When running higher mileage (say 80-100) is it a good idea to have a second pair of shoes to regularly wear (say 1 in the morning and 1 in the evening)? If so, is it no more effective if they are the same model or should it be an entirely different shoe?
Thanks
It's all up to you.
I believe however you should wear the second pair one day a week, until the deterioration of the first pair becomes easily evident.
Multiple pairs. Reasons:
- Many believe you'll get more miles out of each pair if they have a chance to rest 'em between runs, whether that means the EVA midsole recovers, moisture evaporates, whatever. I think there may even be studies but can't cite them. At the very least you won't be going through more shoes overall just by having more in play at once.
- It's more pleasant to put on a fresh dry pair of shoes rather than one soaked by rain or sweat.
- If you've always got at least one fairly new pair in rotation, the contrast in how they feel will make it that much easier to tell when the old ones need to be retired.
- Some of us believe that having different shoe models (and types) in the rotation could help avoid repetitive stress type injuries, by changing up the stress a bit. Not to mention that a more diverse arsenal gives you options for different paces, surfaces, weather etc.
I generally have about 5 pairs in rotation - mostly different models but a few of my favorite Corsa Sette - and run the kind of schedule you're talking about when serious about training.
I count 17 pair of shoes I activly run in. I wear older shoes when I run on the muddy trails around Tantalus. There is one pair that sheds water well; I use them on rainy days. I have two really lite weight shoes for sprint training or track workouts, and different shoes for other conditions.
That is now, when I don't really need them. When I was running 25-35 miles a day I used a single pair of shoes and wore holes through the sole in about 5-6 weeks.