What is Chi Running?

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Chi Running is both a running philosophy and a particular running technique, developed by Danny Dreyer, a marathon runner and a practiioner of Tai Chi, Yoga and Pilates. He proposed Chi running to combine these approaches with his running.

As a running technique, its approach is to get runners to move in a theoretically more efficient and natural way. The supporters consider that the traditional approach to running focuses too much on the use of power and strength to push the runner along the road as quick as possible. The focus of Chi running to be more flowing and efficient and advocates the use of a midfoot strike. Supporters claims that the Chi Running technique is apparently more biomechanically sound, but their is no evidence to support that. This is typical of a number of the claims made for Chi Running. Running techniques experts and coaches do disagree over the validity of changing the running style to being a midfoot striker. Changing a running style does increase oxygen consumption which could be considered a sign of a very inefficient gait (New Balance have developed a running shoes, specifically for Chi running).

As a running philosophy, it is all about being more relaxed and feeling ‘at one with the road’, much like the philiosophies of Tai Chi, Pilates and Yoga. This is supposed to make the running experience more of a religious like and spiritual like experience.

A number of claims have been made for Chi running, with one study suggesting that there is a reduction in injury in those who practice Chi running.

There are a number of You Tube videos that tout the benefits of Chi Running. It could be a matter of watch this space until the evidence comes in.