Don't spill your Chi

I'm feeling really inspired having spent 4 days in London working with Gray @ChiRunning UK on my Instructor Course, got a little bit of work to do before my certification but I hope to be a fully certified Chi Running Instructor by mid December!

taking it back to basic - playing with balance by crawling on a tree

So what is Chi Running all about & where does it fit for me: that was actually part of our "homework" if you like - to present a 10 minute introduction to the group, and its really weird how I can stand up in front of my clients solo & group without batting an eyelid - but ask me to stand in front of my peers and my mouth feels like the Sahara and for someone who talks a lot, the power of speech just abandons me :-) strange isn't it!

raving in N8 - no really finding our para glider to glide us up hills

But once I started, well it was just really telling my story and my passion for running took over & no one fell asleep!

It went like this:

A little bit about me firstly, I started running in 2011, I was retraining to be a fitness instructor, following years working in finance & I needed to be capable of running 5k, I have to admit I hated running initially, I'd do a parkrun begrudgingly and feel like I needed an oxygen mask as opposed to bar-code token at the end - but I soldiered on and eventually pushed my distance up to 10k & started training for my first half marathon - running never seemed to get any easier, and at that time I guess in my mind I expected it to be hard work. I got to the longest run of 12 miles before injury struck - an excruciating pain into the groin, leading to an inability to raise my leg.

Following the usual runner's googling of the symptoms (always a dangerous pastime) and the RICE hon advise, professional sports massage & physiotherapy, trying to run was just totally uncomfortable & like dragging one dead leg.

A little bit of reading & research - got me thinking that perhaps I just didn't know how to run, its seemed that it should be a very natural thing to do, a built in skill really - I remember running all the time as a child, but perhaps my body had forgotten how?

Long story short I had a few sessions with a very good run coach, who told me with no frills that I was running like a duck, my posture & technique was dreadful & I had a lot of work to do, if I wanted to run without injury (I like to think my bedside manner is better) but he was spot on!

A good nine months of learning how to run, transitioning into a barefoot shoe, and a total strength program to make my body strong to support my running, 2013 I began training for my first marathon...........120+ marathon distance & over, I remain injury free, sure I get niggles & fatigue - but no major injury despite the distance I run.

But not only did I transition my body, my mindset towards running took a complete transition too - I don't view running as hard work nowadays, its my therapy - my time to focus, experience, to be in tune with my body sometimes totally switching my mind off and just being at one with the movement, of course some times it doesn't flow not every run is perfect, sometimes I just stop & walk re tune and go again,no pressure!

With that in mind I was looking for a training method to pass this on, to teach other people a different approach to running - which is where Chi Running took my attention - it seemed to fit into my running and how I wished to guide others.

What is Chi Running -it is a way to run, which is more energy efficient, reducing the risk of injury and increasing the enjoyment - through a gradual mindful progression. Learning the Chi way not only enhances your running, but improves your entire lifestyle through better movement, the ability to bodysense, to appreciate your surroundings and be mindful living in the moment - the magic happens when we stop striving.

magic

Chi is life-giving energy that unites mind, body and spirit.

http://chirunning.uk/

You can find out a bit more here http://chirunning.uk/

Massive thank you to Gray @ChiRunningUK, my fellow students/instructors Phil, Nathalie,Piotr, Michelle & Margery !

Happy Running

xxx