Different shoes

[Greenback-Boogie]

I have read that it is a good idea to alternate between two different pairs of shoes when running as this changes the balance and puts strain on different muscles (whilst putting less on others) therefore helping to make your legs stronger and less prone to injury. Is this true? If so is it only applicable to higher level runners?

[Millsie-J Graduate]

Wouldnt you need different types of shoes for that to be the case? For example, i over pronate, so I buy shoes with the correct support. Even with two different makes I would be needing similar support.

Now if you trail run my understanding is these are neutral support shoes. The idea being you are already working different muscles etc due to the uneven terrain. So maybe the solution is to trail run........

Im interested to see what others think on this.

[Hidden]

Sounds like terrible advice to me. Sounds straight out of the 1980s no pain no gain era.

Forces should only be going through your body in one particular way, the way it's designed for. Any shoes that direct forces any other way are just going to lead to muscle imbalance, alignment issues and recurrent injury.

Personally I'd find one good pair that is right for you, and stick with it. If you want a second pair to alternate, which is actually a good idea but for different reasons, then find a second pair that is also right for you.

If you want to build more muscles, incorporate other exercise types, or run on a good mix of different terrain types.

I mentioned it's a good idea to alternate shoes but for different reasons to what you read. That reason is primarily hygiene. Feet get sweaty. Sweat feeds bacteria and fungus. That makes for stinky shoes and an increased risk of annoying skin complaints like athletes foot. Alternating shoes means that any such microbes in your shoes have to go longer between feeds, and therefore can't thrive and breed so well. Of course there's also the obvious advantage that you won't be caught trainerless if you happen to get soaked and can't get them dry in time for your next run.

As an aside, re building other muscles, in martial arts, in out warmup / cardio phase before we get into the actual martial arts specific stuff, we sometimes run round the hall. We'll run normally for a couple of laps, then start mixing it up. We'll run a lap or two sideways on, sort of a skipping motion if you like, which brings all the hip muscles into play, backwards, which engages the quads and calves more, sudden direction changes, which engage all manner of muscles, and this crazy concept which really you need a helper for, while running, someone suddenly shouts a command, and you touch the floor with the left hand while keeping running. A different command for doing the same but with the right. Sounds quite simple but it doesn't half get the heart pumping because it's kind of like doing a squat mid run.

[Maddee_6333 Graduate in reply to Hidden]

So familiar from warming up for judo - only place I've ever warmed up like that.

[Hidden]

I've also read that somewhere, but I don't feel I need it for just 3 runs a week. Plus the sharp intake of breath when I found out how much decent shoes are going to cost and averting of eyes when I paid told me that buying two pairs was not for me.

[Hidden in reply to Hidden]

They don't have to be expensive. When you pay a lot, you are mostly paying for marketing and branding. There'll all still made by some kid in an Asian sweatshop regardless of brand or price.

I have to wear shoes for martial arts because of arthritis. There are two main ones that are highly revered in martial arts circles. One costs over a hundred quid a pair, and are endorsed by the monks of the shaolin temple no less. The other is addidas taekwondo, at about 60 quid when I last looked. I tried a pair on. Found them horrendous, and bought a pair of no make cheapos for about 20 quid that are brilliant.

[Hidden in reply to Hidden]

I prefer to run in shoes chosen on the advice of a proper running shop after gait analysis. They are expensive but I would rather pay than deal with running injury. I think running is more high impact on knees and ankles than martial arts. I have had knee problems in the past and none since starting running. I put that down to stretching and proper shoes.

[Hidden in reply to Hidden]

If you have any concerns about your feet or alignment etc then yes it's a good idea to get proper shoes. I wouldn't say running is more high impact than martial arts. We jump about and kick things all the time

That said, neither should be very high impact if done properly.

[Sandraj39 Graduate]

I have two pairs but one is for my slippy slidey trails in the winter and when it is very wet and muddy. Both suit my gait (I am a mild overpronator). my road shoes pretty much suit most of my runs, even my trails most of the year. 🙂 As long as your shoes suit your gait then there is no law that says you can't run in other shoes (many have several pairs) but you don't have to! When you get a favourite pair though, you tend to want to run in them all the time anyway!

[Maddee_6333 Graduate in reply to Sandraj39]

This! Though I wish my road shoes were suitable for most of my runs. They're fine until there's the least bit of rain, but then I have to play the decisions game.

[Maddee_6333 Graduate]

I have road shoes and trail shoes. They have different 'drops' on them which I'd like to think helps my slightly dodgy Achilles' tendon. I don't know that it does though.

[Greenback-Boogie in reply to Maddee_6333]

I apologise for my ignorance, but what are drops?

[SC1472 Graduate in reply to Greenback-Boogie]

The drop is the incline of the shoe from the heel to toe

[SC1472 Graduate]

Your 'advice' sounds like my husband speaking!! He currently has about 10 pairs on the go! Different temperatures, different distances, different terrains apparently need different shoes. I would add he is a triathlete and 'needs' different bikes for different weather conditions- dry, wet, breezy, windy, sunny!!

Personally I have one pair of running shoes but may get some trail shoes for the winter.

[AnnieW55]

I have 3 pairs, of differing ages that I use, alternately(ish)for road/light trail running. Two are the same make/style.

When you find a pair that suits you you can always look online for a pair - from an earlier season/unpopular colour cheaper. It's a different thing buying online when you know what your are looking for than 'buying blind'.

It's handy having more than one pair - as one gets older and starts to wear, you are already wearing in the next pair so no real shocks to the system when you need to change to new ones.

[AndyD Graduate]

Like others I have 3 pairs of shoes that I use for different activities... One for road, one for trail/wet n muddy and one for the gym that are light weight and I keep clean... I've never heard of multiple shoes for the same activity. However,if you buy new shoes it's worth bringong them into "play" gradually and not swapping old for new straight away.

[misswobble Graduate]

I mix it up 😃 Different heel drops, trail and and road, some cushioned, some not. Different colours to match different running clothes 😃 Some for racing, some for short runs some for long.

[ju-ju- Graduate]

I do have different trail shoes but other than that I stick to my trusty Brooks!!!