High heels + Marathon Training

Bally8

Ok strange question here...I wear heels often for 10hrs a day. Im wondering if people have an opinion on how this might affect my legs when it comes to putting in the miles for marathon training. Or does it have any effect at all?

Im only back run/walking for less then a week now after a lay off due to an ITB injury. Also I was off work for 2 weeks over the christmas so rarely wore heels. Now that Im back to work and running Im finding my legs very tired all the time. Im wondering if it is the prolonged time I spend wearing heels in work or is it the return to running.

Silly question I know but I would like to know if there is any thinking on this- should I bin the heels while Im trying to train for a marathon or do they have and effect on me at all?

TheRoadRunner

well in my experience ................ eh maybe I'll leave my Saturday night cross dressing adventures to myself

I'm only guessing here but I would imagine the heels aren't doing you any favors. Can you play it safe for a while and wear flat shoes to see if you notice a favourable difference ?

hunnymonster

I used to wear heels all the time but not so much anymore and never when I have to stand or walk for significant lengths of time. Up to about 2.5 inches is just about ok but anything higher for significant lengths of time can cause real problems with shortening of the calf muscles which leaves you more susceptible to injury when running. At the very least, if you need to wear heels, make sure you have a pretty comprehensive calf stretching routine. There are also problems reported with ankle and hip problems from wearing heels as well as the various feet problems (bunions anyone?) but these are not exasperated by running as far as I know. I'm not an expert in this area though.

baza1976

Bally8 wrote: »

Ok strange question here...I wear heels often for 10hrs a day. Im wondering if people have an opinion on how this might affect my legs when it comes to putting in the miles for marathon training. Or does it have any effect at all?

Im only back run/walking for less then a week now after a lay off due to an ITB injury. Also I was off work for 2 weeks over the christmas so rarely wore heels. Now that Im back to work and running Im finding my legs very tired all the time. Im wondering if it is the prolonged time I spend wearing heels in work or is it the return to running.

Silly question I know but I would like to know if there is any thinking on this- should I bin the heels while Im trying to train for a marathon or do they have and effect on me at all?

Hi Bally,

Maybe you should post a pic of you in the high heels and one in your runners and we can study them (pictures) here on boards so that we can fully understand your issues ... ermm.. hope my OH (or HM) doesn't see this ...lol

thirtyfoot

Do what these mad ones did!!!!

http://rashmanly.wordpress.com/2008/09/05/14652/

hunnymonster

Thanks tingle, I had seen that before but couldn't find a link.

Bally8

baza1976 wrote: »

Hi Bally,

Maybe you should post a pic of you in the high heels and one in your runners and we can study them (pictures) here on boards so that we can fully understand your issues ... ermm.. hope my OH (or HM) doesn't see this ...lol

Ha ha Baza1976 ur a gas man!

Bally8

I'll wear flats for a while and see if there is a difference. Im tiny though and the heels give me a bit of a boost when Im in the classroom surrounded by 6ft tall teenage boys!!

plodder

I'm just old enough to remember these. Any chance they might make a comeback .... ?

SUNGOD

plodder wrote: »

I'm just old enough to remember these. Any chance they might make a comeback .... ?

maybe my sweet tooth is taking over my mind , but does that shoe remind anyone else of a big chocolate cake mmmmmmmmmmmmm

slowstarter

Started running last May and have had to almost abandon the heels. I might wear them once everysecond week but never on yard duty - am a teacher also. Since I started running my ankles have felt a little tender. I have gradually increased my milage fron 0 to 12 miles and they haven't gotton any worse, but I was just wondering if anyone else had a similar problem. :P

rainbow kirby

Maybe I'm lucky in that I almost never wear heels anyway, and when I do, they're never bigger than 2". That said, since starting running, I'm a lot more aware of what shoes I'm wearing when I'm not running, and I've pretty much given up on my Etnies skate shoes, which make my flat feet far worse.

Seres

i think high heels look terrible on women if they can walk properly in them , which i have to say seem to be more often then not (especially late on a saturday night ), do wear small heels the odd time but for comfort flats really are the business !