What is Chi Running? I’ll tell you in a minute.
I know that it has been a while since my last post, so I figured I would finally get something out there. I have been incredibly busy over the last few months with my business, kids, camping trips, etc. I own a home inspection business and we have been averaging around twenty inspections a week, which leaves me little time. Add in soccer, cub scouts, boy scouts, my own workouts, a few mini vacations, etc. and I have been running non-stop!
I am not complaining though, I love being busy! I didn’t want to post some thoughtless piece of garbage, so I chose to just not post anything. Hopefully, you haven’t been thinking that most of my posts are thoughtless, pieces of garbage! 
Regardless, I wanted to touch base with everyone a little and also talk about some good news and some bad news.
First the bad news:
For the last few months, I have had some major pain in my left elbow. I guess that it is tendinitis, at least that is what my doctor thinks. I rested it for the last month and haven’t lifted weights or done any resistance training. It still hurts and I am pretty bummed about not lifting for a month. I was just starting to get back in the groove of my second go around with Visual Impact.
I think I am going to start training again next week, regardless.
[Here's my wife's new Jeep Wrangler. It is pretty awesome driving around with the doors and the roof off. It feels like you are on vacation, just cruising around!]
Now for the good news:
I started running last year a little and even did a 5K and a 10 K race. I hated it at first, then liked it, then started to love it, then started to get really bad knee pain every time I ran over 3 miles. I quit running for a while, only to try again after a month and still had the knee pain!
So my knee hurt when I ran and my elbow hurts all the time! Aren’t you glad that you look to me for fitness advice? 
Okay, so where is the good news?
Chi Running
The good news is that I have met some really great people online since I started my blog. One guy in particular is Alykhan from Fitnessbreakout.com. I remembered that he wrote a post about running and talked about a style of running called, Chi Running. I went back and reread his post and then decided to buy the Chi Running book on my Kindle. My oldest son got me the Chi Running dvd for Father’s day a few weeks after I got the book.
I have been studying both the Chi Running book and the dvd and started running again a few weeks ago. So far, so good. I am no expert in Chi Running by no means, but from what I have learned so far, no knee pain. None. I started slow and ran a few 3 mile runs with no pain and then did 6 miles on Friday and I did 7 miles on Sunday.
No pain at all.
I am super pumped and am happy to be running again. In fact, I am so impressed with this style of running that I am going to an all day Chi Running workshop on Saturday (July 9, 2011). I hope to learn more and will keep you posted as to how it goes. I have another 10K coming up in October and if things continue to go well, I may do the half marathon instead. No guarantees, just wishful thinking so far.
Chi Running = No Knee Pain
With anything, there are always supporters and people that disagree with it. The same goes with Chi Running. As for me, I am only interested in results. If I can run without pain or injury, I would be willing to run backwards with my underwear on my head! Well, I guess that isn’t true, even I have limits as to what I will do. Running backwards would just be silly.
Anyways, here is the link to my friends post on Chi Running.
Here’s a link to the Chi Running website:
Now, if they would only come out with Chi Elbow Treatment or something like that! If any of you guys have any comments on Chi Running or elbow pain, please let me know your thoughts.
{ 14 comments… read them below or add one }
I understand the time vs family perfectly I’ve really slowed up on my fitness blogging cause so many things I need to do.
I actually started a 3 year therapeutic yoga course which is where my focus will be … and the Yoga that I do is similar to Tai Chi so mixing in Chi & Running make a lot of sense to me.
It’s very similar to the principals that I follow in the 4 hr body and I haven’t had any problems with my knees or feet since I started and I run every day now.
Chi Running looks really interesting I’ll have to look into further.
Raymond
Raymond- ZenMyFitness´s last [type] ..How Much Water To Drink For Peak Performance, Build Muscle and Lose Fat – In One Gulp!
Welcome back, man! I know what it’s like to be swamped as well. I’m gonna have to lower the bar a bit and just try to squeeze out ONE good post per week.
I’ve got a copy of Chi Running somewhere around here as well and have been meaning to see what it’s all about. Keep us up to date on if it works for you!
Darrin – Lean, Mean, Virile Machine´s last [type] ..Who’s REALLY Responsible for Your Health?
Sorry to hear about all the injuries…talk about derailing a workout routine! Chi running sounds like it’s been a big help for you. Life has been a little busy on my end as well so I haven’t done much running lately…been stuck in the basement on the bike, elliptical, and rowing machine instead.
Fascinating! It just looks like regular jogging if you didn’t know better. I’m definitely going to learn and try it for myself on a weekend.
As for the elbow pain, I hear that Tai-Chi is great for the joints if practiced for the long term. My grandmother had knee/back pains and it improved after 6 months of Taoist Tai Chi.
Good to have you back dude.
I’ve never been a great fan of running, but that’s mainly because it always seemed to lead to getting injured. It’s probably because running seems so obvious that we think we don’t need to learn how to do it, but that is probably the reason so many of us struggle with it.
Michael
Kelly,
Thanks for the shout out! I hope you recover from your elbow pain quickly. I’m glad you were able to try out ChiRunning. I found the very first time I did it, it was a little awkward but I felt surprisingly good after not having run for some time. I’m no expert either, but the amount of energy conserved with improved form is really pretty amazing.
Alykhan
Running backwards with your underwear on your head … that’d be something to see out your window!
I’ve got a really bad knee (motocross accident) so this might be a good way for me to get back into running!
Nice post … as usual.
I’m sorry to hear about your pains – you just have to keep fighting.
Thanks for the info on Chi running. Sounds like something I could recommend to my dad who also has his share of problems.
Raymond,
It’s a constant focus to keep all of the plates spinning without letting any of them fall to the floor! I am thankful for everything that I have in my life that keeps me busy, though. Keep us posted on the Yoga.
Darrin,
You should really check it out and see if you like it. I think after reading the book, you will get some good info from it. Even if you don’t agree 100% with it, I am sure you will find some tidbits.
Dave,
Lifting as long as I have, I realize that injuries will occur. It is frustrating though. I lifted a little this past week and felt pretty good. I am really impressed with ChiRunning and so far so good. I did 7 miles again this morning at a 8:30 minute mile pace and still no knee pain. I’ll keep you posted.
Jeff,
It really is just small changes to your running form, but they make a huge difference. I love that your grandmother does Tai Chi. That is awesome!
Michael,
I was the same way. I never understood why someone would willingly run without a bear or wolf chasing them! I started to run a little with my wife, and then all of a sudden, I started to love it. It definitely gets more enjoyable as you get more efficient at it. Running with pain or feeling like you are going to die isn’t fun, but it isn’t like that anymore. It is actually relaxing, as weird as that sounds!
Alykhan,
I just went to a ChiRunning workshop on Saturday. There was one in my area, so I figured I would check it out. I really enjoyed it and learned a lot. I got the book as I mentioned in my post and my son got me the dvd for Father’s day. They are both good, but going to the workshop made a ton of difference. The instructor video taped us before and after the workshop and it was cool to see the improvement in form. I ran 7 miles the last three times out, including this morning, and have had no knee pain at all.
It is really a work in progress though. As simple as it seems, there are a ton of things to focus on. I’ll keep you posted. I am really glad that I’ve met you and read your blog. It has definitely made a big difference in my running!
Kevin,
Did you race motorcross? My youngest son really loves his bike. He is 8 and we go out and ride in the woods by my house. He is kind of a daredevil, so I have to rein him in, so he doesn’t get too wild!
Srdjan,
I would definitely talk to your dad about ChiRunning. It really seems to be a great way to run so far. I just went to a workshop on it and the instructor was in her sixties and has done 15 marathons! She looks great and really healthy. I am excited to see the possibility to keep training for my entire life. When I was powerlifting, in the back of my head, I felt like I was hurting my body. With the way that I train now and with ChiRunning, I feel better.
-Kelly
Going to check this book out, sounds very interesting based on your take, glad you could get back to working out!
Ahmed,
I went to a workshop in my area over the weekend and I am really liking this style of running. I ran 8 miles this morning at around a 9:00 minute mile pace and have had no knee pain at all. So far, so goo. I will keep you guys posted.
-Kelly
15 marathons and she’s 60?? Sounds like some incredible stuff. Look forward to checking out some more posts on the subject.
Chi running is not something that I had ever heard of until reading this blog! Thanks for this information; I’m going to order the book and give it a try. I hate running because of the knee pain as well as shin splints. I’m looking forward to learning more about chi running and the possibility of being able to run pain-free. Do you have any other helpful blogs about good ways to exercise?
Have you checked out the POSE method of running. Seems pretty similar (no heel strike, use gravity, etc)
On a side note, those runners need to hit some weights lol.