No it's not a bad idea to walk in running shoes. Running shoes aren't made based on your pace, or else we'd all have to get different shoes (i.e. 6 min/mi shoes, 8 min/mi shoes, etc.). Some people probably run at your walking pace. I would see if this happens again and then visit your doctor--perhaps to get some inserts.

Your reaction is a little extreme, but I have found that some shoes I can run in for hours give me blisters if I use them for walking even 30 minutes or less. The motion of my foot in the shoe is just different enough walking vs running that they rub in a diferent place. So could be your feet flex differently walking and the rigidity that helps stabilize your running foot may not be that good for your walking stride?

quote:<HR>Originally posted by Nobby:
You see, MaryT, except for the long run for the marathon, we are actually on the same page more often than not! ;o)
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I'm still hoping. Give me time, Nobby and I'll convert you yet!

quote:<HR>Originally posted by Nobby:
In most cases, I found, you'll get blisters on your heel, wearing running shoes that wouldn't give you blisters on your heel when running .<HR>

My experience exactly! I remember one 10K race in particular several years ago where my husband wanted me to walk part of the course with him so he look for good places to photograph (He sometimes races, sometimes does race photography). We walked just past the 1 mile point, and my heel started to feel like it was developing a blister just as I started back. By the time I got back to the start area, one heel was red and itrritated,and the other had developed a full blister. I was not happy. Fortunately, I was able to get a bandaid to protect it from further damage, and running in the shoes was OK because they didn't rub in the same spot, but that's the last time I walked around for a half hour before a race!

As an aside, my husband had an interesting photography session that day as well. He was at a turn where the cars going outbound are separated by a small grassy area from the cars inbound. The first couple of runners followed the police car around the grassy area into the outbound lane, but the rest of the lead pack inadvertently cut the course short and ran in the near lane. Normally not that big a deal (except to my husband because they weren't in the position he thought they were going to be and it wasn't a good photography angle), as they didn't cut the couse short by a lot. However, in this case, it was a certified course with a lot of elite runners and it was first thought John Campbell had a world masters record for the 10K. Unfortunately, after reviewing Mr T's video and pics, and remeasuring the course actually run, it was enough short that it couldn't be certified. The next year, access to that inside lane was blocked off by portable fencing!

I frequently see people who have a different gait while walking and running. That's why I watch them walking to get a judge of their gait, put shoes on them, then watch them again.

I think the key issue is the difference between your walking gait and running gait. For most people these are substantially the same so they can run and walk in the same shoes.

I have extremely high arches and supinate when I walk, but when I run I overpronate. This is because I run with my toes pointed outwards instead of straight ahead. So in my case I need motion control shoes for running, but they just compound my supination if I walk in them.

It also sounds like you may want to investigate some type of orthotic to support your high arches.