Given my current shoulder limitations, I am not currently swimming. Nor am I as often in the gym. Hey, it is summer afterall, and I want to be outside. Not to mention the fact that half the things in there I can’t safely do right now! So what about walking or running? Well, I have a poor track record here. The only 5K I ever entered I got knee pains almost immediately and ended up walking the whole thing. In fact, by the time I finished, the officials had already gone home! I also have a history of foot-related problems, and over the past couple of years I’ve checked out barefoot running (see Barefoot Ken Bob Saxton’s book by the same name) and Vibrim 5 toe shoes. Honesty, it didn’t help my foot issues.
However, I recently discovered Chi Running. I’d heard of it, and read a little about it (chirunning.com, and a book by the same name). I learned of a local Chi Running coach, Lucretia Aussie, and recently took her half day running workshop. Chi Running is based on concepts from Tai Chi. You learn to breath more deeply, to engage from your lower core muscles, and to lengthen your spine. The walking & running part is almost an afterthought , once you have the basic foundation happening – you let yourself “fall” forward and raise your heels and your legs will naturally move under you. I’ve been Chirunning most mornings for 20 min (AFTER walking the dog – he stops every 10 seconds so forget about running with him!).