Have you ever trained or raced in shoes that weren't meant for running?

Vibram 5ive Fing5ers.

I ran on a treadmill wearing uggs mocasins once because I couldn't find my shoes - I had forgotten them

In middle school I ran in basketball shoes for a while.

Later on, post college, I forgot to bring my shoes to a race - the only time that has ever happened to me - and I ran a 5k in Adidas tennis shoes.

Only one run but in college I once ran in black leather dress shoes. I had a streak going and a teammate wanted to see if he could get me to break it by hiding my running shoes. Didn't work (but I finally gave it up on my own).

Mexican Inquisition wrote:

Have you ever trained or raced in shoes that weren't meant for running?

basically my enitire childhood

yes, and sometimes they were more comfortable than some running shoes.

I trained in Adidas Samba soccer shoes Freshman year. Wound up getting ITBS that lasted 6 months.

No Way wrote:

In middle school I ran in basketball shoes for a while.

Later on, post college, I forgot to bring my shoes to a race - the only time that has ever happened to me - and I ran a 5k in Adidas tennis shoes.

I think most people have done the basketball shoe thing in middle school for the first couple of practices if their parents aren't educated. I had the fortune of having parents that didn't understand running playing basketball isn't the same as running.

Wrestling shoes are surprisingly decent for running in. We used to jog a lot to warm up and do sprints at the end of practice. A minimalist with bad ankles would love them (they have quite a bit of ankle support compared to running shoes).

I bet I could race anything up to 5k very well in wrestling shoes. Don't take them from the roads to the wrestling mats though. a small rock or piece of gravel could cause damage to the matt if it was lodged in a groove in the shoe.

I ran in $10 kmart sneakers until the 3rd day of high school cross country practice when my coach pulled me to the side after practice and asked me what the hell I was wearing.

In high school I used to run home drunk from a friend's place in hiking boots. A little under two miles maybe. Then I'd throw up the pizza I'd eaten while drinking rye and apple juice.

Combat boots. Not fun.

I won a State Championship in my Js back in '09.

Patti Dillon's first running shoes were Kalsos

Cue the Rocky scenes of him running in Converse high tops.

http://www.maximumsports-nutrition.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/rocky_balboa_running.jpg

I have trained (grass sprints) barefoot. It's definitely not meant for running. That's why people wear shoes.

I run in the New Balance Minimus Life "walking" shoes every now and then. They are still the most comfortable shoes that I own and I am sad that they are discontinued. I raced in the hot 2012 Boston Marathon in them and got some pretty bad blisters. Should have worn them with socks that day, eesh. IMO, they work best on the treadmill and for casual jog-commuting usage.

Walmart has decent running shoes (i.e., tennis shoes). I probably bought 10 pair and put 2-3k miles on them each.

Yes I trained for and competed in a ski race, wearing ski boots.