Chi Running: A Revolutionary Approach to Effortless, Injury-Free Running

I learned about chi running about a year ago and feel it has really helped my running, from the point that a 10k was my max (and a somewhat stressful one at that) to where I can easily do a half marathon and am now aiming for full marathons. The basic idea really is that you avoid a striding form and relax most of your body except your core so that you move forward largely by leaning into your run and coming down on your mid-foot while falling forward. This description doesn't do the technique justice, but this type of running really is designed to be both efficient and low-impact. It works well for my 50-year old body (I used it to complete the Boston Marathon as a "non-qualified" runner raising funds for a Boston charity) and allows me to get through races feeling tired but not overlyl stressed or pained. I know some fast (2:30 marathoners) who say chi running has allowed them to maintain a fast pace without feeling beat up for days afterward. The first edition of this book laid out chi running in a pretty straightforward way, while the second edition adds about 50-60 pages. A good part of the earlier edition has been repeated, but the second edition has, I feel, really expanded on the first edition by offering more information and advice on the "how to" of chi running. There is a nice new central section appropriately called "How to Learn Chi Running" that takes you through a set of step-by-step lessons that are easy to follow and making it very clear what the components of techniques are and more important to integrate them. Reading this edition along side the first edition, I found that this one is easier to follow and leaves less uncertainty in how to run. The tone of the book remains informal and conversational, and it generally provides a complete guide to topics related to running, including training, injury prevention (a real plus of chi running is that it easier on the body than traditional running form), and nutrition. Chi running may not be for everyone but I feel it is worth checking out - I suspect even if you don't adopt the whole technique, parts of it may help your running. For example, the book suggests shin splits are caused by running with the feet splayed outward. As my introduction to chi running, I tried running with my feet parallel as suggested in the book and ran a 10K without trouble when previously even running a mile left my shins sore. I highly recommend this book and feel this edition adds to what was presented in the first edition. Enjoy!

What an interesting running book! Buy this book if you: -would like to be able to run well into your old age -would like to improve your running form and have fewer injuries -would like to have a more philosophical approach to your running -would like to increase your overall health Here's how the book roughly pans out: -Chapter 1: compares power running to ChiRunning -Chapter 2: goes into the 5 principles upon which TaiChi and ChiRunning are based -Chapter 3: gets into the "inner" skills of ChiRunning As you can see, the first 3 chapters lay out the philosopical foundation- that's so when you get to the specific techniques, they make sense. Chaper 4: learn about the ChiRunning "focuses"- which are the specific physical and mental methods used to run more efficiently. Chapters 5-9: covers program development, peak performance training and diet. Note: Chapter 7 also covers some info on common injuries such as muscle cramps, plantar fasciitis (also rec. The 5-Minute Plantar Fasciitis Solution for more info on this), heel cord problems. Chapter 10: how to incorporate the ChiRunning principles into your everyday life As you can tell, ChiRunning, with its mind-body approach, is far from your typical book on running- and shouldn't be missed by any serious runner. Happy trails.

ChiRunning was the first running technique book I'd ever read. I found it because of a silly injury that wouldn't go away and the "injury free" on the cover dragged me in. Until then, I thought running was something that we did and didn't need any instruction on how to do it. I was dead wrong. Danny's approach will transform your running form, make running fun, and most of all keep you injury free while you're doing it. I've told many clients since being introduced to ChiRunning to pick up the book, read it front to back, and do every drill in it. Once they have they come back to me thrilled and ready to give in another shot even though their doctor has told them "never again." The book will transform your running by allowing you to lighten up and use less force to propel you forward. Danny's approach is to let gravity work with you and lean into your run while you let your legs pick up then swing forward. When you get what he teaches it's almost effortless. This approach has allowed me to run longer distances and for longer periods of time without getting tired out of breath or injured. Sound good to you?! I introduced the technique to a client of mine who was suffering from some IT band tightness. We worked to stabilize her side-to-side hip swing (lateral) while she was running using some of the techniques and now the hip doesn't hold her back at all! It even allowed her to participate in her first triathlon, something she thought she could never do because of her injury! The book is a must have for those with knee, hip, and lower back troubles as well. Try it for a few weeks and you'll be surprised at how good it feels! It's a must read for all my clients, so it should be for you too! Kevin Gianni, NCSF-CPT Author and Personal Trainer

I stumbled on this book by accident while researching Tai Chi books. I am so glad that I did! It's a well organized and fun to read book. It opened up a whole new realm of running to me. I ran for years and competed in small five and ten mile races and my longest event was a half marathon. I hurt my knee chasing my dog and was then reduced to walking and thought I wouldn't be able to run again. I missed running horribly, the world doesn't go by fast enough when you walk, if you are used to running. But the chi running book teaches a technique which utilizes different muscles, a different stance which is easier on the body and does not consist of pounding. The author has carefully enumerated an excellent technique to alleviate and prevent injury. Not only does it make sense to me as a long time runner, but it feels right when I do it and it's fun! The other day I was able to run 2.7 miles, it felt great and the next day I had no soreness, no knee pain, nothing but exhiliration and anticipation of my next wonderful run. I am slowly working back up to five mile runs. I would recommend this book to experienced runners who want to improve their techniques and spare their bodies injury, and I would recommend it to new runners who could start out with good form and minimize their lifetime chance of running injuries. I would also highly recommend it to injured runners like me and older runners (also like me.) You wouldn't think there could be anything new in running, I was pleasantly surprised, delighted even!

[...] This book is a brilliant print presentation of Danny's methods which are revolutionary. He deserves the much wider following he will get with this (his CD is great too). My story: I've been a runner for 45 years. I nearly gave up running at age 57. The pain in my knees and lower back made me seriously think of quitting. I literally saw an ad in the newspaper for Danny's class and took it as a last resort. He was at the time in his 50's and a nationally ranked ultramarathoner. I figured he ought to know something about efficient running. I learned his initial techniques in two hours. It took about five or six runs to feel comfortable with the changes in my stride, but from the first day, there was no back pain and such minimal knee pain at the end that I couldn't believe it. I've taken his advanced techniques workshops too (all in the book). The "sidewise" stride up steep hills is another brilliant technique that literally makes running hills fun. I went from struggling to run for 30 minutes at a time to 1.5 hour runs on steep hills without pain. I'm not a ranked runner. I run for fitness, for weight control, and for the sheer joy of it. I did finish third in my age group in a local race a year ago -- first medal I've ever won (I'm 62 now). But I got my running life back, and that's priceless. I plan to be running into my 80's now -- pain free! And for what it's worth, I have a doctorate and I'm trained in physics. Danny's techniques are scientifically valid. There's a spiritual side to his methods too. If you don't think running has a spiritual side, I feel sorry for you, but don't ignore his methods just because of that. Jerry L Fletcher