Rating: 
Summary: ChiRunning techniques work. Full stop.
Review: I have taken the author's ChiRunning workshop (which was outstanding), and this book details everything he talked about in the workshop, and a lot more on top of that -- plus, I have the book to refer to at my leisure.The techniques for running the author describes are impeccable, because the physics behind them are impeccable. The discussions, diagrams, and photographs are detailed and specific. The metaphysics... they work for the author, and if they work for you, so much the better, but even if they don't, the material in the book will be directly applicable to any fitness runner, racer, triathlete, or sportsperson. When I started doing ChiRunning I acheived *faster*, *easier* running, lower incidence of soreness and no incidence of injury, and feeling better during and after runs. I cannot expect more from a book on running, and have gotten *less*, from several books.
Rating:
Summary: World of Difference! A Testimonial
Review: I recently purchased the book "Chi-Running" while in Boston to run the marathon. What a difference it has made in my world! Following Boston, I completed the 8 mile run of a team event in our area called "Ski-to-Sea." There are 8 member teams consisting of skiing (cross country & downhill), running,canoeing, biking (road and mountain biking), and kayaking. The run portion is an 8 mile run from the base ski area near the top of Mt. Baker, in Washington state, to the Dept of Transportation center, near the bottom.
The entire 8 mile downhill course consists of a grade of about 3 - 5%. I was envisioning total quad damage, shin splints, and other aches and pains. Fortunately, the night before I ran, I skipped ahead in the book and read the section about techiques for running down hill. To make a long story short, I ran the 8 mile course in 56:07 (not bad for age 51)and have experienced little, if any, residual aches and pains. These techniques really work! Chi Running is a highly effective program for running (not to mention a nice philosophy of life and living!). Sincerely, Dr. Tim Wittman, School Psychologist, NCSP.
Rating:
Summary: World of Difference! A Testimonial
Review: I recently purchased the book "Chi-Running" while in Boston to run the marathon. What a difference it has made in my world! Following Boston, I completed the 8 mile run of a team event in our area called "Ski-to-Sea." There are 8 member teams consisting of skiing (cross country & downhill), running,canoeing, biking (road and mountain biking), and kayaking. The run portion is an 8 mile run from the base ski area near the top of Mt. Baker, in Washington state, to the Dept of Transportation center, near the bottom.
The entire 8 mile downhill course consists of a grade of about 3 - 5%. I was envisioning total quad damage, shin splints, and other aches and pains. Fortunately, the night before I ran, I skipped ahead in the book and read the section about techiques for running down hill. To make a long story short, I ran the 8 mile course in 56:07 (not bad for age 51)and have experienced little, if any, residual aches and pains. These techniques really work! Chi Running is a highly effective program for running (not to mention a nice philosophy of life and living!). Sincerely, Dr. Tim Wittman, School Psychologist, NCSP.
Rating:
Summary: ChiRunning
Review: I recently started back to running for health and work reasons. I used to have many problems with my knees and was not much for running more then a mile. I have found the exercise and examples given in this book to be outstanding. They were exampled clearly and the author also backs the reasoning up with information that makes sense. This book has opened my eyes to comfortable running which I did not know that was possible. Thank you to the author and would highly recommend this book.
Rating:
Summary: unbiased because i don't know anyone related to the book
Review: I started running to get in shape about six months ago. I have struggled with many reoccuring knee troubles, hip troubles, etc. After reading this book I immediately felt a difference in my knee pain on my first run. Just as an experiment I went back and forth from ChiRunning to my "normal" running style. I could immediately tell a difference in the joint pain and effort levels. Following my 3 mile run, I had virtually no joint pain or muscle tightness or soreness. I highly recommend this book. I is easy to read, with good exercises and examples that make it quite easy to understand.
Rating:
Summary: Just love this book!!
Review: I was tired of the running books I've been reading to get help and then I found this book and have been so happy I got it. The author puts into words feelings I have about running and it is so helpful and informative and teaches you HOW to run safely...I have had knee problems while running (what's new for a regular runner...seems everyone does) and the method in this book has made so much difference after just a short time of practicing it...it's really pretty simple, but there so much more if you want it. I am so excited about this book...it's given me a new lease on my running...I want to tell everyone about it!!!
Rating:
Summary: Danny's Methods Gave Me Back My Running Life
Review: Ignore the one negative review. This book is a brilliant print presentation of Danny's methods which are revolutionary. He deserves the much wider following he will get with this (his CD is great too).
My story: I've been a runner for 45 years. I nearly gave up running at age 57. The pain in my knees and lower back made me seriously think of quitting. I literally saw an ad in the newspaper for Danny's class and took it as a last resort. He was at the time in his 50's and a nationally ranked ultramarathoner. I figured he ought to know something about efficient running.
I learned his initial techniques in two hours. It took about five or six runs to feel comfortable with the changes in my stride, but from the first day, there was no back pain and such minimal knee pain at the end that I couldn't believe it. I've taken his advanced techniques workshops too (all in the book). The "sidewise" stride up steep hills is another brilliant technique that literally makes running hills fun.
I went from struggling to run for 30 minutes at a time to 1.5 hour runs on steep hills without pain. I'm not a ranked runner. I run for fitness, for weight control, and for the sheer joy of it. I did finish third in my age group in a local race a year ago -- first medal I've ever won (I'm 62 now). But I got my running life back, and that's priceless. I plan to be running into my 80's now -- pain free! And for what it's worth, I have a doctorate and I'm trained in physics. Danny's techniques are scientifically valid. There's a spiritual side to his methods too. If you don't think running has a spiritual side, I feel sorry for you, but don't ignore his methods just because of that. Jerry L Fletcher
Rating:
Summary: Danny's Methods Gave Me Back My Running Life
Review: Ignore the one negative review. This book is a brilliant print presentation of Danny's methods which are revolutionary. He deserves the much wider following he will get with this (his CD is great too).
My story: I've been a runner for 45 years. I nearly gave up running at age 57. The pain in my knees and lower back made me seriously think of quitting. I literally saw an ad in the newspaper for Danny's class and took it as a last resort. He was at the time in his 50's and a nationally ranked ultramarathoner. I figured he ought to know something about efficient running.
I learned his initial techniques in two hours. It took about five or six runs to feel comfortable with the changes in my stride, but from the first day, there was no back pain and such minimal knee pain at the end that I couldn't believe it. I've taken his advanced techniques workshops too (all in the book). The "sidewise" stride up steep hills is another brilliant technique that literally makes running hills fun.
I went from struggling to run for 30 minutes at a time to 1.5 hour runs on steep hills without pain. I'm not a ranked runner. I run for fitness, for weight control, and for the sheer joy of it. I did finish third in my age group in a local race a year ago -- first medal I've ever won (I'm 62 now). But I got my running life back, and that's priceless. I plan to be running into my 80's now -- pain free! And for what it's worth, I have a doctorate and I'm trained in physics. Danny's techniques are scientifically valid. There's a spiritual side to his methods too. If you don't think running has a spiritual side, I feel sorry for you, but don't ignore his methods just because of that. Jerry L Fletcher
Rating: 
Summary: The Spiritual side of Running!!
Review: It's highly practical and easy to incorporate into our routine runs. The suggestions and examples in the book have been really helpful in increasing the rate of injury free running. I'm a fitness freak who drinks "soyffee". a caffeine free substitute to regular coffee that I found at www.S o y co f f e e.c om. So, I'd give anything to stay fit and healthy. This book has real come like a blessing and the spiritual aspect of running has really amazed me. A great book on the whole!
Rating: 
Summary: Questionable reviewers!
Review: Questionable reviews:
All are from CT. Katherine Dreyer is the authors wife and co-author.The two reviews from Stamford are phrased very similarly. The other CT reviewer mentioned the DVD which was released the same day as the review was written, so he/she had to get it from the author, watch it and practice it all in the same day. This does not all seem very "chi" to me.
Good points:
Very pleasant writing style, no-ego, peaceful approach to running and life. Good tips and exercises for technique.
Points to improve:
Contradictory information. The title says "effortless... running", but then on page 55 he says, "It doesn't mean there's NO effort, just no unnecessary effort". On page 16 he emphasizes using the psoas muscles (front of hip at the waist) to left up the feet, which actually lift up the thigh, but then later says to not pick up your knees (psoas work), and pick up the feet ( hamstring work). How do you not pick up the knees when ruuning? It's necessary to swing the lower leg through to the front. He borrows Lydiard's "rope pulling you at the pelvis/sternum from a distance away" without giving Lydiard credit. Some physiology would help instead of saying that metabolic wastes will fill your legs with cement. Cement? Is that what that is? No mention of lactate threshold, anaerobic efforts, or shorter distance races are made.
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