I wore my new running shoes to work to see how they felt and a coworker told me to never wear running shoes except for running. She said that running shoes are different from other shoes and wearing them for any other activity would hurt my feet. Are running shoes only for running and not for walking?
I couldn’t really tell you, except to say that when I went to a sporting goods store and asked to be fitted with “walking shoes” recently, the clerk asked me a few questions and then immediately recommended running shoes. He said they had the best padding, and were the right shoes for my requirements.
I don’t know what training he has, but he was extremely helpful and rather cute 
Also, I’ve been walking in the shoes for a couple of weeks now and my feet and legs are very very happy.
Are they comfortable? If so, then you’re O.K.
I think there’s a lot of nonsense when it comes to running shoes. IMO, there’s not much difference between the speaker cable industry and the athletic shoe industry in terms of the amount of BS they produce.
As someone who used to run distance, having a good running shoe makes a huge difference when running. However, I have never heard that they can be detrimental when worn for walking. In fact, even though I don’t run anymore, I still purchase running shoes for their day-to-day walking comfort, and have not noticed any sort of undue strain on my legs.
I only wear athletic shoes of any description for running and for going to the gym. I did notice when I bought nice running shoes that they hurt my knees when I wore them to do my cardio on the elliptical trainer - the heels seem more built up and springier or something, causing me to shift forward in a funny way when I wasn’t actually using them to run. YMMV, of course, but I still wear my old cross trainers to the gym and my running shoes to run. If I ran like I said I would, which I don’t.
I was having some trouble with mild arthritis in my toes last year and the podiatrist I went to recommended buying running shoes for walking.
I think your co-worker has it backwords.
Walking in running shoes is fine. Running in walking shoes or cross trainers can be a problem.
(I mean serious running, not running to catch a bus.
)
When I bought one of my pairs of running shoes, the guy commented that I could wear them everywhere - but to watch because that adds to the overall mileage on the shoe. (You need to replace running shoes every so many miles. If you don’t count the miles you’ve added walking from place to place, and only count the actual “running” miles, you may end up undercounting.)
I do know that there are walking shoes for serious walkers, but that’s not your issue.
Perhaps your coworker is passing on some dissinformation she received when buying her own shoes.
Coworker: I’d like some shoes please.
Shoes sales guru: Sure, what’ll ya be using them for?
Cw: Well, mostly running.
SSG: Right, so you need some running shoes. Now let me guess, when you go running you probably walk the last couple of minutes to cool down right?
Cw: Yeah, and , well, sometimes I just get tired and… you know… walk for a bit (sheepish look).
SSG: Yep, you need some walking shoes as well. You can’t walk in running shoes. We got this pair of runners here for only $295, and these walkers’ll only setya back $230.
Cw: Hmmm I don’t know, it seems a bit expensive.
SSG: We’ll hey, I’m in a good mood today, you can have the lot for only $499.95, that’s almost below cost ya know?
Cw: well… ok, great yeah, I’ll take them.
SSG: Excellent, you’ve made a wise choice, you’re obviously a very intelligent shopper. Now can I interest you in this shoe bag? You’ll need something to put your walkers in while you’re running, you can hang it around your neck like this see?
Cw: Ok.
SSG: Then you’ll need a bag for your runners as well, for while you’re walking. The runners won’t fit the walkers bag.
Cw: Yep
SSG: And a cardiac monitor? How about this treadmill, for those rainy days…