That's Fit http://www.thatsfit.com That's Fit http://www.thatsfit.com/media/feedlogo.gif That's Fit http://www.thatsfit.com en-us Copyright 2009 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/World's Fastest Marathoner (With a Stroller)http://www.thatsfit.com/2009/11/17/worlds-fastest-marathon-runner-with-a-stroller/http://www.thatsfit.com/2009/11/17/worlds-fastest-marathon-runner-with-a-stroller/http://www.thatsfit.com/2009/11/17/worlds-fastest-marathon-runner-with-a-stroller/#commentsFiled under:

Photo: Heather Sanne


Michael Wardian is what you'd call a mega-marathoner, running an average of 50 grueling races a year, ranging from the typical 26.2-miler to a 150-mile ultra-marathon in the desert. Though he's won the JFK 50-miler, and the Washington, D.C. marathon three times and holds the world record for fastest marathon on a treadmill. On November 22, he'll be competing for a title he regards as especially important -- world's fastest marathon with a jogging stroller.

Wardian, 35, currently holds the record. He achieved it in 2007 at the Frederick Marathon in Maryland with his then nine-month-old son Pierce in tow, at a time of 2:42:21. But now, with the addition of Wardian's second son -- 11-month-old Grant (pictured with his dad) -- the marathoner thought it was only fair to go after the record again. "We didn't want it to be something one child had and not the other," he said.

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]]>fit-runningjogging strollerJoggingStrollermarathonmichael wardianrunningJennifer FieldsTue, 17 Nov 2009 16:00:00 ESTFlu Shots for Marathon Runners?http://www.thatsfit.com/2009/11/10/flu-shots-for-marathon-runners/http://www.thatsfit.com/2009/11/10/flu-shots-for-marathon-runners/http://www.thatsfit.com/2009/11/10/flu-shots-for-marathon-runners/#commentsFiled under:

Photo: jupiterimages

Fall marathon season also happens to coincide with the release of the seasonal flu vaccine. While offices, pharmacies and schools around the country are offering up the vaccine, many runners, concerned about whether the shot will negatively impact their performance, are questioning whether they should join the masses and line up for the shot.

I understand the concern. I shied away from the vaccine in the week leading up to running a marathon because I worried that a sore arm wouldn't be conducive to a strong running performance. But I've heard from runners who have also avoided the vaccine over fears that it might leave them feeling sluggish, tired or sick.

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]]>fit-runningflu shotflu shotsflushotFluShotsmarathonmarathonersrunning flu shotRunningFluShotJennifer FieldsTue, 10 Nov 2009 15:00:00 ESTMarathon Recoveryhttp://www.thatsfit.com/2009/11/03/marathon-recovery/http://www.thatsfit.com/2009/11/03/marathon-recovery/http://www.thatsfit.com/2009/11/03/marathon-recovery/#commentsFiled under:

Photo: jupiterimages

A typical marathon runner puts so much thought and planning into preparing for the race, yet gives little consideration to recovering from it. The physical and emotional challenges of running don't stop when you cross the finish line. Recovery from a marathon can take weeks, even months. And just like you have a strategy for every other aspect of the finishing the race, it's important to have a strategy for recovering from it, too. On the heels of the world's biggest marathon in New York City on Sunday, I thought I'd turn my attention from running preparation to recovery.

After a marathon, your muscles are depleted and inflamed, you've lost fluids and stiffness begins settling in almost immediately. Experts tend to agree that rehydrating with water until urine is pale yellow is the way to go. They also say that eating a meal with a mix of carbs, protein and sodium within an hour of finishing the race is crucial, as is eating small, frequent meals that day. Another important factor is fighting the urge to lie around, as walking around for at least 10 to 15 minutes every few hours the rest of race day will help ease muscle discomfort. But there's no way around it, the few days following the marathon are going to be tough. I decided to consult some other experts for their advice. Here, real marathoners share their best tips for getting through the pain and stiffness, and for beating post-marathon blues.

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]]>fit-runningmarathon recoverymarathon running recoverJennifer FieldsTue, 03 Nov 2009 15:00:00 ESTEdward Norton Runs a Marathonhttp://www.thatsfit.com/2009/10/28/edward-norton-marathon-running/http://www.thatsfit.com/2009/10/28/edward-norton-marathon-running/http://www.thatsfit.com/2009/10/28/edward-norton-marathon-running/#commentsFiled under:

Photo: Maasai Wilderness Conservation Trust

Edward Norton has shin splints. But he's hoping that resting his legs this week will leave him recharged and pain-free for the New York City Marathon, which he is running along with nearly 40,000 others (myself included) this Sunday.

It will be the first marathon for the esteemed actor, and also for the majority of his 30-member team, who are running to raise money for the Maasai Wilderness Conservation Trust. He became acquainted with the trust 10 years ago on a trip to Kenya, and says he was so impressed by the work being done by the organization to protect the Maasai homeland, he decided to get involved -- eventually becoming head of the board.

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]]>ed nortonedward nortonedward norton marathonfit-runningJennifer FieldsWed, 28 Oct 2009 14:00:00 ESTMan Overcomes Paralysis to Run Marathonhttp://www.thatsfit.com/2009/10/20/man-overcomes-paralysis-to-run-marathon/http://www.thatsfit.com/2009/10/20/man-overcomes-paralysis-to-run-marathon/http://www.thatsfit.com/2009/10/20/man-overcomes-paralysis-to-run-marathon/#commentsFiled under:

Photo: Hyoung Chang, The Denver Post

Steve Baker crossed the Denver Marathon finish line on Sunday along with thousands of other runners, an accomplishment made even more remarkable and inspiring considering that just over a year ago Baker was paralyzed.

Baker, 33, became paralyzed after diving into a swimming pool and hitting the bottom with his head. He fractured two cervical vertebrae and woke with no feeling in his arms or legs and wearing a halo brace. Some doctors were optimistic, however, saying that the damage to the spinal cord was "incomplete," meaning there was some chance that Baker might walk again. But other doctors told him he would never walk, use his hands or sit up on his own. "The biggest motivator for me is being told I can't do something," Baker says. "The first thing I told my mom in the hospital is that I would walk again." Baker, who at the time was in training for the 2008 Denver Marathon, made running the 2009 race his goal.

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]]>denver marathonfit-runningparalyzed man runs marathonJennifer FieldsTue, 20 Oct 2009 16:00:00 ESTRunning with Your Romantic Partnerhttp://www.thatsfit.com/2009/10/13/running-with-your-romantic-partner/http://www.thatsfit.com/2009/10/13/running-with-your-romantic-partner/http://www.thatsfit.com/2009/10/13/running-with-your-romantic-partner/#commentsFiled under:

running

Photo: Jackson Lee, Splash News

Tom Cruise and wife Katie Holmes were recently photographed running together. My jaw dropped when I read that Cruise, who was ahead of the Mrs., turned around and yelled at her to run "harder" and "faster." I'm pretty sure that if I had been in the same situation, with my boyfriend commanding me to run faster, I would have turned around and run in the other direction.

Running with a partner has been demonstrated to help boost motivation. Knowing you have another person depending on you to show up helps keep you honest. Plus, just having someone to talk to and suffer through the tough times with you during the run can help keep you going when you might otherwise stop. Running with your romantic partner, however, can put a whole new and complicated spin on the dynamic.

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]]>fit-runningfitnesskatie holmes runningrunningJennifer FieldsTue, 13 Oct 2009 13:00:00 ESTRunner's Diarrhea - Reduce Your Riskhttp://www.thatsfit.com/2009/09/29/runners-diarrhea-reduce-your-risk/http://www.thatsfit.com/2009/09/29/runners-diarrhea-reduce-your-risk/http://www.thatsfit.com/2009/09/29/runners-diarrhea-reduce-your-risk/#commentsFiled under:

Photo: Damon Dahlen, AOL
There's nothing sexy about today's topic. But runner's diarrhea (characterized by loose stools that occur during or immediately after a run) affects anywhere from a quarter to a third of runners. Considering the large numbers impacted by it, I find that runners don't talk about it much. I know it's not exactly appropriate water-cooler convo, but the problem is uncomfortable, inconvenient and clearly pervasive.

"Many races are lost in the port a pottie," says Nancy Clark, sports nutritionist and author of "Nancy Clark' s Food Guide for Marathoners." And because you've all trained too hard for too long to let your digestive system dictate your race-day performance, I spoke to Clark to understand the causes of runner's trots and how to treat it.

There's a reason there's no such thing as cyclist's trots. "It's the jostling of the intestines during running that stimulates motility," says Clark. Cycling and other exercises, where the body is stable, don't have the same effect running does. Of course, not everyone who runs will have stomach trouble. "People have different sensitivities in their digestive tracts and we're all metabolically individual. It's similar to how some people are wired all day after a cup of coffee and others aren't." Also at risk for diarrhea from running are new runners and women, whose hormonal fluctuations make them more susceptible.

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]]>fit-runningrunners diarrhearunners trotsJennifer FieldsTue, 29 Sep 2009 13:30:00 ESTBirth Control Pills and Runninghttp://www.thatsfit.com/2009/09/22/birth-control-pills-and-running/http://www.thatsfit.com/2009/09/22/birth-control-pills-and-running/http://www.thatsfit.com/2009/09/22/birth-control-pills-and-running/#commentsFiled under:

birth control pills
Photo: jupiterimages
Given that birth control pills have a wide range of well-documented side effects, including bloating, mood changes and sluggishness, all of which can affect your quality of life to varying degrees, it seems reasonable to assume that your daily dose of hormones could also impact your running performance. A study released earlier this year led by researchers at Texas A&M seemed to give credence to the idea that the pill takes a toll on physical performance, finding that women who took birth control pills developed 40 percent less muscle mass than women who did not.

I wondered exactly what role the pill plays in running performance and went to Rebecca Battista, associate professor at Appalachian State University in the Department of Health, Leisure, and Exercise Science. "Most of the literature around the menstrual cycle and performance is all negative," says Battista. "And while there's little agreement on the impact of the pill, it doesn't seem to benefit or hurt performance," she says.

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]]>birth control pillsfit-runningfitnessJennifer FieldsTue, 22 Sep 2009 14:00:00 ESTCompression Socks - Fit or Fad?http://www.thatsfit.com/2009/09/15/compression-socks-fit-or-fad/http://www.thatsfit.com/2009/09/15/compression-socks-fit-or-fad/http://www.thatsfit.com/2009/09/15/compression-socks-fit-or-fad/#commentsFiled under:

female runner
Photo: Nicolas Asfouri, AFP/Getty Images
Compression socks -- the season's trendiest running accessory -- are essentially pricey support hose for your calves. The snug-fitting, over-the-calf socks have been used in hospitals for years to aid circulation in patients following surgery, decreasing the risk of a clot forming, which can lead to strokes or heart attacks. So why is Paula Radcliffe wearing them?

The brains behind the socks figured if they could help an immobile person with circulation, imagine what they could do for a runner. Improved blood circulation in the legs means more blood for the heart and a greater cardiac output, which translates into better performance -- at least in theory.

A study published in the May issue of Medicine & Science in Sports and Exercise examined the effect of compression socks on endurance athletes to see if they had any influence on performance. The findings? There were no beneficial effects. The compression clothing didn't increase endurance, and there were no physiological improvements.

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]]>compression socksfit-runningfitnessrunningJennifer FieldsTue, 15 Sep 2009 13:00:00 ESTHypnosis for Better Runninghttp://www.thatsfit.com/2009/09/08/hypnosis-for-better-running/http://www.thatsfit.com/2009/09/08/hypnosis-for-better-running/http://www.thatsfit.com/2009/09/08/hypnosis-for-better-running/#commentsFiled under:

woman hypnotized
Photo: Getty Images
Anyone who's had to keep themselves going through a 15-mile run in the middle of summer or dead of winter understands that mental motivation is a pivotal part in determining whether you'll finish that long run or not. No matter how well-tuned your legs are, if you don't think you can run that far, you probably won't.

As I've struggled to advance my own training on my path to running a marathon this fall, I haven't been able to determine if it's my body or my head holding me back. I asked myself all the key questions to determine whether I'm over-training -- I'm not. And I know I'm uninjured so I've decided my stumbling block is mostly mental. Aside from giving myself half-hearted pep talks, I wondered if there was another mind-trick I could use to help me out of this performance slump. Could hypnosis be the answer or is that complete crazy talk?

The word hypnosis always conjures images of a creepy, bearded therapist waving a watch to send someone into a trance-like state. From there, the person, under the spell of the therapist, might either cluck like a chicken or assassinate politicians. Despite its shady representation in popular culture, however, hypnosis is a widely-accepted, highly-successful technique that has been proven to help people quit smoking, lose weight and improve athletic performance.

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]]>fit-runninghypnosisrunningJennifer FieldsTue, 08 Sep 2009 13:00:00 ESTCan Running Turn Into Addiction?http://www.thatsfit.com/2009/09/01/can-running-turn-into-addiction/http://www.thatsfit.com/2009/09/01/can-running-turn-into-addiction/http://www.thatsfit.com/2009/09/01/can-running-turn-into-addiction/#commentsFiled under:

Photo: jupiterimages
A recent study on addiction, withdrawal and running would lead any runner to ask this very question. The way the findings have been reported in popular media outlets essentially draws the conclusion that intensive running equals addiction. Aaron Stegner, research scientist at the Exercise Psychology Laboratory at University of Wisconsin, Madison, takes exception with this overly-simplistic view.

In the study, researchers at Tufts University housed one group of rats in an exercise wheel, while another group had no exercise wheel. All the rats were given Naloxone, a drug that produces immediate withdrawal symptoms. The typically-active rats demonstrated significantly higher levels of withdrawal, similar to those of drug addicts, than the inactive rats. Why? "Exercise, like drugs of abuse, leads to the release of neurotransmitters such as endorphins and dopamine, which are involved with a sense of reward," noted lead author and Tufts professor of psychology Robin Kanarek in LiveScience.

Sure, you seek a runners' high to keep you going and miss running when you can't fit it in, but you're probably not addicted to running. Here's why:

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]]>fit-runningrunningrunning addictionJennifer FieldsTue, 01 Sep 2009 13:00:00 ESTAdvice for Sleep-Deprived Runnershttp://www.thatsfit.com/2009/08/25/advice-for-sleep-deprived-runners/http://www.thatsfit.com/2009/08/25/advice-for-sleep-deprived-runners/http://www.thatsfit.com/2009/08/25/advice-for-sleep-deprived-runners/#commentsFiled under:

Photo: Getty Images/Stockbyte Platinum
The September issue of Runner's World profiled Tera Moody, a chronic insomniac and one of the country's best marathoners. You would never link sleep deprivation and strong running performance, yet Moody's success in itself poses an interesting question for all of us who struggle to get the right amount of rest: Just how much sleep do you need to run well?

I mentioned Moody and her ability to function well on little sleep to Dr. Lewis Maharam, sports medicine specialist practicing in New York and medical director of the New York City Marathon. "That's good for her," he said. "But generally if you're sleep deprived you're not going to do anything as well," he added.

Now, the idea that you actually need sleep to function optimally is probably a big no duh, but what is surprising is that what constitutes sleep deprived really depends on you. "Everyone is a research project unto themselves," says Maharam. "Some people really need eight and 10 hours of sleep, some only need six. It's up to you to figure out what you need to perform your best." Good news for you late-night TV fans, like myself: If you've been forcing yourself to go to bed earlier thinking that additional miles requires additional sleep that may not be the case.

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]]>fit-runninginsomniarunningsleepJennifer FieldsTue, 25 Aug 2009 16:00:00 ESTWorst Habits of Runnershttp://www.thatsfit.com/2009/08/18/worst-habits-of-runners/http://www.thatsfit.com/2009/08/18/worst-habits-of-runners/http://www.thatsfit.com/2009/08/18/worst-habits-of-runners/#commentsFiled under:

runner stretching
Photo: Getty Images
People always think that because I run I must lead some über healthy life. Trust me, I'm not the model of health I should be. And while I'm trying to turn over a new leaf -- cutting back on cocktails and French fries and trying to get a little extra sleep -- I learned from speaking with Dr. Christine Gerbstadt, spokesperson for the American Dietetic Association (who also happens to be a triathlete), that I have a whole slew of other bad habits I need to break. Here is Gerbstadt's list of runners' worst habits along with a little guidance for kicking them.

Avoiding Whole Grains
Many runners avoid eating whole grains because they think they'll be doing their stomachs a favor by eating only easily digestible white breads. The truth of the matter is, running itself can cause GI problems and avoiding whole grains isn't necessarily the answer to your tummy woes. "White flour is closer to simple sugar than it is to carbohydrates," says Gerbstadt. "And your body will process it so quickly, you won't get the benefits of it during your run," she says. "While a little white flour isn't terrible, it's best to mix it with some whole grains," she says.

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]]>fit-runningfitnessrunningJennifer FieldsTue, 18 Aug 2009 13:00:00 ESTIs Marathon Training Making You Fat?http://www.thatsfit.com/2009/08/11/is-marathon-training-making-you-fat/http://www.thatsfit.com/2009/08/11/is-marathon-training-making-you-fat/http://www.thatsfit.com/2009/08/11/is-marathon-training-making-you-fat/#commentsFiled under:

Photo: Getty Images/Stockdisc
You may have been expecting to shed a few pounds when you ramped up your mileage in preparation for a marathon. It makes perfect sense considering that a 15-mile run would burn about 1,500 calories in a 150-pound person, not to mention your shorter maintenance runs during the week, all of which add up to some serious calorie-burning potential. Not so for me, though. As I'm entering Week 7 of my training, I've put on a good five pounds and the same thing happened the last time I trained for a marathon.

I talked to some fellow runners-in-training only to find they were also lamenting their growing waistlines. Between energy gels, carb-heavy recovery meals and all those sports drinks, I'm sure I'm consuming some (okay lots of) extra calories, but how's a runner supposed to properly fuel up without overdoing it?

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]]>fit-runningmarathon trainingrunningJennifer FieldsTue, 11 Aug 2009 13:00:00 ESTDo Alcohol and Running Mix?http://www.thatsfit.com/2009/08/04/do-alcohol-and-running-mix/http://www.thatsfit.com/2009/08/04/do-alcohol-and-running-mix/http://www.thatsfit.com/2009/08/04/do-alcohol-and-running-mix/#commentsFiled under:

Photo: Corbis

If you're a drinker and a jogger, you've no doubt experienced that highly unpleasant run the morning after you had one too many -- you're tired, out of it and full of regret as you try to drag your sluggish legs uphill. Some of the most seasoned runners I know swear off alcohol when training, and one of the biggest complaints I hear from coworkers and friends preparing for marathons is that they simply don't perform well if they drink while they train. On the other hand, there are running clubs around the country founded on the principal -- run hard, drink harder. And I've seen people drink beer the night before a marathon who were no worse off for it. My own unscientific experiments trying to combine running and alcohol have led me to believe the two don't mix, but is it possible that, in some cases, alcohol gives running a boost?

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]]>fit-runningJennifer FieldsTue, 04 Aug 2009 13:00:00 ESTMotivation for the Long Runhttp://www.thatsfit.com/2009/07/28/motivation-for-the-long-run/http://www.thatsfit.com/2009/07/28/motivation-for-the-long-run/http://www.thatsfit.com/2009/07/28/motivation-for-the-long-run/#commentsFiled under:

runner
Photo: Getty Images
If you're training for one of the top fall marathons - Twin Cities, D.C., Philadelphia, Chicago, New York (which I'm running on November 1) or San Francisco to name a few - then by now you're probably embarking on, or deep into, those weekly long training runs. And while it seems like summer with its warm temperatures and sunny days would provide a little extra motivation to hit the road, I find myself focused on dreading the early-morning slog in the heat and humidity. It can't be good to have lost my mojo so early in the training game, but I know I'm not alone. I regularly whine along with two coworkers who are also training for the NYC marathon. Our grumblings range from boredom to how much all this running cuts into our social lives (read: early bedtimes and dry happy hours).

I spoke with Bill Pierce, chair of the health and exercise science department at Furman University, co-author of "Runner's World Run Less, Run Faster" and co-founder of the Furman Institute of Running and Scientific Training (FIRST). He's finished 35 marathons and eyeing number 36 this year, so I figure if anyone can give a runner a little pep talk, he's the man for the job. Here's what he had to say about staying motivated to go the distance:

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]]>fit-runningJennifer FieldsTue, 28 Jul 2009 13:00:00 ESTMarathon Training in a Skirthttp://www.thatsfit.com/2009/07/21/marathon-training-in-a-skirt/http://www.thatsfit.com/2009/07/21/marathon-training-in-a-skirt/http://www.thatsfit.com/2009/07/21/marathon-training-in-a-skirt/#commentsFiled under: ,

woman running
Photo: SkirtSports
When exercise skirts first arrived on the fitness scene a few years ago, I mentally wrote them off. It felt like a throwback to the days where women were forced to run down a basketball court in a cumbersome, impractical outfit. While they're a staple on the tennis circuit, I figured that was just the uniform, not an outfit women would wear if given the choice. And they seemed so, well, cute -- certainly not the outfit of a woman who's serious about sports.

On a recent run in Central Park, I counted seven skirts jogging by. Later, when I was in a specialty running shop, I noticed that all the major brands had at least one running skirt in their lines. I bought shorts, but left wondering if those skirts were serious after all?

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]]>fit-runningnicole-deboomSkirtsSportsJennifer FieldsTue, 21 Jul 2009 13:00:00 ESTNewton's Law of Runninghttp://www.thatsfit.com/2009/07/14/newtons-law-of-running/http://www.thatsfit.com/2009/07/14/newtons-law-of-running/http://www.thatsfit.com/2009/07/14/newtons-law-of-running/#commentsFiled under:

Photo: Newton Running
Are your running shoes actually promoting poor form and increasing your chance of injury? The creators of Newton Running shoes say yes. How? "The way most running shoes are built forces you to land on your heel, encouraging the wrong type of running," says Ian Anderson, a company spokesperson, referring to the gel or air many manufacturers add to the heels of shoes for cushioning.

Newton Running shoes are part of a new crop of specialty shoes that are designed to encourage a midfoot/forefoot strike, which some experts believe mimics a more natural foot strike - one you would take if you were barefoot, and one that is often favored by competitive runners. If you haven't seen them on your friends or fellow runners, that's because this shoe is pretty pricey (about $175) and often on the feet of elite athletes, but you'll probably start to see them on mere mortal runners in coming months.

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]]>fit-runningfitnessrunningJennifer FieldsTue, 14 Jul 2009 13:00:00 ESTDo Tylenol and Running Mix?http://www.thatsfit.com/2009/07/09/do-tylenol-and-running-mix/http://www.thatsfit.com/2009/07/09/do-tylenol-and-running-mix/http://www.thatsfit.com/2009/07/09/do-tylenol-and-running-mix/#commentsFiled under:

Getty Images
Runners are pretty resourceful and creative people when it comes to finding pain relief, using anything from ice packs, hot showers and massage to bath salts, elevation and rolling pins (my fave!). But we also rely on our fair share of over-the-counter medications to take the edge off, sometimes even popping pills to preempt pain.

Many runners take non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, or NSAIDs, for their pains. NSAIDs such as ibuprofen, naproxen and aspirin, are more recognizable by some of their brand names -- Advil, Aleve and Bayer -- and are favored by athletes because they alleviate muscle discomfort and swelling.

However, NSAIDs have gotten a bad rap because they can cause stomach distress. (NSAIDs work by blocking an enzyme that just so happens to protect the stomach lining from being damaged by its own acids, hence the tummy trouble.) But, here's the bad news for long-distance runners who are already prone to stomach issues anyway: When taken before or during a long run, NSAIDs can cause nausea, stomach cramping, and diarrhea. (Where is that next Port-A-Potty?)

That's one reason why Tylenol (which contains acetaminophen) is handed out at most marathons. Now, if you've been reading the news in the last week, you know there's been a big hubbub over acetaminophen. Because it has been linked to liver damage, a federal advisory panel recommended banning the popular pain killers.

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]]>fit-runningpain reliefrunningtylenolJennifer FieldsThu, 09 Jul 2009 16:00:00 ESTChi Runninghttp://www.thatsfit.com/2009/07/02/chi-running/http://www.thatsfit.com/2009/07/02/chi-running/http://www.thatsfit.com/2009/07/02/chi-running/#commentsFiled under:

chi running bookAs an avid runner for many years, I've suffered through the gamut of injuries associated with this high-impact sport -- stress fracture, plantar fasciitis, IT band injuries, knee pain and bursitis. The countless specialists I've seen all seem to agree that this is the price you pay to participate in a dangerous sport.

Danny Dreyer, author of "ChiRunning: A Revolutionary Approach to Effortless, Injury-Free Running" paints a different picture. He rejects the idea that running itself causes injuries. Instead, he says, the primary cause of running pain is bad form and poor biomechanics. Dreyer, who has spent years studying the physics of running, argues that by making a shift in your posture and foot-strike, you'll enjoy easier, more efficient and injury-free runs.

Lured in by the promise of pain-free runs, I attended one of Dreyer's Chi Running workshops along with about 30 others in New York City (he holds them around the country), hoping for a total running makeover. Dreyer opened the workshop with this whopper -- "Everything you know about running is wrong," he said.

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]]>chi-runningfit-runningrunningJennifer FieldsThu, 02 Jul 2009 16:00:00 EST