Walking boots or trainers
I'm doing a charity walk next June for Crohns and Colitis UK. It's a 32.7 walk and I have been training for the last month. The walk is all roads and paths, and I've been using my cheapie walking boots. All is ok, except my shins are quite sore and my feet can be a little sore too. I'm averaging 15 miles a week and need to achieve an average of 4mph and it's tough (that's over 4 days)
I think my boots are not helping, but at the moment it's all I have
Can you recommend footwear I should consider, that will help with the soreness and possibly the sore shins? I have a limited budget. If all goes well the following year I will up the anti to the 24hr 87 mile walk
Thank you
I think my boots are not helping, but at the moment it's all I have
Can you recommend footwear I should consider, that will help with the soreness and possibly the sore shins? I have a limited budget. If all goes well the following year I will up the anti to the 24hr 87 mile walk
Thank you
0
Comments
Stiffer shoes will make shin pain worse
http://www.thewalkingsite.com/shins.html
Saloman walking trainers are the best, particularly their Gore-tex models.
The inital price definitely isn't cheap, expect to pay around £90-£100 - the last pair I had lasted around 4 years though. My brother had an identical pair that lasted the same length of time.
I immediately replaced them with the current model.
It depends upon the individual. Many of us would think nothing of running that distance and we certainly wouldn't want ankle support.
I think the OP should get advice specific to their self from a walking/running shop. Better to get suitable but cheaper shoes/trainers/boots than spend the same amount on something "better" that isn't suitable.
For most people given the terrain of roads and pavements I think trainers would be best but as I said it does depend upon the individual.
Yes but the walk is next June and the OP is already training so may well be pretty walking fit by then. It may be that boots would be better but it definitely depends on the individual.
This is great stuff thanks
To be fair I was particularly fit before I was diagnosed with Crohns on New Years Day 2013 in. A&E. Following a life saving operation I have been utterly unfit and lethargic for best part of 12 months. Only in last few months I've felt something like and want to give back to the people that basically saved my life. I'm doing 3/4 days a week doing a 2 mile or 3 mile walk during the week then a six mile walk on a Saturday with Sunday off. All on the local roads and pathways
It's a big ask I know to get myself to 32.7 miles and really want to do it in less than 10hrs at this rate though I am struggling. But I'm not one for giving up
I've got both Mountain Warehouse walking boots and walking trainers, they seem equally good, but (as others have suggested) boots give you more ankle support - important on rough terrain.
As long as you get 'soft' boots (rather than leather), and the correct size, they seem to require almost no 'running in'.
I'm certainly not fit, but during a week up Durham way probably walked 60 miles in a week - including some decent hills.
Your main problems are just your feet being too 'soft' to do long walks, and that only changes over time by doing lots of regular walking. The pain in your feet will go as your feet toughen up and the skin on the soles gets thicker, and your joints get used to it.
The pain in your shins can't be helped by boots or trainers. It's simply oxygen starvation caused by your muscles drawing more energy than can be supplied. Again, with regular walking this will also go because your blood vessels will open up to allow more blood through your feet, and your muscles will also start to burn a little less oxygen as they firm-up.
As someone who walks a lot, I'm happy with ordinary boots, not fancy sports boots, trainers or walking shoes. What's important is that you wear walking socks though. They have a nylon lining that wraps tightly around your feet, which prevents blisters. Over that is a thick padded layer of 'normal' boot sock that cushions you.
Additionally, you can use gel insoles, if you use shoes/boots with hard insoles. Don't use them with trainers though. Proper ones are quite thick, so by the time you put them in the boot and wear walking socks, you'll need to buy boots a size or two larger than normal. You'll also need to very carefully trim them to fit the boot perfectly. You don't want any gaps around the edges but you don't want any surplus gel to wrap up around the edge of the inside of the boot otherwise it'll cause pressure points which could lead to blisters or sore spots.
You're doing the right thing, it's just a matter of getting your feet toughened up. Only regular long walks can do that. And you don't need to go on dedicated walks. Just walk a few miles to a supermarket and back, carrying your shopping in a back pack. With properly padded boots and socks, it will actually feel very nice to walk along pavements and other hard flat surfaces.
Like any exercise, it'll be painful and draining at first, but then you get used to it. The question is whether you keep it up afterwards or stop walking. Walking will develop all your muscles from the waste down and burn a few calories.
Good for you.
How many steps per day have you been doing? Steps are a better measurement, at least at the beginning, because we all have different sized legs. A four-mile walk may be more relative exercise for a 5' 2" person than someone 6' 4", who takes fewer steps!
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Breaking-Vicious-Cycle-Intestinal-Through/dp/0969276818/
I recommend it strongly.
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Karrimor-Weathertite-Trekking-K604-DGC-149-Cochineal/dp/B00B2GILC0/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1417358600&sr=8-2&keywords=walking+boots+women
and for the price they're remarkable. However I dont do anywhere near the walking you would be doing so I dont know if these would be strong enough.
I also have a pair of very old timberland women's boots, they're about 10 years old now at least which are very comfortable but difficult to get on as I find the tongue doesnt go far enough down for me, the nearest I can find are these
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Timberland-10360-Womens-Nubuck-Leather/dp/B00PRDIA9I/ref=sr_1_109?s=shoes&ie=UTF8&qid=1417359183&sr=1-109&keywords=timberland+boot
although mine have embossed leather in a lace pattern and a fabric cuff around the ankle rather than that shiny material.
That's Snowdon, Cader Idris and Pen y Fan.
Do you know what my best investment was for the day?
Three pairs of bloody good walking SOCKS from an outdoor shop!
When I came down off each mountain it was lovely to give my feet and boots an airing and slip on fresh, well cushioned socks.
I even had L&R padded socks.
Edit: I wore reasonable priced ankle walking boots.
No, if the walk you'll be doing is on roads, you need to train for that.
Personally I find it a LOT harder on roads than soft surfaces.
I use a Garmin walking GP, with free maps from TalkyToaster - along with Garmin Basecamp on the PC it allows you to measure and record everything (and stops you getting lost!).
If you have the urge, the better Garmins allow you to connect and record a pedometer as well, and also a heart rate monitor.
Comfortable trainers are all you need.
So you tell someone not to take advice, but then tell them to get cushioned insoles which may not be any good for their foot shape...
Not ideal for someone like me who has a high-instep. I can't even get my feet into many pairs of boots without removing the laces completely.
Have a look at this recent thread:http://forums.digitalspy.co.uk/showthread.php?t=2000233