Useful Resources

An amazing resource for all things related to ChiRunning is  www.chirunning.com. It includes (amongst many other things) a well managed bulletin board for questions about ChiRunning and lots of useful articles about injury prevention, use of metronomes, hill running techniques etc

ChiRunning Book

ChiRunning: A Revolutionary Approach to Effortless, Injury-Free Running (2009) by Danny and Katherine Dreyer, provides detailed explanations of the technique. Available from  The Book Depository 

ChiRunning DVD

ChiRunning: A Revolutionary Approach to Effortless, Injury-Free Running (2009). A great way to learn each element of the ChiRunning technique, useful as a reminder too. Available from ChiRunning in the US

ChiRunning Training Programs

5k, 10k, Half Marathon and Marathon training programs.  Available from ChiRunning in the US

Books on learning new techniques:

The Inner Game of Tennis by Timothy Gallwey (1974).

Whilst this book has tennis as its focus, achieving a state of relaxed concentration and learning to notice rather than judge what we are doing are just some of the ideas that are transferable to learning ChiRunning

More Balls Than Hands: Juggling your way to success by learning to love your mistakes by Michael Gelb (2003)

Again, this book’s focus is not running but in it Michael Gelb describes the ‘Accelerated Learning Spiral’ explaining that ‘Your full capacity for learning blossoms when you have the following ingredients :

  1. A vivid visualisation of success based on a model of excellence (see example on FAQ page)
  2. Accurate feedback on your performance’ (p. 17)

This can usefully be applied to learning ChiRunning

Dynamic Alignment Through Imagery by Eric Franklin (1996)

The focus of this book is dance.  Its usefulness lays in its explanation of learning how to use imagery to affect body movement.

Additional Websites and Books

Mapometer

For anyone who has not already discovered this site, it provides a useful means of measuring running, cycling and walking routes.  It also provides training logs, altitude and elevation measuring and the ability to share routes.

Directory of  UK Running Clubs 

This is a list of UK Athletics Clubs.  Most clubs cater for all levels of fitness and joining one is a great way to meet friends and stay motivated.

Exuberant Animal

An excellent website based on the work of Frank Forencich author of ‘Exuberant Animal: The Power of Health, Play and Joyful Movement’ (2006) and ‘Change Your Body, Change the World: Reflections on Health and the Human Predicament’ (2010)


Books on training methods:

The list of these is endless but here are two of my current favourites

The Big Book of Endurance Training and Racing by Phil Maffetone (2010)

This book explains Phil’s concept of ‘training slower to race faster’ in detail as well as providing great advice on nutrition, and injury prevention

Run, the Mind, Body Method of Running by Feel by Matt Fitzgerald (2010)

This book explains how to utilise the latest research on training for endurance sports whilst listening to what our bodies are telling us


Pure Inspiration especially for distance runners:

Why We Run by Bernd Heinrich (2001)

Born to Run by Christopher McDougall (2009)

Survival of the Fittest by Mike Stroud (2004)

Just A Little Run Around The World by Rosie Swale Pope (2009)