Ever look at some of your race finish photos and say to yourself, "wow I look like a mailbag thrown off the back of a truck when I run! what the heck happened?". Then you see runners with seemingly perfect form and you wish you could run like them...
Paul Tergat and Haile Gebrselassie in the 2000 Sydney Olympics 10K. Two of the fastest and most efficient runners in the world. Our thanks to Andres for this YouTube video accompanied by Vivaldi's The Four Seasons/Winter/Largo. This is poetry in motion.
Not everyone can run the fastest or have perfect running form, but we can practice and make subtle changes to help us run more efficiently and look and feel better when we run. We really don't know what we look like when we run unless we have a photo taken or we have been filmed when running. As we watch other runners, we can see a variety of different running forms, some pretty, some not.
Early in my running life, I went from one running related injury to the next until I was ready to call it quits. I love to run, but running just hurt me too much So after some desperate on-line searches, Bart came across some information on injury free running which answered the question, why was I injured so much? Because
I was making very small mistakes that had huge consequences.
I know there are many topics out there on running form. I want to share with you what worked for me. Bart's Internet search turned up Chi Running. Without getting technical, here's Chi Running in a nut shell. Chi Running technique blends the powerful mindful and body movement principles from T'ai Chi with running by focusing on postural alignment and relaxation which are the key components to more relaxed and efficient running. If you are struggling with injuries, want to be a more efficient runner, or just want to look better when you run, start by working on your form. Chi Running has made a significant change in my running life. I will never have perfect running form or be a fast runner, but I sure love to run and enjoy it more since practicing the Chi Running principles. Find what works for you!
www.chirunning.com
Happy Running!
Eve & Bart
Wow love the video. They are poetry in motion. I took a Chi Running class when there was one in Vegas and I have to tell you it was awesome!! A very relaxed running style that I try to practice. Not very good at it but I try.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Tina
Hello Tina,
ReplyDeleteGlad you liked the video. It is one of our favorites! Congratulations with your ChiRunning class. It is one of best investments you will ever make in your running. Be patient with your progress and continue working with the focuses your instructor provided you. It all comes down to practice. Chi Running for us is not a destination, it's a journey in which you are continually trying to improve.
Cheers,
Bart & Eve