Big Foot in a Size 9

Yes, I stand tall at 5'4", weigh in at a whooping 108 lbs, and wear big foot's size 9 running shoes. I often wonder how can my feet be so disproportionate to the rest of my body?! ... I straddle b/t a 7.5 shoe size and 8.0 shoe size (depending on the shoe brand and style). In the past, I usually increase my running shoe size by a half size to compensate for my feet swelling. Then recently, I was re-sized for running shoes and I measured a size NINE! I feel like I have giant feet - I thought I stopped growing decades ago! Order me an x-small running tank top, x-small shorts, and a side of size 9 running shoes - please! When I told my sister my shoe size, she just laughed at me :(  ...

The reason why running shoes are normally a half size larger is b/c our feet swell up as we run. This is why we're told not to go shoe shopping at the end of the day when our feet are worn out and swollen :) Depending on the long distance a runner logs, the feet can swell up to a whole shoe size. Running w/ tight fitting shoes can also cause the nasty looking black toe (aka Runner's toe) too! ... The gentleman who re-fitted me suggested I wear a full size up from my normal shoe size. He had me wear a size 9 and placed my thumb width at the tip of the shoe and said "This is how much room you need for your feet!" He told me a story about a lady who ran 50 miles through the desert and her feet where so swollen she was up TWO shoe sizes! I was a little apprehensive at first b/c I didn't want to be swimming in my running shoes, but the man seemed extremely knowledgeable w/ his resume of 40+ marathons and knew what he was talking about. Who was I to say my size 8.5 were sufficient? :) ... This past week I took my big foot running shoes out for a few shorter runs and w/o a doubt I love the comfort and it feels good! I haven't had a hard time breaking into them either. I'm hoping to wear them in w/ enough time before the NWM.

So what am I pounding the pavement in these days? No offense to Nike b/c I LOVE their cute running gear, BUT their running shoes SUCK! I retired from my old Nike+ Pegasus which offered me little arch support and made my knees feel weak after any distance of running. Since I got back into running earlier this year, I've been running in Saucony ProGrid . It's a solid shoe and fits like a glove. The shoe is classified as a stability shoe b/c it offers average arch support. The first time I tried it on and did a test run on the treadmill at the store - I was sold! Ever since, I've been running in Saucony and currently alternating b/t two pairs of them. I run most of my longer runs w/ the first pair I bought and started working in a second pair for my shorter runs. I'm hoping to transition into longer runs w/ the second pair and run with them for the NWM ... I'll be the first to admit, I'm shoe fanatic - flats, heels, sandals, and now running shoes! :)

Just curious ... For my faithful readers, what kinda shoes are you running in? :)