RunningAHEAD - Topic: Chi Running

Runnergabe

Along for the Ride

posted: 7/29/2007 at 2:37 PM

Has anyone ever read this? Opinions? I've read it a while back and found that I tried to apply this style to my running, but it didn't work for me. I naturally run very upright and feel best doing just that. Leaning forward doesn't work. One thing I changed is sort of in line with what he teaches - I don't swing my arms across my chest so much anymore. I try to keep them in a straighforward line. His comment on listening to your body and only increase miles when you feel the body is ready ... didn't work for me. I need to push myself and there are long runs when I think 'why am I doing this and why am I not just stopping and going home?' I need the pushing for more as a mental exercise in running to keep me motivated. Training plans are right after my own heart! I still follow the safe mile building rules and listen to pain in my body ...

Your living is determined not so much by what life brings to you as by the attitude you bring to life; not so much by what happens to you as by the way your mind looks at what happens.

Out of suffering have emerged the strongest souls; the most massive characters are seared with scars.

zoom-zoom

rectumdamnnearkilledem

posted: 7/29/2007 at 2:44 PM

I've been considering reading this. I've been doing well lately with concentrating on my posture and working more on a midfoot strike, rather than so much hard heel strike. So far, so good. I am working on less overstriding and more faster turnover/cadence work, which it sounds like Chi seems to achieve.

Getting the wind knocked out of you is the only way to

remind your lungs how much they like the taste of air.

~ Sarah Kay

Chenille

posted: 7/29/2007 at 9:02 PM

I read parts of it. In theory it sounds good, and I even know a very well respected PT who had a back injury and found that this was the way to get back to running. I also run very upright and at times have been told that I tilt back slightly Confused

When I tried to change that, I got back pain, so I figured my posture is compensating for something and that the forward lean is just not going to work for me.

Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the number of moments that take our breath away...(unkown)

• Go With The Flow
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zoom-zoom

rectumdamnnearkilledem

posted: 7/29/2007 at 9:07 PM

Cheryl, I wonder about that compensation thing, too. I do notice when I concentrate on leaning my entire body a bit forward and less "stoop-shouldered" that it feels sort of awkward, at first, but after a while less so. Not really painful, just odd. The pain would worry me, too. And I definitely see race photos of myself with the backward lean, too.

And look at that wicked heel strike--ow. I figure the forward lean and better posture will make my abs work harder, too, so that's not a bad thing in any respect.

Getting the wind knocked out of you is the only way to

remind your lungs how much they like the taste of air.

~ Sarah Kay

Chenille

posted: 7/29/2007 at 9:19 PM

good point. I actually think that I'm more upright that back tilt now. I'm going to get DH to video me at the track so I can get a better idea of where I am at now. One of the first things I worked on changing was to hold in my abs, not hard, just moderately when I run.

Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the number of moments that take our breath away...(unkown)

• Go With The Flow
• Thyroid Support Group

Runnergabe

Along for the Ride

posted: 7/29/2007 at 10:55 PM

Kirsten - I think your running form looks good. That's how I run too. Tall, straight and almost a tiny bit tilted back. The only thing (you pointed it out) would be to drop/relax your shoulders. One thing that makes absolute sense about running tall: your spinal discs take a beating when running. They are little shock absorbers. If I run upright, then all the pounding is distributed evenly. If I lean forward, I allow the force to be applied on the forward part of the disc. The backpart of the spinal column "opens up" and the disc could squeeze out. I herniated mine lifting while bent ... different force, same mechanism. When I was recovering from that I attempted to run a couple of times and had NO issues. Anything bent over caused symptoms. So I guess, if nothing else, the straight running is friendly on your back. Confused

As far as the heel strike... I am a heel striker too, I believe. But my stride length is not very long.

Your living is determined not so much by what life brings to you as by the attitude you bring to life; not so much by what happens to you as by the way your mind looks at what happens.

Out of suffering have emerged the strongest souls; the most massive characters are seared with scars.

zoom-zoom

rectumdamnnearkilledem

posted: 7/29/2007 at 11:00 PM

Ooh, now that spinal thing is interesting--I hadn't really thought about that. I'm still going to play with my form a bit, but if I start having any back issues I would definitely "back off" from any leaning. Eek, the thought of a herniated disc makes me cringe. My dad has had chronic back problems for as long as I can remember and I really hope that's not something I ever inherit--I've already inherited too many negative physical features from that side of the family, LOL! k

Getting the wind knocked out of you is the only way to

remind your lungs how much they like the taste of air.

~ Sarah Kay

DrewEOB

Lazy idiot

posted: 8/1/2007 at 1:44 PM

Quote from Chenille on 7/29/2007 at 9:19 PM:

good point. I actually think that I'm more upright that back tilt now. I'm going to get DH to video me at the track so I can get a better idea of where I am at now. One of the first things I worked on changing was to hold in my abs, not hard, just moderately when I run.

Good point, Cheryl! Transverse abdominal muscles. Yummy. These are a regular part of my workout. Highly recommended, as my running became much easier once I learned to use them to control my midsection.

Tick tock

Bonkin

posted: 8/9/2007 at 3:43 PM

I borrowed this one from the library and I'm glad that I didn't pay for it. I agree with some of what he says about relaxing things like your shoulders and arms. But I found a lot of the "chi" stuff a bit over the top.

When it’s all said and done, will you have said more than you’ve done?

Runnergabe

Along for the Ride

posted: 8/13/2007 at 7:48 AM

Quote from Bonkin on 8/9/2007 at 3:43 PM:

I borrowed this one from the library and I'm glad that I didn't pay for it. I agree with some of what he says about relaxing things like your shoulders and arms. But I found a lot of the "chi" stuff a bit over the top.

Yeah... I paid for it. Embarrassed

Especially the "imagine your feet as little wheels. If you want to go faster, just lean forward. Only run as far as your body wants to." ... If I run as far as my body wants to, I would have some pretty short runs some days Cool

but seriously, if one would follow his program to "T", all training plans for all events would be too pushy.

Your living is determined not so much by what life brings to you as by the attitude you bring to life; not so much by what happens to you as by the way your mind looks at what happens.

Out of suffering have emerged the strongest souls; the most massive characters are seared with scars.

zoom-zoom

rectumdamnnearkilledem

posted: 8/13/2007 at 10:28 AM

Quote from Bonkin on 8/9/2007 at 3:43 PM:

But I found a lot of the "chi" stuff a bit over the top.

That's pretty much why I didn't buy it. Most of the form stuff I have found in discussions online, so I simply adopted some of that without all the touchy-feely bits. k

Getting the wind knocked out of you is the only way to

remind your lungs how much they like the taste of air.

~ Sarah Kay

Chenille

posted: 8/13/2007 at 7:39 PM

OK - so I'm weird - I used visual imagery mucho when I was running distance - one of my favs ? Seeing myself as a locomotive - I could settle in a real steady tempo pace with that one (imagine your feet as little wheels) , especially when listening to this on my MP3 Wink

Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the number of moments that take our breath away...(unkown)

• Go With The Flow
• Thyroid Support Group

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