Shoe advice... a year in the life of my shoes! (Read 868 times)

Take a deep breath, sorry if I bore you!Any advice would be appreciated! I am still on the search for the perfect running shoe! I am normally a size 8 UK in dress shoes. I had Asics 1120 size 8.5 which hurt the top of my toes. So I swopped up to Asics 2120 size (UK sizes) 9 but there was too much arch support. Then when I went back to the "specialist" running shop they said I should never have been in the 2120s and they recommended Nike Air Span 4+ size 9. They were always a bit too wide at the big toe (which usually blistered) but otherwise ok, didn't love them though. When I went back to the shop she recommended Brooks Vapor 7 size 9 which I have been running in lately. I hate them! The bottom of my left big toe is always blistered, which I feel is from a fault in the shoe (material rubbing). That area was really swollen when i returned from my long run today. Also my ankles have been getting sore but that could just be cos my mileage has increased lately. So anyway..... Went to a different running shop today. He said Nike Air Spans are pretty crappy shoes, that the Vapor has too much support for me and that he would recommend the Asics Gel Nimbus 9. He watched me on the treadmill in bare feet and with them on and thought they looked good. However he recommended size 8 which I wouldn't buy bearing in mind my previous Asics problems. He is ordering them into store in 8.5 so I can try them on. He said there was barely any movement when I ran, and so he thought I could get away with a neutral shoe rather than a stability/cushioned shoe. One of the websites (wiggle.co.uk) recommended a wet foot test to see what kind of shoe you needed, according to that (which I know might not be accurate) I was a stability/cushioned foot, not neutral. Tomorrow I plan to visit the only one running shop where I live, which is where I got the Asics, Nike and Brooks. Sooooooo, do you think I should steer clear of the Nimbus? I know I have wide-ish feet and I'm worried they will be too small. My marathon is in less than 3 months and I'm keen to get my shoes sorted. Thanks for sticking with me so far! As I said any recommendations for a big wide footed girl would be great!

Will add that to my list of things to try on tomorrow. Was also thinking of New Balance 1061 cos I hear they come in wide fittings.

Have come home with Women's Saucony Grid Trigon 5 Guide. Here's hoping they work! http://www.wiggle.co.uk/ProductDetail.aspx?Cat=run&ProdID=5360032537&N=Saucony%20Ladies%20ProGrid%20Trigon%205%20Guide MTA link