Certified Instructor of the Month, August 2010Kari Wilkinson (Triad, Triangle and Coastal NC)
 Six years ago, my reasons for taking on the principles of Chi Running were strictly for injury prevention. I was a competitive age group triathlete sidelined with multiple injuries including stress fractures in my leg and hip, crippling IT band pain and heel pain. My orthopedist recommended I stop running because, as he put it, “I did not look like a runner, act like a runner or run like a runner,” as it was some of the worst form he had seen. Taking that as a challenge, rather than defeat, I took a Chi Running clinic with Danny as “a last resort.” If the Chi technique did not work, then I was going to give up running. Fortunately for me I have been injury-free ever since. I see women in my age group come and go due to injuries while I have been able to continue each year with my training getting stronger and faster competing in marathons, dualthlons, sprint triathlons, and even half IRONMAN distance triathlons. After experiencing such incredible change in my body’s reaction to running, I decided to become a Certified Instructor, enabling me to help my existing (and future) personal training and triathlete clients to have better experiences as well. Incorporating the principles of Chi Running has allowed me to have a holistic approach to my life, striving for balance in a very hectic and sometimes chaotic lifestyle. By taking the principles of gradual progress to the high school classroom where I teach chemistry, the track where I work with my Chi Running and Chi Walking clients, and out on the road and pool where I meet my triathletes, I feel successful at balancing it all. As a competitive age group triathlete and runner as well as a running and triathlon coach, I understand how eager many of us are to find a quick fix for a problem. Working with several hundred clients in the last few years, I’ve noticed that only a handful of people can be “fixed” from their running or walking problems in just a few hours. Finding patience for Gradual Progress and improvement to occur, sticking to a well-developed and reasonable plan that uses the idea of periodization (cycles of stress and adaptation) as well as the Chi Running focuses for your personal running and walking will lead to success. “Spontaneous training” or waking up in the morning and deciding what you feel you’re up to that day or doing your running partner’s plan for the day is not a good idea for your improvement. Equally as bad is practicing the same run or walk for months at a time with the same focus as this will not challenge your body to improve and change. When I first started working with the Chi Running/Walking techniques, going out for a run without hurting was my first goal. Eventually, my goal shifted to enjoying running rather than dreading it. In the beginning, as I refined my skills, learned to relax and accept challenges, I was able to run without hurting for longer periods of time and keep a smile on my face. Having a plan to reach the goals was, and still is, essential. Since then, the goals have changed, new plans have been made and refined to meet them. Kari Wilkinson 336.516.2245 www.k2fitnesspros.com kari@k2fitnesspros.com  
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