Difference Between Running and Training Shoes

Have you ever wondered what the difference between running and cross training shoes is? Yeah, there is actually quite the difference, and wearing the wrong pair of shoes for a certain type of exercise can lead to some pretty serious consequences. Let’s take a closer look at each type of shoe right here and now.

Running Shoes

Running shoes of course come in many different shapes and sizes, but of course, they have one main purpose. Let’s take a closer look at running shoes, and everything you need to know about them right here and now.

What They Are Best For

Of course, running shoes are built for running, but what does this really mean? Well, running involves a certain stride, with a proper gait. The right way to run is with a certain heel to toe movement, and yes, this is exactly what running shoes are built for. They are designed to help you maintain a proper heel to toe stride for the best running form possible. There are several things which running shoes are designed to do, so let’s look at each right now. As you will see from below, running shoes are all about providing support and cushioning for long distance running.

• One of the things which running shoes are designed for is to provide you with good cushioning. You see, each and every single step taken when running creates a fair amount of impact. This impact transfers into your feet, and it can quickly become painful. Therefore, running shoes are designed to absorb as much of that impact as humanly possible, in order to prevent pain.
• Another thing which running shoes are designed to do is to transfer that energy into forward momentum. Not only do running shoes absorb the impact that would otherwise be transferred to your feet, but the best ones actually transfer that energy into forward motion for longer strides and more efficient energy use.
• Yet another benefit which running shoes are designed for is to provide you with proper arch support. When running, especially at a fast pace, the arches of your feet can become very painful. Therefore, to prevent your arches from bottoming out with each step and becoming painful, running shoes are designed to provide you with optimal arch support.
• Running shoes also tend to be very lightweight and breathable, which is important for long distance running, because they help prevent fatigue, sweaty feet, and blisters too.

How Running Shoes Should Fit

Generally speaking, running shoes should be quite snug, and you should really feel the arch support. Running shoes should be quite snug so they don’t move around while you run, mostly so the support stays in the proper place, and so that you do not suffer from blisters.

Training Shoes

Now, although training shoes might not look all that different from running shoes, they certainly are. Training shoes are designed for things like jumping, quickly changing direction, weight lifting, and for general gym related activities. As you can probably tell by the name, training shoes are primarily intended for being at the gym, for cross fit, and for weight training. Training shoes do provide support as well, but in a different way from running shoes, as well, they are also designed to provide you with optimal stability.

What They Are Best For

Training shoes are designed to perform a variety of tasks, and therefore come with a variety of features, so let’s take a quick look at each of the main points here right now.

• Training shoes often have much less cushioning than running shoes. This might sound like a bad thing, but the point here is that training shoes are not designed for running. Sure, they work fine for a quick treadmill session, but past that, should not be used for running. The reason why they have less cushioning is so the sole is closer to the ground, which translates to a higher rate of stability for heavy weightlifting and other related exercises.
• On that same note, training shoes tend to have a lot more heel support, something else which most running shoes don’t have all that much of. The reason why training shoes have a lot of heel support is so that you can get really close to the ground while performing weight training and related exercise, once again, mostly for stability.
• Moreover, also related to these previous points, training shoes also tend to be a bit wider than running shoes, especially in the forefoot. The purpose here is also to provide you with stability. The wider the shoe, and the more room your feet have, the more your feet can spread out and the more contact you have with the ground, which helps with stability and balance.
• Training shoes usually also have special grooves and outsole patterns designed to provide good traction on slippery surfaces, mainly for quick turns, split second directional shifts, and agility training.

How Training Shoes Should Fit

Training shoes should fit in much the same way as running shoes. The most important part is that they are fairly snug, that they fit right, and that they don’t move around with your feet inside of them.

Risks Of Wearing The Wrong Kind Of Shoes

Wearing the wrong kind of shoes for the wrong activity does come with some risks and cons, ones that you definitely need to be aware of if you want to be as safe as possible and minimize the risk of anything happening to you.

• At the very least, wearing the wrong shoes for the wrong activities can cause some serious discomfort.
• Something else to think about here is that if you wear the wrong kind of shoes, your performance will not be as good as it could otherwise be.
• The biggest risk that you run if you wear the wrong type of shoes for the wrong activity is that of injury. In more ways than one, you can seriously hurt yourself with the wrong kind of shoes.

Conclusion

Remember folks, if you want to be safe, increase performance, be comfortable, and avoid injury, it is crucial to wear the right type of shoe for the activity in question.