more on POSE & CHI running
After my last post, I got a few comments and emails from bloggers interested in seeing my progression with the Pose and ChiRunning methods of running. Chronicling this progress (or lack thereof!) will help me too, so I’ve set up a Pose & Chi Running category which you can click on in the categories section of my sidebar menu. Thanks to Chocolate Running Dude Jon for this idea!
So, here’s where I am with the learning. I’ve done some reading on both the ChiRunning and Pose websites, ordered the ChiRunning book last Thursday and placed an order for the Pose book + DVD just a few moments ago.
Of the two purchases, I must say I’m more excited about the second. I’ve spent considerable time on the Pose forum/bulletin board. The community there is quite abuzz and supportive of the method – hopefully, a good indicator of it’s effectiveness. My impression is that the Pose method is based on a lot more scientific study and analysis of running biomechanics than ChiRunning is. That’s not to put down ChiRunning because even people from the Pose forum say good things about it, but the general consensus there seems to be that ChiRunning has some technical problems and that it is an “incomplete” technical/biomechanical method. To be fair to the author of ChiRunning, I don’t think he intended it to be as technical as the Pose method is.
The package I ordered from Pose consists of the book, a DVD and supplemental book containing strengthening/coordination excercises and drills. The DVD (highly rated by a number of people in the forum) is supposed to show numerous examples of correct versus incorrect running form, as well as analysis and breakdown of the pose method. I am very much a visual learner (I think that is a male thing!) so I think the DVD is going to be of great value to me. I think to make all this work, I will have to take some video of myself at various stages so I can compare what I am doing to what is on the DVD.
What do you think of all of this? Am I nuts for thinking proper running form can be taught. Are you from the “running is natural” school of thought?
Or do you think I might be onto something?
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Monday March 14, 2005 @
Like I said before, I like this. If your video camera can do it, you need some still shots of your current running form, like in the ChiRunning book. It will be interesting to see the form change as you work on this.