Chi Running by Danny Dreyer [repost]

Danny Dreyer is an ultra-marathon runner and creator of the technique known as ChiRunning. You might be familiar with ChiRunning. It’s a running method that was designed in order to prevent injury. Thousands of people utilize ChiRunning, including some world class athletes. The technique incorporates the principles of Tai Chi, Yoga and Pilates with the power of running.

Danny Dreyer offers these simple tips for beginning marathon runners:
1) Give it a year: Danny Dreyer recommends beginning runners take at least 1 full year to adequately and safely prepare for a marathon. Too many runners go out too hard and end up getting injured because they do too much too soon.

2) Take it easy: ChiRunning is all about building a foundation on which you can create a really fabulous running program. Take it a day at a time and don’t try to ‘make’ up for a workout, especially at the beginning of a training program: plan ahead of time so you can do the workout you planned to do on the day you planned to do it!

3) Listen to your body: Some days it’s easier than others, of course. But if you’ve had a bad day at work, even though you might just want to sit on the couch, your body is probably begging you to get out there and run. If you’re on the verge of getting sick, sometimes it might be better to lay low, but each person needs to listen to their body’s needs, more than running partners, egos, or schedules.

4) Head outside! The great outdoors is a wonderful place to soak up the energy, so if you can do your runs outside, we highly recommend it, even if it’s not perfectly sunny. Your body will appreciate it… treadmills and tracks are good occassionally, but trees and flowers are much greater resources of ‘chi’ (Chinese word for ‘life force energy.)