Run Chi

Did you know there are "techniques" for running?

Me neither.

I assumed that running required you to slap on a pair of tennis shoes, stretch a little, and ... well ... start running.

But there's this thing called "Chi Running" and I've heard about it twice in two days and now I'm intrigued.

If I'm understanding it right, running "chi" means using some principles from Tai Chi, whatever that means. Something about having your body in balance, I think.

What it means in practice is running in the way that puts as little stress on your knees and hips as possible, like this:

Stand and lean forward, from your ankles, not your waist and "fall" forward. As you fall forward, move your feet, but instead of allowing your heel to strike first on the pavement, concentrate on landing on the part of your foot you'd land on if you were jump roping. Keep your steps very even ... as if you're matching a metronome. And never let your arms cross sideways, across the midline of your body.

The idea is that a run is a "controlled fall" and takes advantage of the forward momentum that "falling" provides. If you want to speed up, you lean into it and "fall" more. This is sort of the opposite of a heel-strike run where the back foot propels you forward as the front foot/heel "stops" your forward momentum with each stride as your heel punctuates the pavement with a driving, reverberating strike. 

I tried this in my basement today and it didn't go so well. Felt really uncomfortable and sort of silly. I'm not sure I'm doing it right, either.

But there are dozens of You Tube links and the Wiki info isn't bad either if you want to learn more.

I have friend at work who runs this way, following an injury and round of physical therapy. She says it helps her. Have another friend who is taking a running class, to train for a 5K, and they teach some of these same principles there. It seems you also can apply some of the same ideas for walking.

It feels really strange to try and change the way you run or walk or move. But it might be an idea worth investigating. Old dogs can learn new tricks.

And occasionally bark up the right tree. Aye-Chi-Wow-A. (Chihuahua, get it? Dog, chi ... nevermind.)