What the heck is up with shoes nowadays? For the first time I've been relegated to ordering shoes via the internet and hoping that they will fit. They should since they are the same brand I always buy in the same size but it sure would have been nice to try them on before shelling out cash for them.

Since I run eight miles per day and run around a lot even when I'm not running I like running shoes. I live in Seattle where it is damp and the sidewalks are either slick or in really crappy shape. Well, at least they are on my running route. Because of this I like to have some traction on my running shoes. Currently the only brand of running shoes that consistently puts out models with a decent amount of tread is Saucony. Consequentially almost every pair of shoes I've owned in the last few years have been Saucony brand. The only exception to this is a pair of Nikes that have good tread but I accidentally purchased one half size too small.

I'm not sure exactly why other shoe manufacturers have quit making shoes with traction but it totally sucks. Here's my conjecture. Most people who buy running shoes don't run. This is pretty much a fact. Additionally, of those people who buy running shoes and actually run, most of them don't run outside. I'm guessing that there's a ton of people out there who run on treadmills nowadays so they don't need any traction. Then again, maybe I'm the only runner who actually wants some traction so they don't slip and fall on their ass.

The consequence of this is that it is somewhat difficult to purchase new shoes. I check the sporting goods stores each time but Saucony is still the only one with good tread. Unfortunately the stores usually don't have quite the style I want or the right size in the style I want. That means it usually takes me a good couple of months to actually find a pair of shoes to buy. I'll check in the local mall. I'll check the mall by where I work. I check the local sporting goods store. I check the sporting goods store twenty miles away by the Costco I shop at. Eventually one of them usually gets something that doesn't suck in stock. I used to be able to actually be a bit choosy and wait until what I wanted went on sale. Not anymore though. The last time I bought shoes I had to buy them at full price and was glad to be able to do that.

That pair of shoes started to get a bit worn out three months ago which led me to start my normal cycle of looking for replacements. After three months I've probably been in twenty shoe stores and haven't found a single pair of shoes that were even vaguely acceptable. Oh wait, I did find a perfect pair on sale last month but they only had one pair in stock that weren't my size. Since I run to work and back most days the shoes have continued to wear at a fast rate and are now in dire need of replacement. So dire that I just spent two hours looking online for some replacements. I eventually found some and then looked around for a good price. That was a total bust. I think I saved a total of five dollars off the msrp. Actually I found a couple of pairs I liked and bought them both. Since they are Sauconys they should fit because like I said before every pair of them I've owned has been exactly the same size. However, it is still a total pain in the ass and sucks to waste this much effort on shoes.