Chi Running?

SaraLord · Jan 3, 2011

I am the world's most unorganized person. While sorting through some newspaper clippings, I came across a notice for a Chi Running clinic by Danny Dreyer, for September of 2010. It only took me 3 months to find this scrap of paper!

He'll have another clinic in April of this year. Can any of you comment on Chi Running before I plunk down $125 to learn that all the tricks of form (many of which I've learned here at BRS) are ones I'm already using?

My other thought was that I might be able to poach some attendees as potential BRS members.

Thanks! Sara

stomper · Jan 3, 2011

I've taken lessons from an

I've taken lessons from an authorized chi Running instructor (though not Dreyer himself), and I've read the first version of the book.

I'd say that everything they have to teach is positive, and was once kind of revolutionary. However, all the basics of what they teach (higher cadence, not heel striking, and whatever you do, listen to your body) come pretty naturally with barefoot running. Beyond that chiRunning has a lot of neat tricks for dealing with various situations... steep uphills, for example. If one of those tricks really works for you, it could totally be worth $125 to learn it.

Beyond that, some chiRunning instructors really focus on perfecting the ideal form, and in my own experience this was counterproductive. I was thinking too much about following the "rules", when I should have been listening to my body. It was when I gave up chiRunning and just started going BF without any plan that I really started learning.

All that said, if I had $125 to spare I might go to it as an inspirational type experience. Dreyer definitely knows something.

Barefoot TJ · Jan 3, 2011

You could purchase his book

You could purchase his book and or DVD for much less, but if you've got the money to blow, I'm sure it would be well worth it to see him in person and be able to ask questions.

Barefoot Mary · Jan 3, 2011

I have the Chi Running book.

I have the Chi Running book. I will agree there are a lot of rules, but all the advice is really sound...though much of it is the same you'll learn from your bare feet anyways. There is a slight forward lean that I could never really perfect, and now that I'm barefoot I just run tall.

My brother is a real Chi convert, though. He's run in VFFs for some years practicing Chi Running style. The man has never touched his bare feet to the earth and he's injury free. So it really worked for him!

saypay45 · Jan 3, 2011

I tend to think that barefoot

I tend to think that barefoot running is Chi running for the most part. And I agree with everyone else's comments. Focusing too much on form can actually hurt your natural stride. And it takes a lot of the fun out of barefooting.

Save yourself $125 bucks and I'll send you my Chi Running book for the cost of shipping.

Abide · Jan 3, 2011

I think the whole lean thing

I think the whole lean thing is bunk anyways Mary. I don't think you can perfect it because the actual lean shouldn't really be noticeable. The excercise of falling into a wall to mimic it is ridiculous.

Then again maybe with TRS you need to lean, I'm not sure.

BrunoRuns · Jan 3, 2011

I'll 4th that the book is

I'll 4th that the book is very helpful as a guide and can help you solve some form issues, but I also agree that as a pure BF runner you can gain a lot of this knowledge by yourself with your feet free on the ground!

Mike · Jan 3, 2011

Abide wrote:I think the

Abide said:
I think the whole lean thing is bunk anyways Mary. I don't think you can perfect it because the actual lean shouldn't really be noticeable. The excercise of falling into a wall to mimic it is ridiculous.

Then again maybe with TRS you need to lean, I'm not sure.

Totally agree Abide. I worked hard on trying to learn that lean for weeks. When I tried to use it running barefoot, all it did was kill my ability to relax. I think its a good read for any runner, but not a replacement for learning to run barefoot.