ChiLiving

Started ChiRunning - pain in lower leg

2012-05-17T01:10:00Z

I started the ChiRunning book, and adapting my technique while reading through.

Before I would be mostly running on the front of my feet, and I would typically feel my calves after the run. After a good stretch, I would feel fine, and besides that, I would not have any other issues.

Since I started adapting, I now land my feet with a mid-foot strike, and try to focus on relaxing the muscles in my legs, and shoulders, rotate my hips, make sure that my feet land straight, have a straight posture etc.. etc… and I think that I can do most of it.

The problem is that now, I have pains from ankle to knee, feels like inside the leg. I don’t have any muscle cramps or soreness, so I must be doing something right, but the pain is such that I’m seriously thinking about going back to my old running style. I don’t want to because everything else is improving, and I’m looking at doing a half or full marathon sometime in the future.

Today I ran a 5K in 27min, so nothing fancy. I have no idea of what the muscles or tendons are called, so you’ll have to imagine but basically it feels a little like shin splints, combined with pains below the calves, mostly on my left leg.

I also feel a little soreness on the opposite side on the hip, just about where the bone sticks out, and it’s probably related.

I’m probably going to see my doctor, and I want to be able to chi-run, any idea of what this could be? I feel that I can probably correct this by myself, the obvious answer being “go see a chi-running trainer”.

Any hints?

I regularly run 5Ks and 10Ks without tremendous effort.

thanks

Natural running

2012-05-15T09:19:27Z

Hi,

I’ve been interested in Chi Running/Walking for 6 or 7 years.

It occurred to me that I hadn’t actually run for 6 months when I took myself off for a “yoga-dog-jog” last week.

I mean children run around, dogs run around but 6 months without running?!!

Anyway I was out for 20 minutes: I walked 2 minutes, jogged a minute and threw in a sprint or two. It was awesome and burned off the stress.

My question is this: I would like to sign up for the walk/run 5k package but I don’t want anything too “regimented” at this point. I like the feeling of running and think it must be natural; I like to walk and do jog/sprint intervals but don’t know if I could handle a too rigid schedule right now.

Just how structured is the walk/run 5k programme and how much lee way is there for slacking off now and then?

Cheers,

Charles

Changing The Start Date

2012-05-14T21:17:34Z

I am not able to find a way to change the start date from today (5/13/12) to tomorrow (5/15/12). Could you assist?

john

Heart Rate re Chi Marathon Book

2012-05-12T15:51:14Z

I’m reading the Chi Marathon Book, which is very good. it suggests training using the 180 formula for heart rate. OK, so I’m 60 years old. 180-60=120, +5 for exercising (running) more than 2 yrs, and +5 for being over 60 yo. Determines my maximum aerobic heart rate for base training at 130. The problem is, my training heart rate is never that low. For 3-4 mile continuous runs, it will average 145-154. On LSD days where I use a run/walk it averages 139-142. On speed sessions or hills, it will get up to the high 150’s to 164 and that is uncomfortable, so I slow down or walk to get it back to 140.
My heart rate when walking only is around 115-120.
My average pace on continuous runs (I’m old and slow) is 9:40 or so, and for the run/walks it is closer to an 11/min pace. My running cadence is consistantly in the 180 range. Midfoot landing. Short stride.
So my question is, HOW do I slow my heart rate down, while still maintaining a good cadence and form. My stride is already very short.
If I slow my running down much, either I slow the cadence down, loose good form, and bounce, so it seems harder to go at an even slower pace for any duration.
I’ve used a Garmin 305 for over a year and my heart rate has remained fairly consistent. I’ve run a half marathon and plan to run the Goofy Challenge in Jan. 2013, so will use the Chi Marathon plan to prepare for it. (I plan to run to finish, not racing for time on either the half or full in that event but still want to do both races in a respectable time, for me).
Any ideas, comments, suggestions as to how to get the HR in the recommended training zone is appreciated.

Great Ocean Road Australia Run for River

2012-05-11T15:18:25Z

Hi All fellow Chi Runners
I am so excited that i will be running my first ever marathon next weekend, the very picturesque Great Ocean Road marathon in Victoria Australia. I have been Chi Running for about 2+ years and have never enjoyed running so much! To be able to run pain free and without knocking up halfway through a run is just a real joy. Last year I ran the Melbourne half marathon and finished with a smile on my face. Not only had I completed the distance quicker than my goal time, I managed to raise well over $1500 for Cancer Research. That run I did for my wife who has just beaten Bowel Cancer. This run is going to be different as I will running to raise money and awareness of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome SIDS. The team I am running with was formed by a close friend who lost his son River to SIDS hence the Run for River in the title. Please check out the Rivers Gift web site www.riversgift.com If you would like to make donations you can from there. Any way I will let you all know how I get on, my goal time is 3hrs 45min. Unfortunately I have been following a program set out by Lee Troop but I have the Chi Marathon book and have read it through twice now and will be signing up for the eChi program for my next marathon.
Cheers All and happy marathoning!!!
Darren

Feedback form not functioning?

2012-05-11T14:40:46Z

Hi,

a) I’m not sure if this is a widespread problem but I tried the vertical ‘Submit Feedback’ option which appears to the right hand side of the e-chi program. The web page refreshes, but there does not seem to be anywhere to enter info! (My internet browser is Google Chrome, so this might be the reason).

b) My reason for wanting to post some feedback relates to the following workout… shouldn’t the total be 40 mins?!

“Run 3 min. / Walk 2 min. x 8 (48 min. total)” - I think there is a small typo re the total time.

Best wishes - Jo

e-chi program - change event date? or dates of workouts?

2012-05-10T15:28:30Z

Hello!

I recently purchased the e-chi intermediate marathon training program. When I initially set it up, I entered in the wrong date for my event. Is it possible to change this date? I’ve searched and searched, but can’t seem to find any way to do it.

Also, can you do the workouts on different days than listed and still use the log program? For example, if today I have a scheduled rest day, but I have to have a rest day tomorrow because of my schedule, can I change tomorrow’s workout to today? I’d be okay with actually moving the workouts to the days I do them, or just being able to log the data on the day I do it, regardless of the day it’s scheduled.

If these kinds of things are explained somewhere, I’d be happy to read the info if someone can direct me to it!

Thanks so much,
Shannon

Changing run days

2012-05-10T01:12:21Z

Hi, can I change the days that I run in my calendar - I’m on the 5 k training plan and need some flexibility in my schedule. I’ll still make sure I get rest days in between.

Thanks!

Do I ‘run’ when doing the form intervals training sessions?

2012-05-07T07:27:24Z

Hi,
I recently bought the Intermediate 6 week programme (5k)
I’m a bit puzzled by the instructions for week 1. The 1st workout is “25 min. Form Intervals” i.e. do focus 1 for the 1st 1/3, 2nd focus for the 2nd 1/3 and combine the two for the final part.
The focus’s are ‘one legged posture stance’ and ‘pick up your heels’. Should I be doing these as part of a ‘run’ or are they track exercises that I do for the duration of 25 minutes? Do I go for a ‘run’ at all?

The only ‘runs’ I can see are the LSD ones, and they seem to pick up the distances quite quickly given that no distances are stated on the form interval days - just duration in minutes.

I appreciate the focus is on form for the beginning but this is confusing. Please can someone explain.
Thanks!

knots in calf muscle

2012-05-06T15:55:59Z

I have been trying to learn to Chirun for almost 3 years now. My form has come along way. However, my original reason/ problem for coming to Chirunning has not resolved yet. Today I developed yet another knot in my calf muscle. It is high in the muscle and very much to the outside of my leg. It just got tighter and tighter as I ran - forcing me to stop and walk home.

This same scenario happened to me in February. I know from experience that I must take a week off to allow the knot to loosen up.

I am wearing very flexible shoes. I use the stick and foam rollers daily. I am not over - doing the running. I am just running for about 15 - 20 minutes easy per day concentrating on my form - keeping my lower legs limp and rinding a unicycle by picking up my feet.

I wish these knots could be explained by a lack of electrolytes or a missing nutrient in my diet, but I am quite confident that is not the problem. I must still be over using my calf muscles. Does anyone have any suggestions for me? I am discouraged. I have worked with several fantastic insructors and have taken the full day classes several times. (I’m very motivated.) Thanks for you help.