Quote Originally Posted by mr brightside View Post
I've always found tarmac useful for knocking a notch on and getting rid of persuers. Most people in my section of a field aren't too quick on the flat. What does irritate me is the way it ruins your studs.
I do actually remember one Leics & Rutland County Cross-Country Champs which included a section along a farm track. The track itself was tarmac, but with broad grass verges on both sides, and the grass was quite rough. Most runners were wearing spikes, and ran along the grass; I was in Walshes, and could run along the tarmac, which was definitely faster.

But yes, tarmac isn't good for studs, although I often wonder if gravelly or sandy surfaces may wear studs down even faster than flat tarmac.