Alignment is a key element for running form efficiency and injury prevention. When you are aligned a higher level of relaxation is possible. These are the two primary concepts in ChiRunning® - Alignment and Relaxation and the balance between them. The more you are aligned, the less you need your muscles. The less you use your muscles, the easier it is to stay aligned. But too much alignment without relaxation and you may be too stiff to move. Or too much relaxation without alignment and you may be too loose to maintain your position.

Here are 4 Components of Running Form (more…)

It is an exciting time for distance running! Running form, once barely considered by running coaches, is now the main topic of discussion amongst distance running enthusiasts. The old school heel-toe running form has yielded to the midfoot strike. Even the fastest runners in America are tweaking their running form. Danny has been saying for years that Chi Running is paradigm shift. I’m feeling now, more than ever, that the paradigm has shifted. (more…)

As part of a recent 3-week trip beginning in Eugene, Oregon and returning from  Montreal, Canada, my girlfriend, Kathy, and I were able to run in a wide variety of settings. What struck me overall was how much better travelling can be when running is an integral part of the experience. With long drives and several hours of air travel to deal with during the trip, the benefits of running were obvious. Our physical and emotional states were positively affected and our experiences were enhanced.

Whether it was the beautifual, wild trails outside of Missoula, Montana or the dirt roads and trails around lakes in central Ontario or Quebec, Mother Nature consistently offered us natural and enriching experiences we would not have had if we hadn’t made running integral to our trip. Every morning, off we would go, exploring wherever we were, earning the “way to go” comments of our hosts, and always coming back with some story of our adventure - a vigorous workout, a fox that we saw, a loon calling to us, an unexpected sight, a shared experience. (more…)

No, this is not another post about traditional running shoes, minimal shoes or barefoot running. It is about what we put on our feet when. Why do many runners choose between running in road shoes and running in trail shoes. Does it matter? Can you just as easily run trails wearing shoes designed for road running? (more…)

Last weekend I had the pleasure of hosting and assisting Danny at two ChiRunning workshops in Seattle. It was a full weekend with lots of good energy and inspiration. Danny arrived Friday afternoon, and despite having been up since just after midnight our time, he agreed to go on a run. There were some trails near the workshop location I wanted to share, in case we needed them. I wore my Bikilas and Danny had on his Treks. (more…)

This morning we held our monthly Chi Running refresher. Summer finally arrived in Seattle and motivated a couple of past students to come out and refresh their Chi Running skills.  After a brief check-in, addressing any issues or questions that come up, we went through the Body Looseners, and prepared to run. Our route is a 3 mile loop, but we tell people they have an option to turn back at any time. This morning I did a couple of things different. (more…)

As a distance runner and student of running technique, I have had to learn to love running slower.  Last year, when I first started to experiment with running to heart rate, I found that I had to run a lot slower than I was used to in order to keep my heart rate down.  I didn’t enjoy it for a while but the truth is it was a golden opportunity to work on my Chi Running technique.  If I was going to stick with it and enjoy it, I simply had to do more work on my form.  I cannot pretend I found it easy and it took me a few months to start to enjoy it. (more…)

I don’t seem to be able to give it up. Every year, on the second Sunday of June I’m full of excitement and trepidation, ready to start running the Dipsea.  It’s been 30 years since I started this affair and there’s no end in sight. The Dipsea race itself just celebrated its 100th running  — the race actually began in 1905 and is the oldest trail running event and second oldest footrace in the United States. It starts in Mill Valley, a picturesque town north of San Francisco and ends at Stinson Beach. It is beautiful and it is brutal. (more…)

“Pizza and Beer, Pizza and Beer”. Not exactly what I expected but these three words were what one of my students came up with when I asked my Eugene Marathon ChiRunning/ChiWalking training group to give me an example of a Positive Affirmation. Well, I suppose for him, it was a positive and playful thought that might help in his distance running challenge. The more common responses, however,  were such clear affirmations as “I can and I will” or “I run with ease and speed”, self-messages that encourage the individual and remind him or her of some feature or form that is positive for them. All of the affirmations have in common that they draw upon one’s  mental side to assist the physical side in performance and they are consistent with psychological theory drawn from the field of Sport Psychology. (more…)

There is much debate in the running community about barefoot running these days .  The author of Born to Run, Chris McDougall, a book largely responsible for the increased interest in barefoot running, was in London this week and gave a talk hosted by Terra Plana.  It was interesting to learn that he does not do all his running barefoot but only when the terrain allows.  He accepts that it is important to learn how to run and that it is not just a question of getting rid of your shoes and running as if nothing had changed. (more…)