from slipping or falling that I have personally witnessed is to the contrary. Those competitors were not wearing track spikes, which in my opinion would increase your traction on most surfaces. I have as a spokesman and advocate of these games brought the level of competition up to a regional level.
“Last year we had athletes from all over the west coast and beyond. We had the likes of Larry Barnum, Roger Parnell, Willie Venable and myself to name a few.
“All national champions, in various events. What I am afraid of we will lose these wonderful athletes this year because of misinformation given to our officials. In closing I am asking that possibly you would be willing to reach out to your vast resources in this matter and get some solid and respected opinions on this troubling issue. I would of course value your input as well. Maybe I am all wet on this one, but I don’t think so.”
Me again:
It’s well-known that Senior Olympics vary widely in quality, and that the focus of the circuit is getting older adults off the sofa and into a fitness regimen. But elite masters also compete on this circuit and hold meet directors to the same standards as they get from major USATF meets.
In any case, Reno is covered should anyone die from being spiked at the cut-in point of the 800 meters.
The entry form states:
“In executing this unconditional waiver, I state that my attendance and participation in the stated Sierra Nevada Senior Games is voluntary. I am familiar with the premises in which the activities in which I will participate will be conducted and know the risks and dangers involved in such activities. I assume all the risks of injury to my person and property that may be sustained in connection with the stated participation in and about the premises.”
That includes those brave souls who dare, courageously and heroically, to compete in events where spikes are worn.
So this ban-on-spikes idea — as moronic as anything I’ve heard in the masters movement — probably won’t be enacted. But it wouldn’t hurt if people express themselves on the issue, especially folks who might be competing in Reno. The local phone number for the Senior Olympics is 334-2262, x247. The general Reno email address is renodirect@cityofreno.com
You also might write the parent Nevada Senior Olympics at nevadaseniorgames@earthlink.net
Let’s nip this in the bud, shall we?