ChiRunning: A Revolutionary Approach to Effortless, Injury-Free Running (Chi) Paperback – May 5, 2009

ChiRunning, A revolutionary approach to effortless, injury-free running is an amazing book and DVD. Growing up, I played a lot of sports from football to baseball to track, all of which required explosive running or sprints if you will. At age 17 I joined the Army and the distances I ran began to increase. As part of the semi-annual physical fitness test, the Army requires its Soldiers to run 2 miles within a certain amount of time. The morning PT program usually consists of training at much greater distances. When I was young it did not matter, or better put, I did not know any better, nor did I realize that running is an art.When I was in my early twenties I decided I wanted to run a marathon and began to train. Once again, as a youth, I simply went out and ran. After a couple months of training, I discovered the weight room, and stopped running in favor of lifting weights. I had to continue training in order to pass the Army physical fitness test, but that was the extent of my running. As I grew older I put the marathon ambition back on my bucket list. While training I began having problems in my hips and my hamstrings. It became so painful that I went to see the doctor and he referred me to physical therapy. The physical therapist tried everything from stretching to dry needling to try and relieve the pain.In 2010 my unit deployed to Iraq to support the draw down. During this tour I was introduced to a therapist, who was an avid runner. He put me on a treadmill and observed my running. He told me I spent too much time on my heels. I was a heel toe runner who over used the heels of his running shoes. He made some recommendations, and I attempted to make the adjustments, but it wasn't until another Soldier recommended ChiRunning that I really understood what the therapist was talking about.ChiRunning is a book and DVD by Danny and Katherine Dreyer. It has been hailed as an elite source in all sports to include football, baseball, yoga, and of course, the running community. ChiRunning is a step by step plan with instruction and exercises that help you transition from your current style of running to a more proper style that is less prone to injury. The Dreyer's walk you through the techniques necessary to change your current running style. Their overall goal is to relieve stress and tension so you run more like you did when you were a kid. They break down the difference between ChiRunning and Power Running, and they take you through exercises that focus on and help develop the core, which is essential to running properly.From beginning to end the book is a process that will help professionals run better, and enthusiast like myself run more efficiently. It is a process, so be patient, but from the very first lesson you will start realizing things to work on. The DVD is an excellent resource as it helps solidify what is in the book by providing the reader with a visual of the different exercises. After reading the book and perfecting my technique, In the last year I have effortlessly run the Army 10 miler, two half-marathons, 3 adventure runs (dirt/mud runs), and shaved 30 seconds off my Army two mile run time. I also, finally, marked that marathon off my bucket list.

First of all, I am a 43 year old NON-runner. I'm 5'4" with stumpy little "Barny Rubble" legs that don't go very fast on the best of days, and the shoulders and arms like a line backer due to my Midwestern rearing on a hay farm; a sleek and slender runners body is the last thing in the world that I possess. With that said, due to my job, every year I have to do a physical fitness test (push ups, sit ups and the dreaded mile and a half run) and every single year I've dreaded it every time. This year I was dreading it more because I've traveled quite a bit, was floored by the flu in March and at the end of April, was hit with paralyzing allergies so the training I would normally do for the four months leading up to my testing didn't happen. I honestly didn't know what I was going to do. Not only do I despise running, I despised the weeks of the recovery from the injuries that I would always sustain, especially from completely blowing out my ankles, knees and especially my quads.Then, as fate would have it, while surfing on my kindle one night, about a week ago, I found this book and read the reviews. At first, I had some major doubts because something as simple as changing your running posture, in order to run more comfortably for longer durations, sounded way too good to be true but I was desperate and time was running out for me.At first, the book sounded a bit like an infomercial that you'd see at 3am when nothing else was on, the claims it made were a bit outlandish but I kept reading. I have to admit, I was intrigued by the time I was done but I was still having a hard time visualizing what I needed to do. On a whim, I logged onto YouTube and watched the video's on CHI Running...this was completely doable!Before today, whenever I attempted to run, I could get about 50 feet before my legs started feeling sharp pains in one way or another, so I would begin the walk of shame waiting for it to pass; I hoped that quitting smoking last year would make a difference, it did but then my legs would give out before my lungs would.However, today, I was able to put the lessons from the book and video into practice...I ran 3/4 of a mile before I stopped to walk!! And that was only because there was a steep hill to tackle and a strong headwind. Anyway, I finished the 1 1/2 mile course feeling really well! So well, in fact, I went into my building and ran ANOTHER mile on our indoor track!! I'm completely astonished!!As I write this, I am experiencing a fraction of the discomfort that I normally feel on the evening after running any amount. My ankles and hips are a bit tender but this was my first run with the new techniques so I need to practice more. However, I am having no discomfort, what so ever, in my quads which would normally cripple me for days afterword. I'm actually looking forward to my run tomorrow!Over all, these techniques aren't hard at all and I think that a bad runner, such as myself, can pick up the fundamentals quite quickly. Read the book, watch the video, and try running without ear buds (I always do!) because I was able to pay attention to the way my body was reacting to the changes and was able to tweak as needed.So, for the first time in over 20 years, I'm able to face my fitness test this coming week without fear or anxiety. I'm really glad I found this book!

I purchased this book on advise from a runner. I had just started running last year, and after several knee issues thought I would have to stop running all together. If you learned to run like most of us, long strides, heal to toe, no pain no gain, this book will change your perception of running. This method allows me to run faster, longer, with less effort, and less pain than before my injury. The only issue I have with the book is like most how to books, it could be written in pamphlet form. The beginning is filled with anecdotes and reasoning and stories, that I really could care less about. If you can last through all that, this book will be worth twice the price. If not, then skip the first 4 chapters, pull up you tube for visual explanations of the fine points. Either way it will help you run better.