When I met Karen, I had been running for two years, and had been consistently injured for most of that time. With Karen's coaching, I not only learned how ChiRunning could help me recover from my injuries and prevent new ones, but I've also seen a tremendous increase in my efficiency and in my speed.
- Amy Bush, marathon runner and triathlete
When I first met Karen in triathlon training, the first thing I said to her was “I hate running! I run, it hurts, and I stop.” Her reply to me was she didn’t know if she could change my opinion of running, but she at least wanted to improve my form so that when and if it did hurt, I’d know how to adjust and keep running (evenly slowly) without stopping. My first thought was “Yeah RIGHT!”
Now entering my second year of training with Karen, I can say that she and Chi-running have completely changed running for me. I have learned that there is a way to run faster, with less effort, and without pain. With Karen’s coaching, I am stronger than I have ever been, I run further than I ever dreamed, and I enjoy it all more than I thought possible.
- Lori Plique, marathoner
I met Karen after already running my first marathon in April of 2004. I was already registered to run the San Diego marathon in just two short months. I had trained for my first marathon with the help of a friend that had run several, but she wasn't a coach. Karen mentioned she coached marathoners and I was extremely excited. With just a few changes in my form and learning the basics of Chi-Running, I improved my marathon time by 25 minutes in just two months of learning the basics. I started off with a goal to finish a marathon and no expectations beyond that. Now after training under Karen, running has become part of my life. I can't imagine a day without going for a run now, and I have Karen to thank for that.
- Priscilla Ojeda, marathoner, and triathlete
When I decided to run my first Marathon at 40, I was scared. With Karen's coaching, I finished my Marathon without injury and with a good time. I was so informed and prepared that it did not even feel that this one was first Marathon! When I hear the horror stories of running injuries or how horrible people felt and gave up running after first marathon from other collegues, I recommend them to Karen's Chi Running Class!
- Amar Singh, marathoner
The notion of learning a new running style after years of training and fairly competitive racing seemed like a really bad idea. I’d signed up for a half-day ChiRunning class on a whim and as the day approached I became increasingly skeptical. But the doubt didn’t last long. The approach was fresh. The ideas were new. The thing about ChiRunning is that it just makes sense. Although there are dozens of skill sets to master, any single skill seems to make a difference. Two days after taking the class, I set a PR on the seven-mile Town Lake loop. Admittedly, I probably looked nothing like a veteran Chi Runner, but I had ”the lean” down pat. And it’s all about the lean …well, that and learning to relax your muscles which is something I’m still miserable at. Nonetheless, I’d highly recommend the class to anyone who wants to improve their running or decrease their injuries.
-Scott McIntyre- Competitive Masters Runner
Things I noticed that have improved for me since I took your class are: I now can keep running on all but the very steepest of the hills, and the fact that I can keep running while I am tired. My sore left posterior tibial muscle that had been bothering me since July is finally healed and has quit hurting me (thank heavens).
Since changing my form, I have managed to PR in many of my races this year with great time improvements but equally exciting is the fact that now even when I do longer races I feel good afterwards and am not injured or debilitated for days afterwards.”
-Pat Neff, Marathon Runner
The ChiRunning training helped me significantly in two areas. I previously had a habit of over striding when running at tempo pace or above and the ChiRunning drills helped to improve my form which has resulted in helping to eliminate a nagging ITB problem. I also have gained much more body awareness resulting in better efficiency allowing me to run with a consistently faster leg turnover at a lower perceived exertion level. Since taking this training, I have lowered PR's in the Half marathon by 14 minutes and 1:20 for the 5K.”
-Dave Loadman, Ironman Triathlete
Karen has been my running coach for almost two years.
After an injury-riddled first marathon, I was fortunate to have been coached by Karen for my second marathon. She taught me how to improve my running form by adopting Chi Running techniques. I had an injury free and a very rewarding marathon. Karen was (and is) very good at identifying potential injuries early on and suggesting remedies to mitigate them. I joined a very productive class offered by Karen this summer that focused on good running biomechanics. Currently I'm training for another marathon with Karen.
I have made significant improvements in my running capabilities over the last two years. These improvements have been in both long distance running as well as in shorter races. I attribute most of the improvements to the running techniques that I have learned from Karen. Karen has helped me become a smarter and a more confident runner.
I highly recommend Karen to anyone who wants to learn how to run injury free, run faster and truly experience the joy of running.
-Dinesh Nair, marathoner
After a 20 year hiatus from running, I trained with Karen Smith in the Fall/Winter of 2005 for the Freescale Marathon, earning a time of 3:39. After such a long time from the sport, I really consider the last year to have been a "foundation year". Meaning: building up my body's strength/endurance, re-learning nutrition/hydration and the mental aspects of a long-distance race, and how to apply the key elements of injury prevention (training, stretching, massage, etc).
I took Karen's Chi-Running half-day class this past Spring and continued my training in the Rogue 5K/10K program. It significantly improved my running biomechanics, in both efficiency and effectiveness. I've run two races so far in the 2006-07 Austin Distance Challenge, and the results of both suggest that I'm on a likely marathon trajectory of reducing my time by between 15 - 25 min. This class has helped me be more in tune with my body and be able to recognize when I'm in chi-form and when I'm not (evidenced by how my muscles and joints feel the next day). I recommend this class for anyone, at any running level, from the person who just wants to enjoy running more to the person who wants to add a competitive edge to their abilities.
- Chris Gardner, marathoner
I became a runner thirty years ago. Since that first mile at Anderson High School track I have run many races--7 marathons, about 20 half marathons and countless 10K's and 5K's. I have had both good years and bad years. I have also had a year with numerous injuries that resulted in over 6 months of physical therapy.
When I joined the Rogue Running Group to train for the Freescale 2006 Marathon I mainly wanted a group to run with where I would have supervision and not end up discouraged and with a lot of pulled muscles and injuries. Karen Smith was my coach and she corrected my mistakes and encouraged the proper lean, right cadence , and correct heel lift in my run. I tried to follow her advice and ran all races in the Distance Challenge without injury and improved my pace on each race. When I finished the Freescale Marathon I was pleased that I had completed an injury free running season and had also qualified for the Boston Marathon.
I then signed up for a four hour class that Karen teaches on Chi Running and body mechanics. This class and running technique has helped me for the last six months to continue my efforts to improve my running. It has also helped me maintain the strength and endurance necessary to train for the many hills at Boston.
- Melodye Evans, Marathoner