[raddan]

I had a similar experience, except at the time I was an avid distance runner. I had run a number of ultras and was training for a marathon. After a single 15 minute run in a pair of Nike Free shoes, I was unable to run for two weeks. It felt like a combination of shin splints, knee problems, and calf cramps. It was horrible.

The strange thing was that I never really favored the big, bulky shoes anyway. I always sought out the lowest cushion, lowest drop shoes I could find. And in 2010 I was already 20 years into running regularly.

The fad did have a lasting effect on me though. I can now buy nice, low cushion zero drop shoes, and I love them. But no-cushion is definitely out for me, and I can’t imagine running shoeless at all.