Hi Caroveggie
I'm relatively new to the forum (been lurking for a while but only started posting in the last couple of months, sporadically). Wanted to say good luck w/ your training - and to add that I've just started ChiRunning too! I love it so far. I have a love-hate relationship with running: when I'm really doing well, I *love* it, feel so freed and energized by it, but almost all other times, I hate it, and it usually takes me so long to get back to the loving it stage that I don't persevere. I've also been plagued by nagging injuries - right-side ITB, left-side plantar fasciitis, and I'd basically given up running, which also meant giving up triathlons, which I did in college, because 1/3 of it didn't seem feasible.
The reason I'm thrilled with ChiRunning is that so far, the injuries are staying quiet, and I'm already LOVING running again, only 2-3 weeks in! I've been making sure to focus, even when walking, on the picking-up-the-heels part and the pelvic-tilt part, both of which I think are taming the PF, which tends to flare easily.
Since you mentioned tight calves, I wanted to say that maybe you're adding too much lean - Danny says in the book that leaning too far can cause calf/shin pain. Also, in my experience, being careful to do all the body looseners before a run and the stretches after the run really make a huge difference.
Finally - there's a ChiRunning workshop in SF coming up on the 25th (I swear I don't work for them
). I'm signed up with a friend, and I think there's space left. It's not cheap, but if you have the cash, it might be a great investment!
I've set a dream-scenario-goal as doing a marathon, but I'm not ready to pick a date yet
I need to do this longer to really trust that I can actually be a runner again and not be plagued by pain. I'm excited to follow you on your progress! Good luck!