I'm desperate for help on picking out the right running shoes - I have been to Fleet Feet and to the podiatrist and while both are helpful, I'd like more opinions...
Here is my story: I run about 30 miles a week and race mostly 5Ks - I am competitive in my age group (F 35-39)but not overall. I run about 22:00-22:30. When I was younger, I ran half-marathons, etc., doing 50 miles a week - I just have a kid and a full time job and feel as if 30 miles a week is the right amount of time to spend running at this point in my life. I never had major injuries, although I did a lot of xtraining and occassionally had big toe pain.
I was running in Asics Gel Nimbus 13s without any pain. Prior to the Asics, I tired Mizuno Wave (can't recall which model) but had toe pain and returned them for the Nimbus. I didn't love the Nimbus - they felt clunky. I got a pair of New Balance 1080v2 and ran in them 3 times. I loved them because I felt significantly faster (like 5-10 seconds per mile) but I got intense pain on the ball of my foot and my big toe. Diagnosed with sesamoiditis and xrays revealed damage, but not a fracture, to the sesamoid bones. Even xtraining hurt. Finally took full 2 weeks off after 6 weeks of biking and pain subsided. Slowly running again.
Tried Adidas Boost but they hurt as well. Found a pair of Gel Nimbus 13 on Amazon - apparently was the last pair of 9s, otherwise I would have ordered more. They feel fine.
The podiatrist tells me I need a high heal and a stiff sole - which the Gel Nimbus 13 has. I can't find other shoes that are comparable in stiffness to the Gel Nimbus, at least going from on-line reviews (i.e, Runners World and a few others).
I'm not really certain what is going on, all I know is that I'd like to never have this pain again and don't know how to find an alternative shoe to the Nimbus 13s.
Any help would be much appreciated.