Here is a side question for you all. I am a (slow) runner and I've run/walked about 6 full and 11 half marathons. My last event(s) were in January at Disney World doing the Dopey Challenge. The challenge is 4 days of racing starting off with a 5 k, 10 k, Half marathon (13.1 miles/21km) and ending with the Full marathon (26.2 miles/ 42 km). I've learned to get fitted properly for racing shoes and have not had really any blisters of which to speak, so I'd be inclined to train using my tried and true running shoes and socks. I know weeks of repeated daily movement is different though and I may need to resort to taping of the feet to keep them healthy. But my real question is to people who are experienced runners as well as hikers and how they feel about the difference between running shoes and hiking boots for the pilgrimage?
-E
Hi E,
I'm a runner. I took 2 pairs of shoes with me this time, 'cause last time i had big troubles with boots (never again, never again boots).
I took 2 pairs as a test, which one will be best for future caminos and walks.
I brought 2 pairs of nike shoes (i just love nike for running)
- lunarglide 5 (my normal, one of my most used running shoes that never ever gives me troubles while running)
- zoom wildhorse trailrunners
I discovered that i walked (not run) much better on the wildhorse trailrunners. They were lighter, more breathable and i think most important, they have a nice wide toebox, something the lunarglide 5 does not have. This wide toebox gave more comfort while walking. On runs i don't feel/notice the advantage of the wide toebox.
I did this as a test, but upfront i was sure it was a slam dunk, the shoes that i wear 75% of the time while running will be the camino winners. I was wromg.
Again i found out that walking and running are 2 seperate things, even when comparing running shoes with other (trail)running shoes.
Personaly i think, if you are a runner, your gonna have a hard time adjusting to heavy boots, but you wont know untill you try them.
I hope this helps.
Alot of people looked at me funny....comments like "do you really walk the whole day in those shoes"? No matter which running shoe i was wearing. They were all boot people. They believe that boots are a must for a camino. They are sooooo wromg. The camino is not a trail that asks for (heavy) boots persé.
The only thing that is a must, is that you wear shoes that fit you like a glove, that you feel good and comfortable with.
There are 2 kinds op people on the camino: boot people and...."the rest".
Boot people (most, not all) have the tendency to believe that they are right, boots are the only way to go. "The rest" seems to have a wider view on the matter and know that you must wear what feels right for you, be it boots or any other form of shoe type.
