Here's my issue. LOVE the forefoot flexibility of my NB 903s, but need a bit more stability to keep my right knee happy. I recently bought a pair of Mizuno Wave Inspire 4s that really work great for the knee, but are too danged stiff (and these are supposed to be the most flexible moderate stability trainer available in a wide) in the forefoot and my arches (particularly on the outer edges) become VERY sore after only a few miles. After my 11 miler on Tues. I could not put weight on my left foot (my more neutral leg) for about 2 hours and was really worried that I'd done some damage. So while my knee was feeling fine after 11 miles (first long run I can say that about in MONTHS)...the feet, not so much. I have a pair of Sof Sole Stability insoles (I think RRS calls these "Stable Runner," or something like that). They definitely help, some--I can go further with my 903s before my right knee begins "talking to me" (without them I can go 5-6 miles before my knee begins complaining...with them I can go 8 or so) but I think I could still use a hair more support. I also have a pair of very stiff "10 Second" brand orthotic insoles that are a bit TOO controlling and stiff...so what I need is somewhere in-between in terms of support. Any thoughts or recommendations? What would be perfect, I realize, is a pair of heavier-weight, mild stability/guidance shoes, like the Saucony Progrid Guides...I had a pair and loved them...until they decided to eat my achilles area after my first longer run in them. I have a wide forefoot and narrow heel, so adjusting my existing shoe seems to be about my only shoe option, since there is such a dearth of shoes that fit my foot.

The Superfeets are high on my list of insoles to try (I see so many people raving about them)...but I'm not sure if I'd want to go with green or blue. The greens sound maybe a bit too aggressive and maybe I can wear the blues under my favorite cushioned insoles from what the Superfeet site claims...? My arches are low-med height, so probably so from what I read. Man, finding just the right combo of shoes/insoles/orthotics can really be a saga. I have a feeling that after my big race real orthotics may be in my future.

Yeah, it's a battle. I'm so jealous of people that have never experienced the drama of being a "hard fit".

Nearly every day I curse my stupid duck feet. If a shoe is wide enough through the toes it's often slipping off my heels...good heel fit and then my feet are squeezed. Flexible forefoot usually = not enough stability...adequate stability to keep my k nees happy = arches screaming from "fighting" the shoe. I read some more on the Superfeet site and saw that the primary difference between the blue and green insoles is that the greens have more cushion on top of the orthotic base. So I likely would lean towards those, first. Discovered that a nice outdoors store 30 minutes from us carries them, too. Right now we're in BFE Illinois visiting my MIL, so I can't check them out for a few days, but she does have a farm store nearby that carries Sof Sole insoles. I've always had a good fit with their general cushioned products, so I am going to go look at the graphite arch ones (assuming the store carries that model) to see how those work in my shoe. If that works, then maybe I won't need to look at the Superfeet.

I've heard good things about the Soles, but I have also heard the criticism that the arch is REALLY high in them...not sure if that would bother me, or not. I have a pretty low arch. How wide are the berry Superfeet insoles? I have the impression that they are designed for dressier women's shoes, so I assumed that they might be too narrow in running shoes, especially since I wear wides. I'd still give them a try if the store(s) I check have more than just the basic fitness styled models.

Oh, cool--thanks 'Wife'! Yeah, I have heard that the greens have a pretty substantial arch...and your feet sound a lot like mine. I'm definitely going to try to find the berry ones to try. Did you have any sort of injury issues that the insoles helped? I hear mostly very good things about the Superfeet insoles and have seen so many success stories from people who were sidelined with knee/hip/foot issues who were able to run with the insoles, so I have high hopes. This whole shoe/knee issue really is making marathon training godawful. I've already decided that if I can't get things remedied that I will be taking myself out of training for the race in the next couple of weeks. I can't keep doing these 3+ hour long runs in misery. It's starting to make running a source of stress, rather than a stress reliever. Thanks again for your insights!

I definitely do better on softer surfaces...ie my knee is much happier on squishy Summer asphalt than on concrete. Though I will admit that softer surfaces that are more unstable than that make me nervous. I felt my very first knee twinges while running on a sandy road that had a bit of looser sand on top of the more packed, damp stuff. We have a good grassy area in a park near us that I may try running on (while trying to ignore all the nasty goose poop down there).