What the hell is chirunning?

I've read a bit about it on the Australian CoolRunning forum. Some bloke who "coaches" it joined up and not surprisingly started a thread on it. Seems like total and utter BS to me.

Just to add to that it is some sort of allegedly special and correct technique or style that is meant to improve performance and prevent injuries etc. Garbage IMO.

What the hell is chirunnin? Jogging really fast with your chia pet?

It's people making money by teaching other people to not heel strike, and wear flats for all training.

Oh boy here we go. As soon as their bots discover a new thread on the topic they will come a runnin'. Chi runnin' that is.

"certified ChiRunning & ChiWalking instructors."quote

Like a licensed amway salesman?

Whatever happened to tempo runs, intervals, fartlek, and good ol' hammering 'till you drop? Is this the pussification of this sport? I guarantee you the Kenyans, Ethiopians, Japanese, Eritreans, etc. don't use ChiRunning methods to get on the podium.

You are absolutely correct...and that's b/c 99.99% of groups you mention above already have near perfect form. Go down to your local 5K and have the woman who finishes in 30mins, w/ leg turnover @ 75 go to the track and bang out 400's....she'll improve loads.

I don't know the ins/outs of Chi running, pose, etc... but my take-away is that if it helps those who aren't naturally gifted at running 'well', this would beneficial.

It's this technique where you land really soft on the ball/front part of the foot, trying to minimize impact. They stress lightweight shoes, running in flats, etc. using this forward lean-soft impact form where your body uses its "natural" forward lean and crap. They said it is very efficient. For some it might be, but I sure couldnt run like that.

lame post, really, really lame

http://www.chirunning.com/shop/home.php

Chi doesn't make POSE-type promises

it's not perfect; nothing is, but there is much it offers that can benefit a lot of recreational runners

What top runners endorse ChiapetRunning as listed on their website? April Powers? Gimme a m-f'ng break!

not buying chiapetrunning... wrote:

What top runners endorse ChiapetRunning as listed on their website? April Powers? Gimme a m-f'ng break!

what is it about Chi that scares you?

why should it bother you that someone makes money by helping folks with their running? if it didn't work for some people, think they'd still be in business?

Chi and Pose running is all marketing. The basic premise (with which I agree from my running style) is that it is better to be a mid-foot and fore-foot striker, which most good runners incorporate naturally into their stride, particularly when racing. In other words, avoid the heel-toe motion strike. It is amazing how people can make money by explaining the most natural of movements, like charging money to teach one how to breathe. All the power to them if people are willing to hand over their money for that knowledge. It is rather pathetic that a whole cottage industry has sprung up over the teaching of what should be a natural running style.

it amazes me how you elitist track geeks are ready to demean any running coach/approach/method outside of the accepted orthodox.

lets face it THE SPORT OF RUNNING IS IN A CRISIS.

just about EVERY elite athlete is/was on drugs

high school athletes are on drugs

anybody who is a part of this sport KNOWS that many elite division 1 colleges have extreme problems with eating disorders, stress fractures and many other health/injury related problems ALL DUE TO STRESS PLACED ON THE BODY FROM RUNNING.

who knows maybe this chi stuff can help. many of my athletes are doing yoga with great results, maybe this is similar?

as a coach and "old timer" i'm sitting here thinking thank god, maybe people will finally go back to enjoying running instead of killing themselves

On the other hand, it does bother me that we have this natural simple thing called running (left foot, right foot, left foot) and it gets mucked to hell with gizmos and workshops and super-expensive gear and pay-to-play training gimmicks.

At the end of the day you just have to get out and run five to seven days a week, varying distances and paces. That is how you improve.

A coach I know was way into it for marathons. I read the book, and I wasn't impressed. Basically, it said don't heel strike, be aware of your body and respond to what it's telling you, and lean forwards so gravity does your work for you. It also had a bunch of mumbo-jumbo Chi crap. It was quite silly.

I hadn't heard Chim Chi mentioned since the 70s. There were a few articles about the head guru and his followers in RW back then. It was a religious cult that was into long distance running and ultra marathoning.

The thing about chi running and pose method is that there is less stress on some parts of the body and more on others (compared to heel striking). More stress on achilles/calves and less generally on knees. Hip stress could be more or ess depending on the runner.

Some people are just naturally built to heel strike and are most injury resistant/ most effecient when heel striking.

if I had to "design" a perfect runner I would make him/it a forefoot striker, but of course not everyone has the biomechanics to strike the ground with the forefoot.

Everyone is very different, generalizations are hard to make.

Some generalizations that CAN be made I think would be...

1)The stride should feel natural

2)the foot should be moving backwards on impact with a speed equal or greater then the speed you are running at

3) turnover of at least 180, more for events shorter then 5k (i.e. middle distance and sprints)

4) The arms and legs should work in a coordinated manner through a strong core.

5)overstriding should be avoided

sorry about the typo... the subject line should've read:

CHIcks Running

I also read Chi Running and marvelled at its claim that the Chi Running Form helps you because "gravity will pull you forward." I don't think I need to point out what's wrong with that concept.

That was one of the few books I've actually thrown away rather than donated or sold. I didn't want to perpetuate such a blight upon the world.