Chi Running?

Mike D · 06-10-2010 05:15PM #1

Has anyone out there looked into Chi Running and if so, what did you think? Are there any benefits to it? Thanks

pudgeydev · 06-10-2010 05:56PM

Hey Mike,
I found it great, changed completely the way I run. I've not had any injuries since I did the course a few months ago, whereas I was plagued with them before. Could be a coincidence but I don't think so!
Loads of threads here on Chi Running if you go looking, don't think I've seen any negative comments.

RoyMcC · 06-10-2010 05:57PM

Several previous threads on this Mike, though I think 'chi' is too short a word to be searchable.

It's a way of running properly but with a fancy name, I think.

ronanmac · 06-10-2010 06:01PM

Pretty much what the previous two posters have said. It's basically a running technique course. Since doing the Catherina McKiernan course, I've been staying pretty much injury-free, and landing midfoot, as opposed to on my heel. Personaly, I couldn't recommend it enough.

village runner · 06-10-2010 06:44PM

Done it in jan 2008 carrying an injury. Was always fcuking injured. Sure thats why people do it isnt it. Even with high mileage(80 odd at peak) I havent been stopped running because of injury since. So ~i would def recommend it.

shg101 · 06-10-2010 06:50PM

What about improved running economy?

They make claims that running economy is improved, but are there any studies to prove it?

I saw a study on the Pose method (co-authored by Romanov himself IIRC) which I think showed an increase in O2 consumption after 16 weeks of Pose training - ie an apparent decrease in running efficiency. The whole concept of leaning forward to use gravity to run more efficiently seems like quackery.

I'm sure this has been discussed to death on here - any links to those old threads?

grifter09 · 07-10-2010 12:32AM

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u7zEruVUwr4

I dont think its quackery.
I changed my style myself recently and have noticed an improvement.

MaroonTam · 07-10-2010 09:20AM

I received a Chi Running book for my birthday last week.
Not going to start reading it until after DCM, don't want to be confusing myself at this late stage, but I am certainly looking forward to finding out more on the topic.

Mike D · 07-10-2010 01:21PM

Hey,
Thanks for the replies, Very positive. I'd be interested in doing the course I reckon, I don't tend to suffer from injuries too badly but would be keen on improving my running style and increasing distance with improved economy.

I wonder if I could get all that from the book, I suppose coaching would be better but more expensive (he says, stating the Bl*****ng obvious:rolleyes:)

CHeers

dna_leri · 07-10-2010 02:16PM

Mike D wrote: »

Hey,
.

I wonder if I could get all that from the book, I suppose coaching would be better but more expensive (he says, stating the Bl*****ng obvious:rolleyes:)

CHeers

I read the book while out injured recently and tried to implement the technique as I came back, particularly hoping to reduce the stress on my knee, although it was not my running form that caused the injury.

Overall I have to say I am not a believer, particularly in the Chi part of it, so I skipped over the first 4 chapters.
I did find it useful as a guide for my form and it helped me concentrate on certain elements such as foot strike and making ground contact under your centre of mass. I remain unconvinced about the importance of "lean" and letting gravity pull you forward - I have a problem with the physics behind this theory, particularly when running uphill.

I think if you are serious about ChiRunning you would need to do the course, I don't think you can learn it all from the book. I understand the courses run by Catriona McKiernan are good and focus more on improving running form than worrying about how Chi is flowing through your body.

However I recommend you start by getting the book and if you are convinced then look at the course options, I think there are also videos available online from Danny Dreyer - it's a regular industry and I think that's part of the problem I have with it. You might be better off getting a good coach to help you work on your form but that's easier said than done. Buy the book, make up your own mind, but I think you have to be highly motivated to completely change your running style.

Orion · 07-10-2010 10:31PM

RoyMcC wrote: »

Several previous threads on this Mike, though I think 'chi' is too short a word to be searchable.

It is using the vBulletin search.
But google is your friend: search for "chi running site:boards.ie"

Mike D · 08-10-2010 12:14AM

Thanks DNA
I can see where you are coming from with the whole "chi" thing but I am willing to open my mind to it.

I too would have doubts when there is such an industry behind it..but hey, people seem to swear by it so there must be something in it...right?

Thanks for your insight:)

mithril · 08-10-2010 11:12AM

I am doing Cathriona's course at the end of the month.
I am not expecting it to change the world, just some tips on how I can alter my running form to reduce the chance of injury.

Mike D · 18-10-2010 04:16PM

Thanks
My wife has beaten me to it and signed up for the course at the end of this month! So I'll see how she gets on and probably book the next one for myself. Thanks for all the advise:)

Jacky08 · 20-10-2010 02:35PM

Mike D wrote: »

Thanks
My wife has beaten me to it and signed up for the course at the end of this month! So I'll see how she gets on and probably book the next one for myself. Thanks for all the advise:)

Do you know how much it costs?

mo_bhicycle · 20-10-2010 03:38PM

Jacky08 wrote: »

Do you know how much it costs?

€110

Mike D · 20-10-2010 05:21PM

I thought it was €150.00?? You pay on the day rather than in advance so maybe I'm wrong.

mo_bhicycle · 20-10-2010 05:24PM

Mike D wrote: »

I thought it was €150.00?? You pay on the day rather than in advance so maybe I'm wrong.

I def paid €110 about 3 weeks ago for a full day.
Maybe price varies with group size, there was about 20 in our group. Group was a bit on the large size to be honest, but still a great course, well worth it.

mithril · 20-10-2010 05:26PM

€150 for me as well including lunch.

mo_bhicycle · 20-10-2010 05:28PM

mithril wrote: »

€150 for me as well including lunch.

No lunch for us

Mike D · 21-10-2010 01:11PM

mo_bhicycle wrote: »

No lunch for us

Was your course in Dublin Mo?

mo_bhicycle · 21-10-2010 01:11PM

Mike D wrote: »

Was your course in Dublin Mo?

Nope, Galway

sunshinegirly · 02-02-2012 10:50AM

Hi everyone

I'm just reading all the comments on chi running and I'm trying to get fit again after have babies and then back problems for the past year. I saw this workshop with Catherina McKiernan in Portugal- anyone know anything about Events Abroad or about the workshop - http://www.eventsabroad.com/fitness-health/catherina-mc-kiernan-chi-running-ireland/ ?

Thanks

RayCun · 02-02-2012 10:59AM

My OH did the workshop in Ireland, thought it was very good.

sunshinegirly · 02-02-2012 11:08AM

that's great. I think I might give it a go.

Murta · 02-02-2012 11:57AM

There are four Chirunning Instructors in Ireland - http://www.chirunning.com/learn-it/find-an-instructor/.

I learned from Mary Jennings (http://www.forgetthegym.ie) and haven't looked back since. I made massive improvements between my first and second years of running. Most of which I attribute to a combination of chiRunning, Prescription Orthotics and Pilates.

spurscormac · 02-02-2012 12:20PM

I did it a couple of years ago, it certainly improved my form, going from heel to forefoot strike. I also notice in training that when I concentrate on the changes taught in the class, that I feel like I have increased energy & start to go faster.

Tough to continue in full, without constant focus on it, but I certainly haven't experienced the sort of injuries & niggles I used to get since doing it.

huskerdu · 02-02-2012 01:12PM

spurscormac wrote: »

I did it a couple of years ago, it certainly improved my form, going from heel to forefoot strike. I also notice in training that when I concentrate on the changes taught in the class, that I feel like I have increased energy & start to go faster.

Tough to continue in full, without constant focus on it, but I certainly haven't experienced the sort of injuries & niggles I used to get since doing it.

My thoughts exactly.

It helped me get over my heel striking habit.

The technique should take pressure off your knees, ankles and calves when running, but you have to practice the technique and keep it up.

Raighne · 02-02-2012 03:35PM

shg101 wrote: »

What about improved running economy?

They make claims that running economy is improved, but are there any studies to prove it?

I saw a study on the Pose method (co-authored by Romanov himself IIRC) which I think showed an increase in O2 consumption after 16 weeks of Pose training - ie an apparent decrease in running efficiency. The whole concept of leaning forward to use gravity to run more efficiently seems like quackery.

I'm sure this has been discussed to death on here - any links to those old threads?

It is a hotly contested debate with many authoritative proponents on both sides of the divide. There is a study worth reading by Dallam, Wilber, Jadelis, Fletcher and Nicolas Romanov (2005) showing that running economy was actually reduced after 12 weeks practicing Pose running. A German study by Shucker, Hagemann, Strauss and Volker (2009) found similarly that the more attentional focus was giving to running stride while running the higher the runners oxygen consumption.

I do not know if anyone in the running community has made the connection of why this is so, but this effect is widely understood in sports who traditionally focus more on muscular coordination (tennis, soccer etc.). When you learn a skill initially, it is encoded in explicit memory and accessed by activation of the prefrontal cortex. As you master the skill control moves to implicit memory and is controlled by parts of the brain such as the Ganglia. Matthew Syed writes about this at length in "Bounce" on why "choking" and "bricking" can occur to otherwise superb performers.

So it stands to reason that if you do change your stride you will lose speed and economy until you can make the transition of the new movement pattern from explicit to implicit memory. Whether any studies have yet to corroborate this I do not know.

Personally, I believe the way around this potential pitfall is to rather look at the hierarchy of movement taught by people such as Antony Riddle (owner of Pilates Running and Gloves Boxing Club). Essentially, you aim to correct posture, muscular imbalances and residual muscular tension. The way you stand, walk and run are patterns adopted by the brain based on what it has "to work with". Change the functional system and the function changes. In layman's terms, get the correct assessment of these issues, correct them but when you run you should try not to focus on your running at all. If you correct "the platform", the ideal running stride will manifest itself naturally as your body returns to a natural level of balance, strength and function.