Two classic shoes that lots of people like to weight lift in – and which aren’t necessary sports shoes – are Vans and Converse Chuck Taylors. While you wouldn’t think about running in either, their soles and walls are made from solid rubber, making them the perfect things to balance in. If you own a pair of these and don’t want to spend any more on gym wear, you can rest easy in the knowledge that they’re as good for weight training as most specialist kicks.

So, are we screwed if we strength train in running trainers? Sam says that it’s not the end of the world but the issue is with a running shoe, “a couple of inches of cushion can make it tough to spread your body weight evenly across the foot.

“Wearing running shoes means your bodyweight won’t be as close to the ground compared to wearing flat shoes, which can adversely affect your posture and form. Weightlifting shoes provide lateral support, so when you’re doing side lunges, they stop your foot from moving as much inside the shoe – something that running shoes don’t offer.”

TIME TO GO BAREFOOT?

There are plenty of runners who believe that running barefoot – or as close to it – is the key to running healthy. Brands like Vivo Barefoot offer a wide range of minimal shoes designed to protect your feet while encouraging your foot muscles to do the work themselves, rather than the shoe. Barefoot shoes work by encouraging foot muscles to stabilise, unlike trainers with high arches which tend to prevent muscle development by providing that lift themselves. If you’re busy getting strong all over your body, why wouldn’t you also want to strengthen your feet? Because of their flat nature and lack of padding, barefoot runners double up as great workout shoes too. If you are going to run in them, however, begin by wearing them around the house and during walks first as they can take a bit of time to get used to.

Why strength training in your running shoes really isn‘t a good idea