I'm headed on vacation next week and plan on keeping up with my C25K program. I have a question about running shoes. Do you keep them exclusively for running or will you wear them at other times? I'm wondering about just packing my running shoes and using them for all the days when tennis shoes are necessary but (this may sound stupid...forgive me!) I didn't know if they stretched differently if you walked in them as opposed to running. Anyway, just curious what you others do.

Thanks!

I personally use mind only for running. I also have three different
pairs and I rotate them on a regular basis. Good Luck and have
a great vacation!!!!!

Running shoes are good for a limited number of miles. I want those miles to be miles I'm running.

I use mine only for running. When they get enough miles on them that I need new running shoes they get demoted to other tasks. So once you get insane like me you might end up with

Running shoes (I have 2 in rotation less than 300-350 miles)
Trail running shoes (shoes with 300-500 miles, I keep one pair because trail running is muddy)
Weight training and biking shoes - an over 300 mile but not too muddy pair
Yardwork - what happens when trail running shoes go to die.

Finally they are demoted to shoe heaven.

Wow, I never thought about the "mileage" of my shoes! Hmmmm, at the rate I'm going each week it will take me about 100 weeks to reach the 300 mile point. hahaha

Thanks for the advice. I'll definitely save my running shoes for running and I'll just pack an additional pair of tennis shoes for the "touring".

You all are a great help!

Another reason I don't take my good running shoes on vacation is that I'm afraid of losing them... Silly, I know ....

I try to bring running shoes that are just about dead. When I gauge it right the running shoes are useless for running after my last vacation run, and I leave them there for more suitcase room (or less to carry) coming home.

I almost always try to squeeze in a local race whenever I travel, so my good shoes go with me. Although if I had a higher mileage pair or one I was less fond of they would go.

I couldnt leave them there, I always need to demote them. I try to have my "gym" shoes have a few miles in them just in case I feel the need to treadmill (rare)

Is it just me who carries "good" running shoes in hand luggage so I know where they are at all times?...

OK, it is.

Heck no Helen, if I am traveling to a race not only my shoes but my socks, bra, camelbak (for 1/2 mary & up) and my gu. (although with the security gu is occasionally an issue so I pack most of my gu and make sure I know EXACTLY where to buy more - off brands will not do!)

I'm willing to risk the other clothing usually unless i am traveling and getting in late the night before a race in which case the clothes go in hand luggage too. Fortunately dri fit rolls up small. But I could actually buy shoes easier than a bra on short notice.

But you couldn't put 100+ miles on them to wear them in...

exactly...will you explain that to dh?

now that I travel with children, I have to argue with dh about the shoes in the hand luggage. I often do compromise and wear them on the plane, taking them off as soon as I sit down.

gu???

Tricia, gu is an energy gel that a lot of folks use when they are on longer runs to give them a quick glucose fix. I haven't really felt the need yet, but my longest run to date is 13.1 miles.

On the question of shoes on vacation, I guess I go against the trend - I have usually used my running shoes as walking shoes while on vacation. I already have issues with fititng in all the shoes I want to bring, so two pairs of exercise shoes is just too much for me. Yes, there is a limited amount of mileage for running shoes, but I figure a few miles while on vacation is no big deal. When at home however, the running shoes are strictly for running. They do get demoted to walking shoes when they've lost their "stuff" for running purposes.

Rachel - you can run 13 without gu? Wow. I am gu addicted.