Chi running: From ground-pounding to gliding with gravity

May marks the beginning of "long run" season for me. I am seven weeks out from the rarely heard of, yet most-spectacular trail marathon on the planet: the Powderface 42 (powderface42.com).

This is my yearly "you'd better be in shape" moment, a day of traversing mountains, wading streams and enjoying nature at its best for 35 kilometres - followed immediately by seven kilometres of staring at my toes, swearing and doing whatever it takes to make it over the finish line.

My entrance to the Powderface 42 means I have hundreds of kilometres to run in the next two months, merely to avoid having my butt handed to me on a platter. Naturally, as an inherently lazy person, I constantly scout out shortcuts or magic bullets that could potentially make my training easier.

That's when I remembered that Calgary personal trainer and running coach Grant Molyneux has a book out called "Effortless Exercise." I knew he held the secret to long-term exercise adherence, and that my next long run was going to end at his doorstep - which is how I discovered Chi running.

What is it?

Chi is described as the circulating life energy that, in Chinese philosophy, is thought to be inherent in all things.

Running is described as putting your right foot in front of your left as quickly as possible for as long as necessary.

The two concepts together form the practice of Chi running, an approach that mixes eastern and western philosophy by marrying physical alignment with mental relaxation.

The idea is to position your body in such a way that gravity is pulling you forward while your posture and the flow of your feet stop you from falling.

Traditional running has us standing vertically, pounding our heels to the ground with each stride, only to roll through the foot to push off the toe and repeat. It is like driving with your brakes on.

For most runners, going from a standard run to a Chi run is a matter of modifying your body alignment, your head position, arm carriage and foot cadence to go from running against the ground with each foot strike, to gliding along the ground following the path of gravity. The technique, as with any other, takes practice, but the changes to and on your body are noticeable almost immediately.

Who would this appeal to?

If you like to run but are finding the incessant pounding of your legs against Mother Earth difficult for your hips, knees and ankles and want to transition to a form of running that could be effortless and injury-free, Chi running makes perfect sense.

Regardless of your running experience, the method is easy to pick up, reduces running-imposed wear on your body and encourages your body to glide over the ground with the ease usually reserved for those running through fields in cheesy commercials.

Who would hate it?

If you think existential is another word for voodoo and exercise is another word for torture, you can pretty much skip the Chi Running experience - and most anything else developed since 1950.

The klutz factor

The Chi running klutz factor is exactly similar to regular running. Do not trip over your shoelaces, do not run too far, too fast or too often, and you will be fine.

What do you need?

You could always Google "Chi Running" to get the gist of what is going on and then practise. But a far more practical route would be to meet a Chi Running coach face-to-face and get some (literal) hands-on guidance.

My Chi Running coach was Grant Molyneux, and his website (vitalize.ca) has links to his Calgary-based Chi Running course and scheduling.

It's taught over three 1 1/2-hour sessions, for three consecutive weeks at a cost of $150. All you need is an open mind and a pair of running shoes - gravity and Molyneux will take care of the rest.

The bottom line?

It is not cheating, it's Chi-ting and it works.

Pete Estabrooks is a personal trainer and writer.