Walking advice: Hiya, I know some of you also... - Bridge to 10K

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Walking advice

48 Replies

Hiya,

I know some of you also walk and I wanted to know what would be best.

I plan on trying to walk every day for an hour after work (for those who are in the loop: Conqueror LOTR medals!!). This will be roughly 3 to 4 km I guess. Can I do this with my running shoes or do I need special walking shoes?

Thanks, Evy

48 Replies
Mormor1 profile image
Mormor1Graduate10

I would say definitely yes. Are you going to do it on the treadmill?

in reply toMormor1

Yes and no. I plan to go outside in non rainy weather, maybe with my mom. And when rainy it will be the treadmill.

Plan on using my running shoes on the treadmill as I don't plan to buy 2 pair of walking shoes and don't want to pluck all the little stones out of the sole every time I have to switch. So for outdoors I probably will want real walking shoes?

ForbiddenPlanet profile image
ForbiddenPlanetGraduate10

Hi - I would say absolutely yes, you can use your running shoes. I've been a keen hiker for many years, and have a large collection of hiking shoes. But now my hiking trainers lie idle, because I've found that my retired running shoes are much more comfortable and do a better job of protecting my legs on hard urban surfaces.

In my case, at the moment I do an 8 km walk every other day (ie on non running days), wearing Adidas Ultraboost 19 or 20 - two pairs of shoes I no longer use for running.

Beatlesforever profile image
BeatlesforeverGraduate10

You can use your running shoes but I wouldn't use the same pair of shoes for walking and running. You need to let them recover between uses. My walking shoes get used every day, at least twice a day (I have three pairs that I rotate). I only use my running shoes for running. My old running shoes I use for things like strength & flex around the house.

Oldgirlruns profile image
OldgirlrunsGraduate10

Hi BS, Good for you getting out for a walk every day, I’m sure you’ll get the benefit from it! I’ve always understood it’s best not to use the same shoes for walking and running. When I bought some new trainers for running, I kept the old ones which I now use for walking although if I’m out in the country I tend to wear a pair of proper hiking shoes with thicker soles. Enjoy your walks!

oldcanary profile image
oldcanary in reply toOldgirlruns

pretty much the same- tend to finish off my retired running shoes as walking shoes. Started off as a biggish walker in walking shoes/boots but now i run (14 months in) i find walking shoes/boots generally too heavy and cumbersome. Yes i get out the boots if i know the mud will be really deep and tricky, but generally the running shoes are my go to. But obviously everyone is different ( and i have a lot of retired running shoes to just finish off!). Enjoy the walks whatever you choose

Week7 profile image
Week7Graduate10

Hi, I would see how you get on. I find walking long distances in running shoes leads to pain in one of my knees but I am fine in my walking boots , perhaps because they have a more defined heel?

Reading what others have said perhaps it's just me ! I have had issues with swelling in one knee for many years but it seems to have improved since I started running!

Enjoy your walks whatever you decide-it sounds like a lovely way to spend an hour now the lighter evenings are here!

nowster profile image
nowsterGraduate10

I don't walk in my running shoes, but that's mainly because I don't want to wear them out prematurely.

The terrain I do walks on tends to be more gravelly than the paths I run on, too. I have walking shoes for that.

You'll not be surprised to find that I'm also a quick walker, doing between 8 and 10 min/km. I like to potter around taking photos when out on a walk (as anyone who sees my Strava stream will know).

in reply tonowster

You walk faster than I run 😂

Kirst13 profile image
Kirst13Graduate10 in reply to

Same 😁

Doris8 profile image
Doris8Graduate10 in reply tonowster

Like your photos on Strava, I thought I was a quick walker at 9/10 m /k . I couldn’t do 8 would be jogging at that. Well done.

nowster profile image
nowsterGraduate10 in reply toDoris8

I can only do 8min/km on occasion, like I'm late getting to the chippy. I look a bit like John Cleese when I'm doing that speed. 🤣

Doris8 profile image
Doris8Graduate10 in reply tonowster

Like that 🤣🤣

Instructor57 profile image
Instructor57Graduate10 in reply tonowster

"Late to the chippy" 🤣Luv it !

nowster profile image
nowsterGraduate10 in reply toInstructor57

There was one Friday afternoon back in August/September last year, when I set out on about a 9km walk, with the aim of getting to the chippy door at the time I'd pre-ordered the fish-and-chips-twice to be ready.

I got delayed a little before setting off. I then got "cut short" and had to go into a café, use their facilities, and buy a coffee off them as thanks.

Then the public footpath path I was intending to follow round the side of a golf course had disappeared, and I had to find an alternative route, including fighting the undergrowth of nettles and brambles using the fenced-in route that the golf club had provided.

Then, when I got back on the familiar paths, I realised I was running very late. I decided to go the straightest route, but that still required me to speed up otherwise I'd miss the chippy's closing time.

In the event, I arrived with 15 minutes to spare. My order had been sitting on the hotplate for about half an hour, and I got a "What time do you call this?" from the owner.

Oldfloss profile image
OldflossAdministratorGraduate10 in reply tonowster

I'm a fast walker too!

Doris8 profile image
Doris8Graduate10

Hi I use my running shoes for walking and running but have 2 pair. Both are cushioned , can do about a 4 km every day except Sunday which is longer in my running shoes. In winter I bought a pair of trail altra and use for walking but can take time getting used to as low drop and flex foot more as well. Going to use these twice a week, mines mostly on pavements and roads. . I dont really run now mostly walking. Hope you enjoy your walking. You might need walking shoes if your planning to go longer walks and out with roads .

in reply toDoris8

I don't plan on doing long walks, mainly 3 km to 1 hour, depending on my mother. She wants to join me on my daily walks for her own fitness. But lately she struggles a bit with her legs / bionic hips. So we won't be able to go long distances.

She plans on doing the walks in her regular sneakers, in which she can do longer walks. But I like the idea of having special shoes for the walks. I struggle with my feet, I have very difficult feet for shoes. So I'm not sure if using my regular sneakers / shoes in which I work (desk job) for the walks would be good.

The plan now is to buy special walking shoes, but just the A-type, meaning for city and parks, which will be where I will be walking. And then use my treadmill running shoes for when it rains and I use the treadmill for the walking.

Dexy5 profile image
Dexy5Graduate10

Brooks recommend that you only use your running shoes for running. They are designed for the running action and you would be reducing their life by walking in them. For walking I would use cheaper trainers or walking specific shoes.

in reply toDexy5

I don't plan on doing long walks, mainly 3 km to 1 hour. I do like the idea of having special shoes for the walks. I struggle with my feet, I have very difficult feet for shoes. So I'm not sure if using my regular sneakers / shoes in which I work (desk job) for the walks would be good.

The plan now is to buy special walking shoes, but just the A-type, meaning for city and parks, which will be where I will be walking. And then use my treadmill running shoes for when it rains and I use the treadmill for the walking.

CBDB profile image
CBDBGraduate10

I constantly think I should be doing more walking, as I find it harder than slow-jogging. But it’s really difficult to give up the rest of the mornings. But I just borrowed a walking book that approaches walking like running, with training plans that include drills and specific walking techniques. For someone that likes a good plan, it’s very tempting. So I’ll be watching out for your walks to get inspired! 👏👏👏

Conqueror LOTR medal, I thought it was an April Fool’s joke! 🤣🤣 Got to look that up!

in reply toCBDB

No, it is not an April Fool's joke, it is real! There are 5 medals and if you want them all, you have to do them in consecutive order. You can't for example choose to do only 2 and 3, you have to finish 1 then go on to number 2 and so on. For 2 medals I think there are also 2 different distances: for walking / running and for cycling. First distance is a bit longer, 233 km I think, then there are 3 shorter distances and the last one is the big one, 455 km or something. And with the first medal you get THE ring, which you can 'destroy' in the last medal (the ring pops in a special place in the fifth medal). I am really looking forward to it, I read the book before there were even plans for the movies and I loved the book (it was 1 very thick book while now they split it in 3 books). But seen I run such short distances (or not run for the past week even), I don't think I'd be able to do these medals running. So my mother actually came with the idea of walking every day after work. And I calculated and with just 3 km a day, I can reach those medals in reasonable times (3 months for the first and 6 months for the last eg.). So I will keep my runs to my Inca Trail and the challenge I already bought for after the Inca Trail. And my walks will go to the LOTR challenges.

CBDB profile image
CBDBGraduate10 in reply to

It’s such a great idea to set a walking challenge. And a LOTR challenge sounds brilliant. Conqueror do the virtual challenges so well, so I’ll be looking out for your posts!

Great stuff.

Oldfloss profile image
OldflossAdministratorGraduate10 in reply to

Just took a look and it looks really good fun!

Doris8 profile image
Doris8Graduate10 in reply toCBDB

I got a couple of books on walking not sure if it helped or not one was called walking for fitness Nina borough , she was the lady who does the walks (moonwalks);for breast cancer walkthewalk. And as well I downloaded Joanne Hall walkactive. Some of her videos on YouTube. Still can’t get the hip walking part right but partner says I walk ok.

Daiwalker profile image
Daiwalker

I will add to the voices advocating using your old running shoes for walking. I'm an avid walker and find myself in various forms of footwear but my old running shoes are my comfy go-to shoe either mid-way through a long hike, after a long hike, or the only shoe I'll wear on shorter hikes.

It might depend on the terrain you are walking but for everyday walking I say yes, use your old runners and enjoy the comfort!

in reply toDaiwalker

I only have my new running shoes, which I use on the treadmill and then my old running shoes who are actually out-dated. They are literally 8 years old I think and have lost a lot of cushioning.

MissUnderstanding profile image
MissUnderstandingAdministratorGraduate10

I’ve been using my running trainers for everything after I broke my toe and they were the only shoes I could comfortably wear! I’m back to having a couple of other pairs I can get on now but I’ve still been exclusively wearing them for walks. It’s great for comfort but they’ve worn out much more quickly because of the extra use. Now I’ll be wearing my new trainers (which will be an Easter treat buy) just for running and others for walking to maximise the life of the running ones. Hopefully I won’t break anything else that means going back to full time trainers. I think I have now ditched heels for life!

Lookslikejames profile image
LookslikejamesGraduate10

I'm glad I'm not the only one all over the LOTR medals, every day I've got more and more stoked with the next reveal! The Mines of Moria look awesome!! I was planning on just running them all but maybe I will add some walks

in reply toLookslikejames

I don't run enough distance to do them within respectable times. But I figured (well actually my mom came with the idea) that if I walk every day at least 3 km, I can do them in reasonable time.

I'm not a big fan though of the 5th and last medal. Why did they have to put that freaking Shelob (spider) on the back?? Iech!

Lookslikejames profile image
LookslikejamesGraduate10 in reply to

I think you can do teams, so we can do it together if you want? However, I need to know that you can pay for one medal at a time, as paying for them all at once will be too expensive for me at the moment. And yeah, I'll be honest and say that the last two aren't amazing, but I'm hoping that there is a hidden aspect once you add the ring to the last one that they haven't shown in the promo video

in reply toLookslikejames

You can actually put the ring somewhere in the last medal, I saw it on Facebook 😜.

I haven't done teams yet, because I personally find it a bit like cheating. I want to do all the distance myself and not do only half the distance and get a medal for the full distance. I am weird that way. But I just calculated all the distances (the short ones, not the cycling distances) and if I do 3 km every day, I would need about 51 weeks, so roughly 1 year. That is not too bad I think!

I do am going to buy all 5 together, as I think it will be cheaper than every medal separately. If you buy 1 medal, you often get this option to buy more at the same time, giving a discount on the second and third and such. So I except (hope) they will give a discount for buying the 5 medals together.

Lookslikejames profile image
LookslikejamesGraduate10 in reply to

I get that completely and would rather do the same or else I haven’t earned it! I signed up for the first one, all at once was too much unfortunately (2 of my kids and my wife have a birthday this month so April is painful!) did you manage to sign up? The site buckled under all of the demand!!

in reply toLookslikejames

I was sitting yesterday as if I was trying to get tickets to Tomorrowland. Apparently, getting tickets to Tomorrowland is easier than getting in LOTR yesterday, haha. I gave up in the end when I went to sleep, as the site was out. I thought they had all sold out, though I had read they are going to release the challenges over the next 12 months every time they produced the medals, so I wasn't afraid. Just disappointed I would not be able to start this week. But I tried again this morning and it worked! I did buy the full set in 1 go (my mom thinks I'm crazy for spending so much) and will start still this week! I estimate the full set will take me almost 1 year if I walk 3 km every day.

Lookslikejames profile image
LookslikejamesGraduate10 in reply to

I had the exact same journey with it. Everyone lost their mind last night even though it was clearly stated that they would be making more! I woke up this morning and signed up to the first one easily!! Now to shift this lurgy and then I can get started.

in reply toLookslikejames

You going to run them? Maybe last year, when I was running 20 km per week I would have run them. But I don't run that much anymore now, so it would take MUCH too long. That's why I have decided to walk them and to force myself to walk at least 3K every day.

Lookslikejames profile image
LookslikejamesGraduate10 in reply to

Yeah I will run it, will definitely be good motivation for my marathon training!

nowster profile image
nowsterGraduate10 in reply to

Someone told me that Galadriel's vial works against it. 🤣

Lookslikejames profile image
LookslikejamesGraduate10 in reply tonowster

Nowster are you getting in on these medals?

nowster profile image
nowsterGraduate10 in reply toLookslikejames

No, that was a joke. This is the first I've heard of it.

Lookslikejames profile image
LookslikejamesGraduate10 in reply tonowster

lol I got the joke, just assumed that, if you had that much LOTR knowledge, you'd be all over it!

Frenc profile image
FrencGraduate1060minGraduate

I am naughty and walk in my running shoes 😛. But otherwise I walk in an old pair of trainers. If you are hiking, then I’d recommend proper walking shoes. If it’s just a walk round your local area, I don’t think you need to spend the money. Can you try some running shoes you don’t use any more? 😀

in reply toFrenc

I only have my new running shoes, which I use on the treadmill and then my old running shoes who are actually very out-dated. They are literally 8 years old I think and have lost a lot of cushioning. And my regular sneakers for all day, I don't want to use too much as I already have such difficulties in finding good all day shoes.

For those interested, I decided to try my old running shoes after all. Those completely out-dated, fully worn, 8 year old thingies which should probably be buried 6 feet under. But I ordered a pair of special inner soles for flat feet and a lot of other issues from an online podo-shop where I also got my sports / running soles from. I will try these old shoes with the new soles out first on a couple of walks to see how they feel. If they feel ok, I'll continue using them for my walks (except on the treadmill, where I will use my current / new running shoes). If they don't feel ok, I'll go buy a pair of real walking shoes.

In other news, I have my 5 Lord of the Rings codes, which was a hell to get. I sat first line yesterday to buy them, but it was worse than trying to get tickets to Tomorrowland (which I actually tried and succeeded in the year before Covid hit). Yesterday the site crashed continuously from the mass of people trying to get in. But this morning I succeeded in getting my entry. So LOTR-walks, here I come!

CBDB profile image
CBDBGraduate10 in reply to

Woohoo! LOTR SUCCESS! They do look great! (Had a look since last)

in reply toCBDB

To do them all, it will probably take me nearly a year I think 😜

CBDB profile image
CBDBGraduate10 in reply to

Well I am about to g do finally finish End2End’s LandsEnd to John o’Groats challenge, and that will have taken me almost two years! (Started Aug 20’).

It was the first medal-virtual-challenge I signed up to, and I’ve amassed a handful of medals since than, a couple Conqueror ones as well.

But it’s kept me going through most of my post C25k journey.

So I find it’s great to have a long virtual challenge accompanying you on this next phase. I’m quite tempted, but I was never such a big LOTR fan, although having read and watched all instalments. Hubby is a fan, but he does not care for medals, so I can’t even consider it as a present. 🤣

Enjoy the start to a - what it sounds like - huge exciting journey!

in reply toCBDB

Thanks, I do am a LOTR fan. I read the book (back when it was 1 book and not split in 3) in 2 weeks when I was on holiday. Even in the bar I was reading, there was a waiter who had to laugh with it. I also saw the movies and loved them, but was disappointed that some things were missing in the movies. But I am a fantasy lover, so...

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