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Hi Catherina,
I just wanted to email you to thank you for all I learned at you workshop in Bantry earlier this year. I managed to run the Dublin City Marathon on monday, It was my first marathon having started taking up running in January. I managed to get to the finish line in 4hrs 19mins so very happy with that, but cant wait to beat it also. I'm certain that i wouldn't have been able to achieve what I did without all the skills you gave me, and I am very grateful also for all the injury free time Chi Running gave me, until you're course any long run would cripple me for days, but now two days after the marathon I'm feeling well again. So anyway, once again thank you so much, and continue the good work, you made a huge difference in my life,
Yours sincerely, Barry
Dear Catherina,
No great surprise to you I'm sure, but you have another success to add to your total. I had been having troublesome running related medial knee pain and was booked for arthroscopy to treat a medial meniscus tear the Wednesday before your visit to Westport. One of the instructors in Athlone Leisure centre mentioned he was reading Danny Dreyers book and said that chi running significantly reduces running related knee injuries. I looked it up online and found your website. I cancelled my appointment thinking I would give the chi running a go first. I have to admit I went more in hope than expectation and even returning home that evening I had misgivings about having cancelled my date with the knive in the Galway clinic. Well, I now run painfree almost everyday and have been training away uninterupted for triathlon and doing more run training than I have ever done .
Knocked about 10 mins off my previous best last week, something I, not long ago, could have conceived of. Best of all I love running again now that it no longer means pain. I have been espousing the virtues of chi running to all who will listen and as a GP have recommended it to those patients of mine who have running related knee injuries. Another bonus has been the disappearance of intermittent backache I had been suffering. I have waited a while before providing this bit of feedback because my cynical self felt sure the benefits wouldn't last. I have no doubts about the benefits of chi running at this stage and I'm very grateful for your tremendous help. I believe you are coming to Athlone in advance of the triathlon for a talk. I look forward to thanking you in person when you do. Again, many thanks. Mike Brody
Dear Catherina,
I'm just dropping you a note to say thank you for the Chi Running workshop back in January. Thanks to the techniques I learned on the day I managed to successfully train for, and complete, my first half-marathon (yesterday in Connemara). What really amazed me was that I was able to do this without aggravating any of my numerous pre-existing injuries, or picking up any new ones. Given the long list of injuries I have had over the past number of years, I did not think such a feat was possible.
I also found the Chi Running focuses really helped during the race itself, as a way to maintain a steady pace, conserve my energy and, in particular, to get myself up the dreaded "Hell of the West" climb through the Maam Valley. It was a great feeling to crest the top of the climb, fine tune my stance, lean that little bit more forward, and find I had enough left in the tank to accelerate over the final two miles.
I've recommended your workshop to numerous friends and colleagues and, after yesterday's success, will continue to do so with even more enthusiasm! Kind regards, and thanks again,
Robert
Catherina, I wanted to send you a belated thank you for such an enjoyable and informative course in Westport last month. I really took a lot from it and the atmosphere and one-on-one guidance was brilliant.
In the week immediately after the course i ran every day with a view to retraining my 'muscle memory'. As you predicted it took a shorter length of time to get myself in alignment and addressing the issues on the 'checklist' each time that I ran. I found that I came back from runs without any aches or pains and by the time I got out of the shower, I felt as if I had not even been out; even though I was running more frequently than prior to the course.
Something that I found very amusing was watching the boys run. They Chi-run perfectly complete with pumping elbows - it is so funny to watch and realise that I am learning to do something that they do so naturally. So it must be another one of those things like posture and correct lifting techniques that we do correctly as children and unlearn as adults.
anyway, thanks again and happy running - Siobhan
Just a note to say thank you for Saturday.
I enjoyed the day and I can honestly say it was (will be) of immense benefit.
Video taping and review with yourself and other runners was key to reinforcing my need to adopt the good practices of chi-running.
I'll be putting the techniques into practice and re-read the book....
Best of Luck
Thanks Again
- Rob
Hi Catherina
Just a note to thank you for the excellent workshop that I attended early August. I found it very beneficial. Before I attended I could never improve on my times. In a race I would do my first mile in approx 8 mins and then would drop back to about 9.5/10 mins miles. Since attending your workshop I am enjoying running and and maintaining the approx 8 min miles. I completed my first 10 mile race in October, I wouldnt even have contemplated that prior to the workshop. Hoping to do a marathon in 2009.
Hi Catherina,
Just a quick note to say thank you for Saturday...I found the session really beneficial and enjoyable....I have been for two runs over the last few days and have focused on my alignment and while it will take me a while for it to come naturally I am determined to keep at it.
Thanks again
Aoife
Hi Catherina,
Just a quick note to thank you for the class last Saturday. I found the whole thing extremely beneficial and hope to build on this over the coming weeks and months. I'll certainly be recommending it to others. All going well I'd hope to take a refresher this time next year .
Best Regards,
Seamus
Catherina,
I really enjoyed the workshop last Saturday. While I had read the book and tried to put some of the concepts into practice, it was difficult to get a grasp of the proper techniques from the book (and I know that I had got some of the techniques wrong).
I compliment you on your instruction, you made us all very relaxed and encouraged us to get familiar with the various exercises and techniques. In particular, you kept the focus on a small number of elements which made it seem possible to achieve. The two elements I found most enlightening were the video replay and the run in the park before lunch. It was also worthwhile to see what the others were doing - both right and wrong.
So overall, it was a very enjoyable day, enlighting on how I can improve my technique. It was also great to be able to pick 'your brains' on various aspects of Marathon running. I am now hoping to be able to put them into practice over the next few months. First test is tomorrow night, when I hit the road again for a few miles.
Thanks for an excellent Workshop (which will without doubt help me on the road to Paris), it was a pleasure to learn from an Athlete who has achieved so much.
Regards,
Pat
Just a quick note to say thanks for the workshop on Saturday and to let you know about the 10K race I took part in today
I focused on all the things I was taught at the workshop, posture, relaxing the ankles, lifting the heels, and constantly checked all the way round the course spotting tension and relaxing it. I felt great all the way round, it was never a slog, my calves were relaxed and on the home straight I had some left, so I just increased my lean and went for it, passing others who's form had all gone to pieces.
I ended up taking a massive 7min off my PB and for what felt like less effort than any other race, no aches and more importantly, no pain.
Thanks again,
Ian
First of all I'd like to say that I really enjoyed the session with you last Saturday week. I've been working on the posture and I find it's been a great help and my back has improved alot. I think I'm getting the hang of the technique for walking etc. All the best
Deirdre
Many thanks for your training. Myself and Richard really enjoyed it and found it very useful.
Linda
Just wanted to let you know that I finally did my 10K challenge last Saturday in Dun Shaughlin! Never thought I'd see the day but I got through it and my target time was 62 mins and I met that - the first time I did 10 min miles!!! Thanks to your training workshop Catherina, I ran the race with your voice in my head (!) telling me to lean into the hills and keep focusing on my "sweet spot" shoulders relaxed and lift the heels! etc. I also did three nervous rounds of your body looseners before the race as well! I have to say I still run uninjured and dare I say it might be slowly beginning to even enjoy it! I now plan to do the 5 miles in Phoenix park next Saturday. But, I do syill think I'll never pass 10K! My goal now is just to do it faster!
So thanks again Catherina your training really works and prevents soreness and injury and helps late comers like me to suffer on!
Hope your keeping well,
Máire
Thank you for your support! Every run gets easier and I just can't believe how much less of a toil running is for me. Brilliant :-)
Chat soon,
Jacqui
Just to let you know that I managed to complete the marathon yesterday in 3:45, just 5 minutes outside my target time of 3:40. Given the conditions together with an 11 minute first mile, I was very pleased with that. It was certainly very hot indeed. Nevertheless, I finished with a 7:30 last mile and felt very strong albeit rather tired.
A little aching today but nothing like previous marathons so, I think the Chi Running must be having an effect- and at 24 minutes faster than my time in Chicago, especially given the heat- then I am feeling very pleased.
Thank you very much for this EXCELLENT Chi-Running Workshop. Do you do private sessions too?
If yes, please let me know how much you charge. We will definitely stay in touch. Hopefully I can do the Certification in June 2007. Will see ... :-
Thanks again,
Regards,
I just wanted to say thank you so much for coming over and doing the Chi running workshop for us at the weekend. It was fantastic! i have heard from most of the other group members since and they all were delighted with what they learnt and are putting it into practice in their runs. A few live near enough to each other to get to run together every couple of months to help each other progress.
I have found my running easier and no knee ache after as well, even with downhills - focusing on the feet turning out thing there. It really works. My back has been good too, I am noticing increased stability with some of my weight training exercises to - the posture just comes into everything doesn't it!
So just to let you know it was great to meet you, and that everyone really enjoyed, and got a lot from, your workshop. Hopefully we will meet again at some point.
Firstly thank you very much for the session on Saturday. Enjoyed meeting you and listening to the extremely useful tips on chi-running and am looking forward to the second session already.
I ran on both Saturday evening (about 9 miles) and yesterday evening (15 miles) and tried to concentrate on using the new mechanics. I found the new mechanics much easier on my legs and felt much more relaxed entirely. One thing I discovered particularly on yesterday's run was that my mile splits were about 75 secs faster than I have been running for the past year or so. I had not intended taking splits on yesterday's
run but when I saw the first one I thought there might be something wrong with the watch so I time the second, third, fourth and fifth spilts and found that they were all much faster. Unfortunately my plantar fasciitis started to affect me in the later part of the run but I found that with the new foot strike that it was possible to continue running. I did further splits on mile 14 & 15 and while slower than the earlier miles (mostly because of the plantar fasciitis) they were still faster than I have been running. Is this improvement in pace to be expected? The one thing I was unsure about was how long my pelvis was staying in locked position and that
probably just takes lots of practise. Any suggestions for helping the plantar fasciitis?
Thanks a million for your time yesterday.
I found the whole session very useful, and have learnt a lot which I will now starting putting into place. It was great to meet you, sorry I had to dash off early but I had to get back to the children. I will be in contact letting you know how things are going.Off my first chi run and posture session now.
We both found the last "class" very useful on Thursday ... been out twice since and am working on the leaning. Thanks again for introducing us to
chirunning - as we said we wouldn't be running as well or even at all were it not for chi. So we will be keeping up the good work.
Thanks again for all your help ...
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