Could ChiRunning be for you? It's at least worth a look

Most of the time, when I get the chance to talk to a new runner or a runner with injuries, I will bring up ChiRunning. Given my positive experience with it, how could I not? It's a form of running that took me from knee pain and hopeless to a fourth season of triathlons and a knee injury-free world at my doorstep.

I've written about my experiences with it a couple times on this blog, most recently two years ago, and a recent comment from one of the ladies in my mentor group, took me back to a video that helped give me an a-ha moment with regard to how I approach running.

I will usually pull from this video to give my elevator speech on ChiRunning, though I'm sure the author might suggest a better one. Basically, instead of forcing your legs out in front of you to generate power, and letting that force pound your body, fall forward and let your legs fall behind you. Instead of fighting gravity, you cooperate with it.

Danny Dreyer does a much better job of explaining it in the video. It's only 4.5 minutes long, so I hope you get a chance to check it out. Also, below you'll find my post from March of 2009, which goes in to a tad bit more detail about how I came to be a ChiRunner. Maybe it's for you, maybe it's not, but - as I ask below - what if it is?

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Some of you may notice a link on here to a Web site called ChiRunning. If you want to run better, and pain-free, you have to check this out.

Seriously.

I was skeptical when I heard about it, too, but about a year ago, I decided to pick up running. This was right before triathlons got on my radar screen. I started out running a half-mile and then worked up to one mile. The trouble is, my knees started to really hurt - again.

In fact, I decided to take a break from running and work on building leg strength for a few months. If the muscles surrounding my knees were strong, my knees wouldn't be so weak and, therefore, as able to be injured.

Meanwhile, I got interested in triathlons. I read a swimming book, Total Immersion (TI), and just fell in love with the theories behind the author, Terry Laughlin's, techniques. At the end of his book, he recommended ChiRunning by Danny Dreyer.

Soon thereafter, I got a copy from the library. I read it in one day.

I won't go into all of the details about the mechanics of it. It would take a book to explain and Dryer's already written it, but basically it's about falling into your run instead of forcing yourself to run.

Here's a short video of Danny Dreyer, the creator of ChiRunning, explaining the difference between ChiRunning and typical running.

I can say that since running this way since April, I have experienced no knee pain during or after running - none!

If you're tired of your running causing you pain, it is definitely worth your time to check out the book and/or DVD. It may end up not being for you - but what if it is?

One way dogs and triathlon don't mix

"Do you know what that could be?" my husband asked me as I walked into the house after work, laptop slugged over my tired right shoulder, handbag and lunchbag clasped together in my left hand.

His hand gestured to little, white plastic pieces gathered on the kitchen table that he'd picked up off the floor; evidence gathered for me for an investigation I was too tired to pursue.

I managed to exhale, knowing what had happened, just not knowing the answer to his question.

"Not again," I sighed.

It was our Great Dane. She had decided to have an adventure while we were at work. Last time, she'd chewed up some electrical tape, the time before that she'd had some fun with my sunglasses. She was clearly upping the stakes lately, choosing newer items over her old standbys: paper towels.

At first glance, I had no idea what she'd gotten into.

A few minutes later, after having settled in some, I went upstairs. The answer to my husband's question could be found lying on the floor of my office. It was my brand new Marshall University ball cap, one my mother had just given to me as a Christmas gift.

"Oh, man!" I managed to exclaim as I picked it off the floor. "That was my favorite ball cap," I said to my husband as I came down the steps. "That was the best-fitting hat I've owned in years."

I should have known better than to leave it lying out. She'd gotten a hold of my other favorite ball cap in 2004, but I was able to learn about her mischief and coax her out of the bite before the chewing got too out of control.

So, my husband and I just shook our heads and started laughing about the situation.

She must have known that we were talking about her, though, because when I went in to pet her, she was hiding her face behind her blanket, sheepishly. As if by hiding her face, I'd miss the 120 lb. animal laying on my bed.

As frustrating as losing my new, favorite ball cap was, nothing beats the time she drank half the oil out of the Fry Daddy when she was a pup. Poor thing was smacking her lips and tongue for the next two days.

Well, maybe it's a renewed sense of adventure she's discovered come to think of it.

Rest in peace my first pair of running shoes

To say that I ran too many miles in these shoes is as hardcore of an understatement as saying that three-time Ironman champ Chrissie Wellington "sure does trains a lot."

I should have bought a new pair about a year-and-a-half ago. Heck, I've put close to 600 miles in the last two years alone - NOT including dog walks.

It was, however, through my recent longer runs that I began to see the strong correlation between the decomposition of my shoes and the possibility for injury. I began to notice an aching in the balls of my feet and just felt less supported the longer I ran.

Because the guy from whom I'd bought these shoes did such a great job of helping me decide which ones to buy to begin with, I went back to his shop. I ended up getting the New Balance shoe that replaced the 858, the 850. So far so good.

Maybe I'm just sentimental. Nah, it's really more likely that I'm just cheap, but I definitely had grown fond of those shoes. They were with me during my first triathlon, both on the run and on the bike as I didn't have clipless then. They've been with me through good and bad times of training and have carried me through three seasons of triathlon. Last but not least, they helped me finish my first half marathon a month ago.

So I take this opportunity to say farewell and thank you - and, of course, to say hello to my very sweet, very solid, new running shoes. I look forward to hundreds of miles together, just not as many as with my last pair.

I love you

I absolutely LOVE triathlons!

I love training for them.

I love the burn of chlorine in my nose.

I love the headwind that slows down my speed.

I love the mixed tan lines I get from the different clothing I wear for each sport.

I love the difficulty I have opening my door to go run.

I love the yells from idiot teenagers leaning out their cars calling ME an idiot as I run.

I love the smell of honeysuckle on my bike ride.

I love the smell of roadkill on my bike ride.

I love the sweat ring around my ball cap after a long run.

I love that when I swim at the beach in my lake, I’m the only one wearing a swim cap and goggles.

I love that people think I’m a fitness freak just because I run while it’s snowing.

And I love that I am absolutely no better than anybody else just because I am a triathlete.