SPD pedals are perfectly fine for road racing. I've used them for the past two seasons with no record of accidental unclipping.
Just remember to crank up the release tension.
Originally Posted by
ericm979
Racers wear loafers or flip-flops to walk to race registration, not their cycling shoes.
But those will work, they'll just be heavy and perhaps not quite as comfortable on long rides as regular road pedals.
The pedals that OP has weigh about the same as Dura Ace pedals.