Chi Running: A Revolutionary Approach to Effortless, Injury-Free Running

Not Your Run of the Mill Running Book

What an interesting running book! Buy this book if you:

-would like to be able to run well into your old age
-would like to improve your running form and have fewer injuries
-would like to have a more philosophical approach to your running
-would like to increase your overall health

Here's how the book roughly pans out:

-Chapter 1: compares power running to ChiRunning
-Chapter 2: goes into the 5 principles upon which TaiChi and ChiRunning are based
-Chapter 3: gets into the "inner" skills of ChiRunning

As you can see, the first 3 chapters lay out the philosopical foundation- that's so when you get to the specific techniques, they make sense.

Chaper 4: learn about the ChiRunning "focuses"- which are the specific physical and mental methods used to run more efficiently.

Chapters 5-9: covers program development, peak performance training and diet. Note: Chapter 7 also covers some info on common injuries such as muscle cramps, plantar fasciitis (also rec. The 5-Minute Plantar Fasciitis Solution for more info on this), heel cord problems.

Chapter 10: how to incorporate the ChiRunning principles into your everyday life

As you can tell, ChiRunning, with its mind-body approach, is far from your typical book on running- and shouldn't be missed by any serious runner. Happy trails.

17 out of 17 people found this review helpful.

Chi running will make a runner out of you

I have never enjoyed running and always seen it as a necessary evil for weight management and payback for eating good food. And the common running method, power running, is painful and leaves you gasping for air. I had no idea there was another way. Chi running introduces an efficient and painless alternative. Is that possible?

The first few chapters are philosophical. It may test your patience, but go with it. You need to understand why and how the techniques work and why it is a better way to run. You will get to the more pratical exercises and instructions, but first you need to understand why power running creates injuries in order to motivate change.

This book explains how running can be more than just exercise. Similar to yoga, it trains you to relax and release tension. Your efficiency and injury prevention depend on it. Running can be a practice; a meditation. The book does a great job of explaining why and how to get there. It's easy to follow and an interesting read.

2 out of 3 people found this review helpful.

Great Info

Chi Running came to me just a little late. I just blew my knee out on a run and haven't run in 5 months. During the time I've not run I "ran" into this book when I saw it advertised in Runner's World Magazine. I've been reading it while recouping from the injury. I wish I had read this book months before I injured the knee. Perhaps I could have avoided the injury?
Chi Running is very helpful and makes sense. Running is a natural expression of our bodies and there's no reason for injury. The book is well written, easy to follow with practical ways to take control of your running form. Great book.

2 out of 4 people found this review helpful.

Highly Recommended

If you are an experienced runner and feel you have plateaued, this book is a must. (I'd recommend it for all runners, but is written more from an experienced runner's perspective.) The philosophy and the method makes good common sense. If you care about running form, endurance, and recovery like I do, you probably will be able to implement ChiRunning immediately. I now use it for my training, speed intervals, and racing. I got the book from the public library 2 weeks before a half marathon, and ran a PR, before finishing the book! I'm 57 yrs old and want to run for years to come. I consider this book to be my ticket to qualify for Boston.

1 out of 2 people found this review helpful.

Don't Give Up Running Yet

For anyone who has enjoyed jogging over the years, but is now plagued with joint issues, this book could be the answer. Persistent knee injuries had prevented me from enjoying even short runs. After several weeks of implementing strategies from the book, I'm back up to 30 minutes, 3 times a week - and I feel great. I think what's important to remember about this book (or any self-help book, for that matter) is to not feel obliged to incorporate all aspects of the method. What I've used has definitely helped me and I'd recommend it to anyone who feels that running is no longer a work-out option.

1 out of 2 people found this review helpful.

Non-Runner here... tai chi person :)

I've been doing tai chi for over 12 years and just started jogging around the park for exercise when I picked up this book. I was looking for something to guide me so I would run "properly" and not get hurt being that I have a small history of a small knee issue. I'm really glad I came upon THIS book instead of some other one, and was even a bit shocked to find the two things related, and VERY happy about it.

From the tai chi side of things, it's exactly in line with everything I've ever been taught and taught to others. That right there was enough for me to think "wow, maybe I can actually like running!"

I love the book in every way, but I do have to admit I felt a little "left out" when reading it. It's from the perspective of someone who's been running a long time, and is pretty much aimed at people who have been running a long time and already have a different way of running ingrained. I never even heard the term "power running".... which is probably good I guess.... on the other hand I skimmed through a lot of the tai chi posture stuff because i already know it. So... although I did a lot of skipping, the bits I am using I am using well, over & over...

1 out of 2 people found this review helpful.

Highly Recommend

As I read this amazing book, I apply each step to my running and I've already seen improvements. I ran a 10 mile race and finished with a personal best after just applying a few of the techniques from CHI Running! Thank you Danny Dreyer!

Pain free running!!!

it changed the way I run and it works!!!!!

Recommend to me - now I HIGHLY recommend to you!

BEST investment I ever made in regards to running. I have been running for quite a few years and thought I knew how to run...after just the first few chapters of this book I realized I was doing it all wrong. This book really helped me think about every aspect of how I have been running and to run better. I am now training for a half marathon and I feel so energized everytime I run - even when it's 10 degrees out. I smile more and feel like it's less of an effort.

0 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Buy the paper copy!

Love this book but now I've bought it twice! You need easy and quick access to the chapters and reference pages. If you want this book, which you should, buy the paper copy. And if you don't know if this is really the running book for you-let me repeat myself-I have 2 copies now! I am running faster, with less work and less pain. Didn't know if I would be a "runner" but now I can't get enough! Hope this helps.

An excellent place to start before you begin your first run

A co-worker recommended this book and I decided to give it a try as it was not too expensive. This book is an amazing read for anyone who has decided to take up running on a regular basis. I have read other books and magazine articles and they usually end up making running way too complex and all about strength and power. This book takes a different approach. There is no regimen to follow; it attempts to get your fundamentals right. I have lead a sedentary life until now and just started to walk/run. This book did not scare me away but has motivated me by making running look simple. My friend who is planning to run his first half marathon and is part of a running group/clinic found this book helpful. He noted improvements in his running after he followed 2 of the suggested steps to get the basics right.

Chi Walking

I have been trying to learn this technique and the book was very helpful. It is informative and funny at the same time.

0 out of 2 people found this review helpful.

Most useful tool for running

This book is by far the best I've read regarding running. Simple and logical. This should be bought and read before you buy any other book about running technique.

0 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Not Your 'Run' of the Mill Running Book

What an interesting running book! Buy this book if you:..... -would like to be able to run well into your old age -would like to improve your running form and have fewer injuries -would like to have a more philosophical approach to your running -would like to increase your overall health..... Here's how the book roughly pans out:..... -Chapter 1: compares power running to ChiRunning -Chapter 2: goes into the 5 principles upon which TaiChi and ChiRunning are based -Chapter 3: gets into the 'inner' skills of ChiRunning. As you can see, the first 3 chapters lay out the philosopical foundation- that's so when you get to the specific techniques, they make sense..... Chaper 4: learn about the ChiRunning 'focuses'- which are the specific physical and mental methods used to run more efficiently..... Chapters 5-9: covers program development, peak performance training and diet. Note: Chapter 7 also covers some info on common injuries such as muscle cramps, plantar fasciitis 'also rec. The 5-Minute Plantar Fasciitis Solution for more info on this', heel cord problems..... Chapter 10: how to incorporate the ChiRunning principles into your everyday life..... As you can tell, with its mind-body approach, this is far from your typical book on running- and shouldn't be missed by any serious runner. Happy trails.

0 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

A top 10 running book.

I have been running for over 7 years. The first years I dealt with severe knee pains which I attributed to an old sport injury. After reading the book and relearning how to run I have complete 5 marathons and no long have to limp my way back to the car. A must read if you deal with any knee pain

0 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Learn to run injury free

This is an amazing book and running technique. It is a must read for all runners, experienced and begining. This book WILL save you from being one of the 65% of runners who are injured every year! I have been running using this program for several years. This technique was developed based on simple observations of what works, what doesn't and what running with nature/physics can do for you...oh its also based on a couple thousand years of ancient wisdom too.

0 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Injury Prevention

A must read for all runners. Well written and to the point. Gives readers a deeper understanding of the mind body awarness while training. Good for all distance runners and sprinters at all levels of conditioning.

0 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

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