Chi Running

Cindyss

Hi All,
Has anyone on the forum used Chi Running or completed the course given by Catherina McKiernan, I bought the book by Danny Dreyer and would be interested in doing the course but would be interested in hearing if anyone has experience of this running form, it makes total sense if you can get the technique right,
Regards,
Cindyss

ronanmac

Cindyss wrote: »

Hi All,
Has anyone on the forum used Chi Running or completed the course given by Catherina McKiernan, I bought the book by Danny Dreyer and would be interested in doing the course but would be interested in hearing if anyone has experience of this running form, it makes total sense if you can get the technique right,
Regards,
Cindyss

I bought the book but couldn't really get my head around it. As it happens, I'm organising a Chi Running course to be held in Galway by Catherina McKiernan. Not sure yet if there will be spare slots on the course, but if anyone is interested, PM me. Currently looking at June 6, but waiting for confirmation on the date.

tyler71

I read the book first and then did the course with her, and I thought she was excellent - she really reduced the technique to a few basics and made them easy to apply. It turned out I had been overemphasising some stuff from the book that wasn't that important and not doing some stuff that was - she takes a quick video of you running and points out your flaws - worth it for that alone.

Daithi BC

I've bought the book and done the course. I didn't get much out of the book, but found the course to be well worthwhile. Catherina concentrates on running form without going into a lot of the "fluffy" stuff in the book that meant nothing to me. I reckon I picked up three or four very helpful bits of advice - even simple things like pumping your arms going uphill which makes a huge difference.

digme

Just wondering does she talk about relaxing your body and keeping your abs tight or anything like that?

Daithi BC

digme wrote: »

Just wondering does she talk about relaxing your body and keeping your abs tight or anything like that?

That's part of it. You're meant to relax everything except your abs. As a byproduct of this you'll be landing on your forefoot which is meant to be more efficient and to use your stronger leg muscle groups.

digme

Seems to make sense all right.

village runner

Done the course in jan 08 and havent been injured since getting over 80 miles on peak weeks.

digme

village runner wrote: »

Done the course in jan 08 and havent been injured since getting over 80 miles on peak weeks.

Do you wear big chunky sneakers,or racing flats or what when doing chi running?

tyler71

I've been wearing nothing but racing flats for the last six months, trained for and completed a marathon without any injuries, in fact I don't ever see myself going back to 'normal' shoes. The feedback you get from the road means you're always focussing on your technique. Like running barefoot without the funny looks:)

Jnealon

Went on the course a few years ago and really enjoyed it. Will probably do a refresher course this year.
She recommended a neutral shoe for chi running. Danny Dreyer designed a shoe with NB but they never caught on

digme

That's some achievement,a whole marathon, fair play.Couldn't imagine how hard that must of been,did it take you long to build up the mileage wearing racing flats?

tyler71

It wasn't hard at all, you just need to build up the mileage slowly to allow your legs to adapt. I've seen recommendations that you alternate between the flats and your normal shoes, but as I'd had to take a few months out I was only building up slowly anyway so just pretty much switched straight over. It all fits in well with the Chi running and to be honest I enjoy running a lot more since I started using them.

Cindyss

Thanks for all the replies, I think I might book the course in Fota in late June. It will give me time to get used to the running style befoe the Dingle 1/2 and the DCM,
Thanks Cindyss

addictedtoshoes

I'm booked in for the one in June, it's pretty expensive I think but suppose it will be worth it! Will you know how it goes!

Cindyss

I suppose it is relative, being injured and visiting the physio will be alot more costly in the long run. As I have upped my mile i can feel it in my legs and lower back so hopefully this running style might help me, that and running on grass, did 6 miles last night and apart from being bored to tears doing loops I feel great today, cheers

macinalli

Cindyss wrote: »

I suppose it is relative, being injured and visiting the physio will be alot more costly in the long run. As I have upped my mile i can feel it in my legs and lower back so hopefully this running style might help me, that and running on grass, did 6 miles last night and apart from being bored to tears doing loops I feel great today, cheers

+1 for that. I used to be a regular customer with the physio but since doing the chi-running course 18 months ago I haven't needed a physio once. There's a lot of stuff to chi running that I've never used - I found that the best part was when she analyses your running form and points out what needs improving. She's a tough taskmaster and won't let you off the hook til you change what she thinks is the problem. Not easy but well wortwhile.