Forums >General Running>Chi Running--any thoughts?
But I am wary of the fact that correlation does not necessarily equal causation.
Runners run
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.
Some runners drag a tire. I drag a Great Pyrenees.
I've got a fever...
BTW are you going to keep the Appalachian State logo all year now that big blue is on a roll?
On your deathbed, you won't wish that you'd spent more time at the office. But you will wish that you'd spent more time running. Because if you had, you wouldn't be on your deathbed.
esq.
Am interested in recovery and endurance training/events. Not seeing a bunch of recovery, but not spent tons of time here yet in all fairness.
Why is it sideways?
I DID have an open mind however when I first learned of the technique. And still do today, about life in general. Does not feel that way here tho', lol....interesting welcome.
When it’s all said and done, will you have said more than you’ve done?
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.