Intro blog

There are a number of different running styles that you may choose from including your present natural style (the way you run without thinking about how your body moves) to more standardized styles where each aspect of the running technique is defined from the way your feet move all the way up the body to how your arms swing.

If you asked me what running style was best for you?  My response would be whatever style best meets your running goal(s) which may include improved race time, longer distance, injury avoidance, fun, etc.  If your present running style works for you then I would not be the one to suggest changes. 

You may find that you are looking for something different.  If this is the case my recommendation is to consider the different styles presently available and pick the one that makes the most sense to you and that aligns with your running goals.  It may take some effort to change the way your body moves so you should believe in a particular style before investing the time to adopt it.

The purpose of this blog is to introduce to the iRun readers to the technical aspects and merits of the ChiRunning form.  The type of runners that may be interested in this blog are: (1) existing ChiRunners looking for additional information; (2) non-ChiRunners considering adoption of the form; and (3) non-ChiRunners not considering adoption of the form but may find some aspects of the ChiRunning form worth implementing within their own running style.

The ChiRunning form is extremely well documented in reference material such as books, DVDs and audio CDs.  These materials are available through the ChiRunning website www.chirunning.com.  Ownership of the book “ChiRunning: A Revolutionary Approach to Effortless, Injury-Free Running by Danny Dreyer, Katherine Dreyer” is mandatory for anyone looking to adopt the form or looking for detailed information on the form.  It is the ChiRunning bible that is supplemented by the additional ChiRunning materials.

This blog will discuss the different aspects of the ChiRuning form in steps.  The information in the blog will not modify any aspects of the form described in the ChiRunning book but may present these aspects in a different way influenced by my own adoption and experience with this running style.

Lastly I want to thank the iRun staff for giving me this opportunity to write about the ChiRunning form and to you the iRun readers for visiting this blog.

Ok here’s a 15 second description of the physics behind the ChiRunning form that will be expanded in greater detail in future blogs …

“ChiRunning is a running form that uses gravity, not the muscles in your legs and feet to propel you forward.
(1) You first align your posture so you can draw a straight line through your shoulders hips and ankles. 
(2) You then lean this aligned posture forward using your ankles as the hinge point with the ground. 
(3) If you completely relax all the muscles in your legs and feet you will fall forward. 
(4)You maintain your lean and forward fall and only use your feet and legs to momentarily support your aligned posture each time your foot contacts the ground. 
Your feet and legs are not used to propel you forward.  Because you are leaning forward, your feet contact the ground behind your hips and behind your body weight.  This eliminates the potentially injurious impact normally felt through your body when your feet contact the ground in front of your hips”