Chi Running--any thoughts? (Read 1313 times)

Too much marketing for me to consider it. I don't need to be sold running!

Haven't looked at this site in awhile, but on the subject of POSE Running; http://www.posetech.com/pose_method/

While I agree with everyone's posts about running making the OP a faster runner, I'm also interested in his original question about people's experience with Chi Running. Have people used the ideas in the book, has it improved their form, allowing them to run more uninjured miles, etc...(and, possibly, allowing them to become faster).

Read it, even tried to follow the recommendations. It didn't do much for me at all. As for the rate of injury amongst runners... I'm willing to put money down on the fact that the vast majority of those injuries come from one of two causes: A) Increasing mileage too quickly; B) Running too hard and not properly recovering. Hey, if Chi Running or whatever else helps to keep you from doing those things, more power to you. But there is no secret in the book. It's the same basic advice given by Pfitzinger, Daniels, Noakes, Glover, Martin and Coe, Lydiard, etc etc etc ad nauseum. I think that's what sort of turns me off to this stuff. The way it's packaged makes it seem like some sort of new, revolutionary idea that will fix all that ails you. And it isn't. Some of the ideas are loosely based on scientific observation, and they are the ones that concern me more (Leaning forward may or may not work for people; the whole 180 cadence idea).

but I've learned that I'm happier if I just ignore it and concentrate on the ideas themselves.

And while concentrating on those ideas, RUNNING...

I'm fascinated by all the responses when it appears many/most of you have not worked with a ChiRunning instructor to really know, first hand just exactly what ChiRunning is all about.

If you re-read the thread, you'll find that the responses are mixed. Many folks, led by Ed4, have positive and reasonable things to say about the program. Folks are giving their opinions, and I doubt that anyone feels absolutely certain that they have the right answer for the OP. We'd all love to hear what you have to say about Chi running.

I'm fascinated by all the responses when it appears many/most of you have not worked with a ChiRunning instructor to really know, first hand just exactly what ChiRunning is all about.

Maybe because the original poster's question was only partly about ChiRunning and had more to do with taking his marathon time from 4:53 to 4:00. The path to improving race times is well worn and does not require ChiRunning. One doesn't need to know first hand exactly what ChiRunning is all about to know that. There are parts of ChiRunning's basic premises that I agree with. Running is very natural. Children do tend to do it better than adults. Focusing, body sensing, breathing and relaxing are all good things while running (which is why I find it ironic that some of ChiRunning's proponents ALSO use HRMs and iPods but that's another story.) But ChiRunning quickly gets off the rails from posture, breathing and relaxing and into fanciful claims about running at your current level with 30% of your current energy output, and running faster and farther with less effort. These claims are directly targeted at our collective instant gratification impulses. Experienced runners who know what it takes to run injury free and to improve race performances over the long term see this for what it is--another marketing scheme targeted at people beginning running later in life with more money than time and wanting instant results. There is probably some value in runners actually learning Tai Chi (or yoga for that matter.) Balance, relaxation, posture, core strength--these are all good things. But ChiRunning looks and smells like a marketing scheme designed to separate insecure newbie runners from their dollars.

As a runner/triathlete for over 25 yrs., having moved into endurance events in the recent years completeing numerous marathons and ultra events, I can say, my running has been taken to a whole new level as a direct result of ChiRunning. Specifically, I completed the Santa Catalina marathon (all off road hills) one week after my first Chi class and took nearly 30 mins off my time from the prior year.