Table of Contents
What is Chi Running?
ChiRunning is an improved running technique that is gentler on the legs and joints. The focus here is on relaxing the arms, shoulders and legs. In addition, the new sports trend should help to stay injury-free for a lifetime in a natural way. The running technique was developed by American Danny Dreyer in the late 1990s and has helped him run for many years without suffering any injuries. ChiRunning combines Taichi and jogging and enables effortless and injury-free running.
Gentle on joints and muscles
Many joggers run too fast, too long or too often without really knowing how to run. This leads to incorrect movement sequences and it quickly leads to knee problems, back pain and shin splints. ChiRunning helps to avoid such problems.
Tolfioow sports assistant Janina Stricker has taken on the challenge of ChiRunning:
The decisive factor in this sport is the activation of core strength, which optimizes the movement sequences. First of all , it is important to adopt a straight and stable posture. In order to assume a straight posture for ChiRunning, we should lean forward, which makes it feel like tipping forward. But only then does our posture become perfect for practicing ChiRunning. By leaning forward from the ankles and engaging core strength, gravity pulls us forward. T he jogging becomes more pleasant and is much easier than before. You hardly feel your arms and legs because you just let yourself fall forward and pull without using your legs with much effort. The result:the legs are less strained and by pulling forward longer distances and higher speeds are possible. So the more you lean forward, the faster you get. “But you shouldn’t forget to relax your joints and muscles to protect your legs,” says Querhammer. The special running technique and the mental preparation before jogging is important in order to do chi running correctly.
The key elements in ChiRunning
- An upright posture (standing straight and stable)
- Activation of the core muscles
- Relaxation instead of tension, especially in the shoulders, arms and legs
- Lean forward from your hocks
- Midfoot landing
- Active arm work
- Head, shoulder, pelvis and ankle form a line when leaning forward
Advantages and disadvantages
In addition to the low risk of injury, ChiRunning also has other advantages. Efficiency is increased and you acquire a straight and stable posture for everyday life.
But there are also disadvantages to ChiRunning: The way to the right posture, breathing and running technique is quite a long way. The most difficult part is changing the running technique used up to now. After all, it is important to change old and inefficient movement patterns.
Janina Stricker’s conclusion: “The ChiRunning workshop was a really great experience and a lot of fun! The workshop was also great training for a straight and stable posture.” Unfortunately, it takes a while before you master the running technique properly and no longer have to rack your brains about the right posture, how to relax your arms and legs, etc. while running. It’s all a matter of practice and getting used to. Whether you are a beginner, an experienced runner, a jogger or a competitor – ChiRunning is recommended for everyone.
