Every time Chi Running (or any form-focused approach) comes up, you can practically hear the eye-rolls from certain corners of the fitness world. They’ll call it “not biomechanically possible,” dismiss it as “woo,” or mock it with half-baked caricatures about falling forward and magically floating.
But let’s be real. The hate isn’t actually about biomechanics. It’s about bias.
Some fitness professionals are deeply invested in being the authority, in controlling the narrative of what’s “real” training and what’s “nonsense.” If an approach doesn’t come from their framework, they’ll tear it down before they even try to understand it.
And that’s where the irony kicks in. Physical therapists, trainers, and coaches spend their careers teaching posture, core engagement, hip stability, reducing overstriding—all things Chi Running has been packaging for decades. The language might be different, but the principles are the same. Yet because it’s labeled “Chi,” they write it off.
This isn’t about science. If it were, they’d look at the studies showing lower impact loading rates, improved cadence, and better distribution of forces. They’d look at the thousands of runners who’ve reduced injuries by applying these principles. They’d at least admit it works for some athletes, even if it’s not their chosen method.
Instead, it’s easier to dismiss. Because dismissing means you don’t have to wrestle with the fact that other frameworks are valid. Dismissing means you don’t have to be curious, or admit that you don’t hold the only keys to good coaching. Dismissing means you get to stay in control.
Here’s the truth: athletes don’t care what you call it. They care if it works. They care if they’re running stronger, recovering faster, and staying injury-free. If Chi Running helps someone do that, then it’s not “impossible.” It’s reality.
So why do some fitness pros hate on approaches like Chi? Not because they’re bad for athletes. But because they’re bad for egos.
And when protecting your ego matters more than helping people run better, that’s when you’ve lost the plot.