Another bright idea - barefoot running.

We were built to run barefooted. We wore shoes to keep the feet warm and to protect them.

Barefoot, we run naturally on the balls of the feet. The whole running system in the legs works with the muscles taking whatever strain is involved. 

Put shoes with firm soles on, and it becomes impossible to run on the balls of your feet. Instead you are pushed to heelstriking. The immediate consequences are plantar fasciitis (that horrible pain under the heel of the foot when you step out of bed in the morning), shin splints, and achilles problems - and probably many other things I have not personally (yet) suffered.

I have been running with a mid sole strike. My own shoes work for this (almost), but immediately I land on my heel, I can feel them beginning to work as they were intended. It is just not the way I want to run.

When I began running (confession time) I ran up and down our hall. It is not particularly long - about 17 strides - but it was adequate at the time.

Links

http://runningbarefoot.org/

and

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/home/moslive/article-1170253/The-painful-truth-trainers-Are-expensive-running-shoes-waste-money.html 

How to make your minimalist sole/shoes - http://barefootted.com/MakeHuaraches.pdf 

For a bit of science:

 http://sportsci.org/jour/0103/mw.htm

 Another new article

http://www.popularmechanics.com/outdoors/sports/4314401.html?page=1 

Chi Running Full Day Workshop 

Programme

(All times approximate)

On the day of the workshop, it would be helpful if you could

Wear contrasting colours on top and bottom as this makes it easier to see if you are keeping your hips level

Bring a pair of running shoes suitable to use inside and a pair that you don’t mind getting dirty.