Multiple shoes for SS challenge?

[5xdisneyfans]

I was curious if people bring more than one pair of running shoes for the SS challenge? I currently only have one pair of outdoor running shoes and will probably need to replace then before the weekend. I plan on walking the 5k so I am going to wear a separate pair of walking shoes for that. I figured the same pair for the 10k and 10 miler. My biggest worry is if they get wet for the 10k. This is my first challenge and curious what people do about shoes. Running shoes are so bulky for packing.

 

[LatebloomerultraF3]

When I go on a trip like that I will always take two pairs of shoes. I also only run in my frontline running shoes…no marathon in the am and then walking the park in the same shoes. Park walks are older shoes out of running rotation.

Besides the getting wet (it is Florida!), you may have a failure of the material, find one pair is rubbing a blister in your first two runs and need to change it up…etc. FWIW my two pairs of frontline road shoes i rotate are not usually the same make/model. (This lets me spread the stress of running around a bit on my legs…). So right now I rotate Ghost Max and Hyperion Max (I’m a brooks fan) on my runs. (I also have a pair of Hyperion Elites I may bring with me to Wine and Dine because they are considered “race shoes.”)

 

[The Expert]

I was curious if people bring more than one pair of running shoes for the SS challenge? I currently only have one pair of outdoor running shoes and will probably need to replace then before the weekend. I plan on walking the 5k so I am going to wear a separate pair of walking shoes for that. I figured the same pair for the 10k and 10 miler. My biggest worry is if they get wet for the 10k. This is my first challenge and curious what people do about shoes. Running shoes are so bulky for packing.

You definitely want two pair, in case of wet weather and also just to allow the foam to recover. I usually look to rotate in a new pair when my shoes have about a month of life left in them. Use the older pair for the shorter distance and the fresher ones for the longer distance. If the older shoes are trashed, you can toss them and save room in the suitcase going home. If they have life enough to be donated, take them with you to the longer race and leave them for donation with the toss-away layers.

 

[DVC4Ever!]

I second the recommendations to have a second pair for the race weekend. At the recent Halloween Half Marathon, my primary running shoes failed the morning of the race as I was leaving my hotel room. Luckily, I had my back-up pair broken in and ready in my suitcase.

 

[sandam1]

I prefer to have at least two pairs of shoes for multiple event challenges.

That being said, before my first Dopey attempt, I only had one viable pair of shoes. I had been dealing with pretty severe plantar fasciitis and never felt like I was in a good place where I could take a chance and try out a second pair. I will tell you that this was absolutely nerve-wreaking during my travel to Orlando. My shoes went in my "personal item" on the plane and stayed at my feet and/or with my hands on it the whole time. I would have given up my wallet and/or my phone before I would have taken a chance at losing that one pair of sneakers.

 

[radiodome21]

I currently have 3 pairs in my rotation. I just picked up Nike Vomero plus that I’m going to use for long runs and my others for the maintenance runs. I’m doing the 5k and the half at the Food & Wine this month and am bringing my ASICS NB 5 and the Nikes too.

 

[RuntheMouse]

Definitely bring 2 pairs. I never run back to back days in the same shoes even during training. Too many things can go wrong as mentioned above.

To help with the packing, I usually wear a pair on the plane.

 

[5xdisneyfans]

So it sounds like everyone suggests two pairs and it also sounds like a lot of people get different types of shoes. I have a lot to learn about doing more mileage. I guess I should go get fitted for a different type of shoes for a second pair?

 

[LatebloomerultraF3]

If you have a place that does a fitting, I would go there. I get Achilles problems so I go for shoes with a higher heel to toe drop. But it took me a couple of fittings and some trial and error of different shoes to find the right combo (including bequeathing a couple of Hokas to my son before they went bad).

 

[radiodome21]

I too have been dealing with a PITA Achilles in my right foot. When I did the SS 10k in April (first serious race I ever did) I only showed up in the Brooks Glycerin 20s and ran in those. I bought the Mickey Ghost Max 2 there and brought those home and used those for all my running soon after I then added the Glycerin 21s in June and that’s when I started my shoe rotation. I only picked by my ASICS and Nike Vomero within the last 2 weeks. My Garmin app tracks the miles on them and my Glycerin 21 are about 200 miles in. I wasn’t planning on getting 3 pairs but I figured it would be good to start the Vomeros and the ASICS at the same time. My wife goes to Dick Ponds whenever she needs new running shoes. They have a great return policy that she has taken advantage of. I was talking to one of the managers there on Saturday at my son’s XC meet and he said that good running shoes shouldn’t have to be broken in. They should be able to handle a good run right out of the box. But who knows?

 

[jmasgat]

So it sounds like everyone suggests two pairs and it also sounds like a lot of people get different types of shoes. I have a lot to learn about doing more mileage. I guess I should go get fitted for a different type of shoes for a second pair?

I will be a dissenting voice. While it is not a bad idea to have a second pair of shoes (for all the reasons already given), I would not worry too much about finding a “different” shoe, especially if you are are relatively new runner. If you have a shoe that works for you, then it’s perfectly fine to have a second pair of those. Yes, other runners may find that they want/ can tell the difference with shoes for speed work or long runs or with carbon plates or etc, etc, but I would say that is not a necessity. Sure, if you want to try a different shoe, go ahead, but don’t feel like you need to.

 

[fatmanatee]

I will be a dissenting voice. While it is not a bad idea to have a second pair of shoes (for all the reasons already given), I would not worry too much about finding a “different” shoe, especially if you are are relatively new runner. If you have a shoe that works for you, then it’s perfectly fine to have a second pair of those. Yes, other runners may find that they want/ can tell the difference with shoes for speed work or long runs or with carbon plates or etc, etc, but I would say that is not a necessity. Sure, if you want to try a different shoe, go ahead, but don’t feel like you need to.

I agree with this. If you’re getting really serious about it then sure something different might be useful but for most RD runners in challenges I would say if you find a pair you like a lot then another pair is fine. You’ll end up getting plenty of use out of both of them.

 

[fatmanatee]

BTW my first Dopey was with one pair. It went well but obviously you run the risk of it raining and being stuck with soggy shoes. And it did rain during my second Dopey this year (not torrential but I switched to the other pair).

 

[sandam1]

I guess I should go get fitted for a different type of shoes for a second pair?

Not necessarily. While I use two different  pairs of shoes, they are the exact same model. Usually one has less miles on it (simply because of the way I rotate my sneakers) and I will try to wear the newer pair on the longest run day, but that's not set in stone in my world.

I was talking to one of the managers there on Saturday at my son’s XC meet and he said that good running shoes shouldn’t have to be broken in. They should be able to handle a good run right out of the box.

Most shoe people will tell you this as well. However, the recommendation of taking new shoes for a short "test" run before usually them on a long run or race still holds for two reasons - 1) you want to make sure that they don't rub in a different way than the one that you are used and 2) your feet and the other muscles in your leg are used to compensating for a shoe with less cushioning. When you put on a new shoe, it may take a little bit of time for them to adapt. My physical therapist recommends a two-week transition period so that's what I stick to.

 

[GreatLakes]

It doesn't hurt to bring two pairs. Even if you always run in the same pair I always have my next pair ready on the shelf so you can always get a second pair, do a few training runs, bring them down for the weekend, and then put them back on the shelf until they are needed.

Either bring a newspaper with you or buy one at the airport. Even when I've had soaked shoes from running in sideways rain stuffing them with some newspaper has dried them out in a day.