Can Overweight Women Use Their Walking Shoes for Running

Can Overweight Women Use Their Walking Shoes for Running?

I’ve often heard many overweight women say that they’re using their walking shoes for exercise, especially running. This made me consult the fitness experts and do a deep research to find out whether or not it’s okay to run in the shoes that are actually designed for walking, not running.

The most significant thing that I can say now is that different types of shoes haven’t been created to just allure the customers that practice different sports. They are needed to help overweight women prevent or relieve the foot issues they typically experience. Read on to know if you can use your walking shoes for running.

Running isn’t walking

You may think there’s no difference between walking and running, but this difference is enormous. Your natural running foot movements differ from your natural walking movements, which is the footwear for these two activities are different. The same goes for other sports activities. For instance, the shoes for running are different from the shoes for tennis or basketball. It’s all about the movements your feet perform as you do one or another activity.

The forefoot vs. the heel

When you run, you tend to land more on your forefoot. When you walk, you have a heavy heel strike. Considering this factor, runners opt for the footwear that has an excellent level of cushioning on the forefoot. The walking shoes feature the stiffer rubber that allows a great heel support.

Since your weight puts a pressure on your feet as you walk, you need special footwear that supports your heels. Overweight women who wear the running shoes when walking have a higher risk of the plantar fascia and the heel pain.

Sneakers aren’t the same

Visit any professional footwear store and you’ll learn how many kinds of sneakers exist. Buying the first pair that fits you right may cause you a lot of foot problems down the road. There are sneakers for walking, running, tennis, basketball, etc.

If you need walking shoes, make sure you purchase the sneakers designed specifically for walking. If you need the footwear for running, invest in the sneakers designed for running. This may sound costly, but it’s better and cheaper to prevent the foot problems than to cure them. You can do it by investing in the footwear for different activities.

The walking shoes aren’t as flexible as running shoes

Although both types of shoes are flexible, they actually have different levels of flexibility. Unlike the running shoes that are super flexible, the walking shoes provide more stability so they aren’t pliable and flexible from toe to heel.

If your feet are aching after walking or running, this may indicate that you’re wearing the wrong shoes that are designed for a certain activity or that don’t provide enough support for women with excess weight.

Being overweight doesn’t mean you’re doomed to experience the constant foot pain. Grabbing what’s ever stylish or handy in the nearest shoe store is a big mistake. Take your time to choose the right walking and running shoes for your weight and foot type to prevent any foot problems in the future.