Chi Running

I've been following Chi Running for the last three months and it has been great. I don't pronate, so I can't speak to that specifically, but I have found that all of his other suggestions have helped my knees, shins, hips enormously--I have much less pain while I run and after I run than I used to have. So I would say go with his suggestions even if they feel weird at first.

I have been using Chi running. It made a huge difference in my running. I recently strained my right Achilles Tendon jump roping a little to hard one day so I haven't been able to run too much lately.

Mike

I've been using it for about three weeks.  The book is pretty detailed and lays out  the system like a whole new philosophy and style of running, but I think the changes advocated are pretty basic and make intuitive sense, particularly for longer distances and older runners (like me).  I'm a bit of an underpronater and so far I have not had any problems.  In fact, being more conscious of posture and how and where my foot lands has made me more secure about avoiding  a recurrence of an ITBS injury I suffered in January.  I think Chi running is helpful, but hardly revolutionary. 

What IS Chi Running?

Simple answer: Using Tai Chi as a running technique.

The idea (as I read it) is to keep a strong core, and relax the rest of your body. While maintaining a strong core you lean forward and let your legs/ankles and arms relax as you "fall".

Get the book by the same name for the details.

Do a google and you'll see.

I DEFINITELY find Chi Running on the treadmill harder than it is outside. In fact, I've been having hip pain all week since running 3 miles on the treadmill this past Sunday. :-(

Here's my theory on why it is harder: in Chi Running, you are essentially supposed to get speed accidentally, by increasing your lean (using your lean as a "gas pedal," as the author puts it). However, on the treadmill you increase your speed by pressing a button and then keeping up with the machine. This makes it much harder to use your lean, because you have to lean enough to keep up, rather than naturally running as fast as your lean allows (as you would outside). To compensate, you have to push off more with your legs (rather than just picking up your feet), which for me puts more pressure on my hips in particular, but also on my knees.

I think focusing on relaxation is a good way to start. The two other parts of the technique which had the most impact for me were:
1. Focusing on landing my feet underneath/behind my torso, rather than in front of me (this helps reinforce the lean, and takes a ton of pressure off the knees)
2. Lifting up my foot above the ankles of my other leg, what the author calls "prancing" (this took pressure off my hips and allowed me to keep them loose while I run)

Edited by jtat17 2005-03-24 4:57 PM