Ultra-marathoner and master of ChiRunning, Danny Dreyer, with instructors Angela, and Donna - spreading the joy of running, "Chi-fully"!
Those warm and enthusiastic smiles in the image above tell the whole story...but I'll share a little additional background anyway. It's a good story!
A couple of years ago, on a rainy, Island day, we were browsing books in Chapters in Nanaimo. While Joan's admittedly broader interests take her to a number of different locations in the store, I usually head to my favourite back-to-back shelves. On one side are books that recount experiences of epic outdoor adventures and survival, in the mountains or on the ocean. On the other side of the book shelf are rows of books on miscellaneous activities and sports...including running. Over the years, I have collected and enjoyed a large number of books on the subject of running, always searching out new perspectives and training tips and always hoping that the secret would one day be revealed that would improve and enhance my modest abilities.
On that particular day, one book called out, with unmistakable eagerness. It had the intriguing title, ChiRunning, by Danny and Katherine Dreyer. It was the subtitle, however, that caused my heart rate to accelerate with excitement and growing anticipation: A revolutionary approach to effortless, injury-free running. "Effortless, injury-free running"? OK, that just about sums up what I've been looking for! Quickly perusing the table of contents, I remember thinking, "This may be it." It was.
Lots of books make promises to the reader but this is one that will fulfil your expectations. After more than thirty years of enjoying running, but also experiencing injury after tedious injury, the purchase of ChiRunning on that rainy day was the beginning of a most extraordinary adventure. Since then, Joan and I have participated in three workshops - all were thoroughly enjoyable, rewarding, and most assuredly, helpful. What is even cooler is that the ChiRunning technique is consistent with barefoot / minimalist running technique - the way, increasing numbers are discovering, that we human beings were built to run. Christopher McDougall's book, Born to Run, is an absolute jaw-dropping and convincing read on this subject. (You can check out his blog, listed on the side bar, or click here.)The open-to-new-approaches student who is patient and willing to allow careful "gradual progress" will find that the ChiRunning form offers a running technique that will preclude the vast majority of the all-too-common injuries. For the two of us, it has led to a whole new understanding of how the body was created to move...and run, lightly and quietly. More than anything else, however, ChiRunning has made possible significantly more joyful, mindful, and (increasingly) effortless running...and virtually injury free. Hard to understand how that alone would not be irresistible to runners!
This past week, we went down to Seattle to take in the Level 2 workshop, led by Danny - an inspiring teacher, author, running instructor, and nationally ranked ultra-marathoner. He exudes energy and joy but the overwhelming sense you have is of a man at peace with himself and with the universe. Like another one of our favourite running people with whom we have been fortunate to spend some time, Barefoot Ted McDonald, Danny runs ultra-marathon distances, and has run the Leadville Trail 100 - a hundred miles of difficult, rough, high-elevation trails in Colorado. Yup, it's one of the most gruelling. When folks have done that, you "listen up" to what they have to say. "Chi" is all about energy and Danny and his incredibly impressive team of instructors have it in abundance. More than that though, each and every one of his staff shares a special warmth and a tangible joie de vivre. Folks like that are energizing - and that experience is priceless in itself.
The smiles in the pic at the top of this posting tell the story.
Duncan.
PS Barefoot Ted's Luna Huarache Running Sandals arrived today - yes! Now I just have to figure out how to tie the laces. Watch this space for news on the "inaugural" run". :-)
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