Big honking trainer wearer wrote:
Was it just a marketing fad? There were once so many testimonial threads about how the above strategies cured a history of chronic injuries, made runners faster at all distances, turned geeks into chick magnets and cured halitosis.
Are there still runners out there whose 'barefoot' running remedied a history of chronic injuries, especially hamstring problems?
Recommendations from your success?
I think some runners can run barefoot or go minimalist and want to. I did try it for awhile, but my feet were always sore - yes, I eased into it and followed all the rules to be careful - but eventually wanted to go back to a cushioned runner. I was never injured in minimalist shoes, but ultimately got fed up with the soreness and the pain of running on any sort of gravel trails or road sides.
I just don't think there was a big enough market for minimalist runners.