Walking in Running Shoes

[TrekChick]

Is it "okay" to walk in your running shoes? I was thinking that since the foot strike is different when walking than running, if you walk in running shoes, would you wear them out "wrong" for running? (Pretty philosophical, huh??)

~~~~~TrekChick

[Tri Girl]

Hmmmm... that's a good question. My orthopedic doc told me to only use my running shoes for running, and different shoes for walking. I have 3 pairs of shoes I rotate, depending on if I'm walking, running short distance, or running long distance. I rotate them, so each time I get a new pair, they become my long distance runners, the long distance shoes become my short distance shoes, my short distance shoes become my walking shoes, and my walking shoes become the "yard" shoes. Confused??? hee hee. It's really pretty easy, and my shoes last a lot longer that way.

[Nanci]

I would only use my running shoes for running, and it's optimal to have two or more pairs that you rotate. You mean exercise walking, or just walking around in daily life?

Nanci

[TrekChick]

I do mean walking for exercising. I normally walk the dogs in my hiking boots, but my running shoes are so much cushier! I have also noticed that I feel my shin splints more in the hiking boots than the running shoes, when I'm just walking. So, I was thinking about walking in my running shoes, but upon further thoughtful reflection, figured it might not be such a good idea unless I got some shoes ONLY for walking.

~~~~~TrekChick

[Grog]

Well one thing I know is not to walk on pavement with hiking boots. They're way too stiff, even for gravel or packed dirt trails...

[Nanci]

Well, you know you're supposed to rotate your several pairs of running shoes, and write the dates in them, if they are all the same, so you know who's the oldest- then when you retire a pair, they still have plenty of miles left for dog walking.

I have about six pairs of running shoes in my rotation right now- a pair of trail shoes, (but all I do is run on trails, anyway) a pair of cushy really expensive Asics for long runs where I expect my knees to hurt eventually from hills, and for recovery runs after my knees hurt, and four pairs of my beloved Asics Gel Lites in various stages of wear, plus in two different sizes- I wear the larger size, which is a whole size bigger than normal, for long, long runs when I know my feet will swell. Then there is a smaller, super-dirty pair for mud and rain. You get the idea...

Nanci

[runner2]

I rotate them, so each time I get a new pair, they become my long distance runners, the long distance shoes become my short distance shoes, my short distance shoes become my walking shoes, and my walking shoes become the "yard" shoes. Confused??? hee hee. It's really pretty easy, and my shoes last a lot longer that way.

Oh my, I have the same way like Tri Girl, in fact, I still have my first pair running shoes from 10 years ago, they're trail running shoes, then become my walking shoes, right now they are retired and in the box.
When I use the old running shoes for walking, I usually replace a good cushion insole with the old one.
And I can't run in my walking shoes(the old favorite), but I always walk in my running shoes from time to time.