The Chi in Me

My husband has by plagued by running injuries since college: every time he tries to get back into it, something breaks down and forces him to the sidelines. This cycle happened again recently and he ended up at the doctor's office. However, instead of being told to use rest and ice to recover, it was suggested he try reading ChiRunning by Danny and Katherine Dreyer.

You've probably heard of chi running already, as I had, but I thought of it as a fad like barefoot running. So when my husband left the doctor's office and went immediately to go buy the book, I was skeptical and not all that interested in what it had to say. I'd heard of the chi running classes where the focus is on form, not speed, and since I'm interested in speed these days, this had no appeal to me. How wrong, how wrong, how wrong.

After only a couple sessions on the treadmill at the gym, my husband came home so excited that he ran without pain or heavy breathing-- he said it was so much easier to run this way.

Whaaaaaaaaa? I thought. That's ridiculous. It's just a mind game you're playing on yourself. But then he read some of the book to me, and explained the basic principles, and now I've found myself waiting for him to fall asleep reading so that I can snag the book and read a

few chapters myself.

I have started using a few of the running techniques and I can honestly say that I feel a significant difference when I'm (it's cheesy...here it comes....) "harnessing the chi." Oh I said that. Yes I did.

I realize this sounds like an infomercial, and I would go into more detail, but I don't even know where to start... I guess I'll try just a little so I can validate these crazy ramblings:

The basic principles involve balance and force: the idea is to let gravity (or the chi force) do the work for you. This means great posture, relaxed limbs, loose joints, engaged core muscles, a focused mind and good breathing techniques. When I have the correct running form, it does literally feel like a force other than myself is moving me, and when I check my pace in these moments I find that I'm moving faster than it feels.

I sort of feel like I've discovered how to do magic and I don't want to tell anyone how easy it really is because then we'll all be doing magic and then I won't be special anymore and what's the fun in that if we can all do it? Except, this isn't magic and it's a way for all of us to run until we decide we want to retire--not when our bodies force us to. And really, who wants to be 80 and running alone? Having some running buddies at that age (I imagine) would be pretty badass.

I haven't experienced a completely "effortless" run--as the book claims it can teach--but I have had significant miles of what felt effortless, and I believe Dreyer when he tells me I can go as far and as fast as I want without pain or worry of injury. Example: today I ran 12 miles without my hip flexor giving me any problems...when only a few days ago I ran 6 miles and was limping the next day. And, I'm now considering running the Catalina Marathon for my 30th birthday this year... if I have a couple more good long runs like today's, then it's a done deal.

I highly recommend this book, and am currently entertaining the idea of taking a class for one-on-one Chi help. Here's what I found in San Diego:

Effortless Running (North County)

Move with Nature (San Diego)