Danny Dreyer, Founder

Danny Dreyer, Founder

Danny Dreyer is the creator of ChiRunning® and ChiWalking®,  revolutionary forms of moving that blend the subtle inner focuses of T'ai Chi with running and walking. His work is based on his study of T'ai Chi with Master Zhu Xilin and internationally renowned Master George Xu, and his 35 years of experience, running, racing ultra marathons and coaching people in “intelligent movement”. He has taught thousands of people the ChiRunning and ChiWalking techniques with profound results.

Danny's first book, ChiRunning: A Revolutionary Approach to Effortless, Injury-free Running was released April, 2004, by Simon & Schuster. ChiWalking: Five Mindful Steps to Lifelong Health and Energy was released in March, 2006.

Danny has been a featured speaker at the prestigious Boston, Chicago, San Francisco, Los Angeles and San Diego Marathons, as well as at hundreds of other health and wellness events across the country. He has taught the ChiRunning and ChiWalking techniques to training groups such as the San Francisco Marathon, the AIDS Marathon, Team in Training, USA/FIT, AARP and many others. He has been on CNN, NPR and other news programs. He publishes a monthly newsletter and has been published in Running Times, Body & Soul Magazine, and others. He has received press in Time Warner's Health Magazine, AOL, Shape Magazine, Fitness Magazine, Elle, Washington Post, New York Times, Web MD and hundreds of newspapers,  journals and web sites across the country and abroad.  For a list of some current media attention, see our In the News page.

Dreyer is an accomplished Ultra Marathon runner (races longer than a marathon) and has raced every distance from a 10K to 100 miles. He has successfully completed 40 ultra-marathons since 1995, finishing in the top 3 in his age group in all but one. In August 2005 he placed second in his age group in the USATF National 50k Championships.

Danny has lived a lifestyle steeped in holistic living, meditation, and personal wellness for over 30 years. Healthy eating, physical exercise and rejuvenating activities are mainstays in his life and the foundation of what he teaches.

He empowers his students to live pro-active lives. Whether coaching a runner or a corporate executive, he teaches techniques that tap into one's inner strength and power.

Danny resides in Asheville, NC, with his wife, Katherine and their daughter, Journey.

 

Race Resume

Headlands 50K
National Masters 50K Trail Championships
Mill Valley, CA
5:41:05 - 2nd Place 55-59
8/27/05

Big Sur International Marathon
Carmel, CA
3:19:12 - 5th place 55-59
4/24/05

Headlands 50K
National Masters 50K Trail Championships
Mill Valley, CA
5:20:22 - 1st place 50-54
8/21/04

Golden Gate Headlands 50K
Pacific Assoc.-USATF Masters 50K Trail Championships
Mill Valley, CA
5:20:22 - 1st place 50-54, 28th overall
4/25/04

Big Sur International Marathon
Carmel, CA
3:18:46 - 6th place 50-59, 83rd overall 
4/19/04

Boston Marathon
Boston, MA
3:18:47 - 49th place 50-59, 1331 overall
3/13/04

Way Too Cool 50K
Auburn, CA
4:41:20 - 3rd place 50-54, 57th overall
12/07/03

California International Marathon
Sacramento, CA
3:14:56 - 6th place 50-59, 265th overall
8/23/03

Golden Gate Headlands 50K
USATF National 50K Trail Championships
4:55:50 - 1st place 50-54, 33rd overall
3/08/03

Way Too Cool 50K
Auburn, CA
4:29:45 - 1st place 50-54, 51st overall 
11/30/2002

Quadruple Dipsea (28.4 miles)
Mill Valley, CA
4:59:17 – 1st place 50-59, 20th overall
8/24/2002

Golden Gate Headlands 50K
USATF National Trail Championships
Marin County, CA
4:46:46 – 2nd place 50-55, 32nd overall
4/28/2002

Big Sur International Marathon
Carmel, CA
3:04:18 – 1st place 50-54, 40th overall
11/24/01

Quadruple Dipsea (28.4 miles)
Mill Valley, CA
5:22:20 – 1st place 50-59, 5th overall
11/10/2001

Helen Klein 50 Mile Endurance Run
Sacramento, CA
7:10:49 – 2nd place 50-59, 5th overall
10/13/2001

Dick Collins' Firetrails 50 Mile Endurance Run
Lake Chabot Regional Park, San Leandro, CA
8:3959 - 2nd place 50-59, 14th overall
8/25/2001

Golden Gate Headlands 50K
Mill Valley, CA
4:46:33 - 1st place 50-59, 13th overall
6/23/2001

Western States 100 Mile Endurance Run
Squaw Valley, CA
23:52:51 - 7th place 50-59, 86th overall
5/5/2001

Miwok 100k
Marin Headlands, CA
11:03:50 - 1st place 50-59, 19th Overall
4/7/01

American River 50 Mile Endurance Race
Sacramento, CA
7:15:17 - 1st place 50-59, 14th overall
3/10/2001

Way Too Cool 50K
Cool CA
4:19:18 - 2nd place 50-59, 27th overall
2/10/2001

Jed Smith 50K
Sacramento, CA
3:52:58 - 3rd place 50-59, 11th overall
11/24/2000

Quadruple Dipsea - 28.4 miles
Marin County, CA
4:59:26 - 1st place 50-59, 20th overall
8/26/2000

Golden Gate Headlands 50K
Marin County, CA
4:45:02 - 1st place 50-59, 6th overall
8/6/2000

Skyline 50K Endurance Run
Castro Valley, CA
4:25:43 - 1st place 50-59, 12th overall  
5/13/2000

Quicksilver 50K
San Jose, CA
4:30:31 - 3rd place 50-59, 10th overall  
4/1/2000

American River 50 Mile
Sacramento, CA
7:22:05 - 1st place 50-59, 15th overall 
3/11/2000

Way too cool 50K
Cool, CA
4:28:10 - 2nd place 50-59, 29th overall  
2/12/2000

Jed Smith 50K
Sacramento, CA
3:50:10 - 2nd place 50-59, 11th overall 
11/27/99

Quadruple Dipsea 28.4 miles
Mill Valley, CA
4:57:54 - 1st place 50-59, 20th overall  
9/6/99

Pacific Sun 10K
Greenbrae, CA
39:52 - 18th place 40-49 (631 entrants), 155th overall 
8/1/99

Skyline 50K
San Leandro, CA
4:24:15 - 1st place 45-49, 3rd place 40-49, 9th overall 
5/23/99

Lake Chabot Trail Challenge Half Marathon
San Leandro, CA
1:36:58 - 7th place 45-49, 27th overall
4/10/99

American River 50 Mile
Sacramento, CA
7:09:51 3rd place 45-49, 24th overall 
3/13/99

Way Too Cool 50K
Auburn, CA
4:09:27 - 3rd place 45-49, 18th overall
2/13/99

Jed Smith 50K
Sacramento, CA
3:41:37 - 3rd place 45-49, 11th overall 
1/1/99

DSE Hangover Run - 3.7 miles
San Francisco, CA
24:00 - 1st place 40-49, 10th overall 
12/12/98

Sunmart Texas Trail Endurance Run 50 Mile
Huntsville, TX

USATF National Masters Trail Championships
7:09:31 - 4th place 45-49 (2nd place USATF 45-49), 15th overall
11/14/98

Helen Klein 50K
Sacramento, CA
3:45:31 - 1st overall, 1st place 40-49  
5/25/98

Bolder Boulder 10K
Boulder, CO
38:50 - 2nd in 48 yr. old age grp., 512th overall (37,554 entrants),   
4/25/98

Collegiate Peaks 25 mile Endurance Run
Buena Vista, CO
3:29:59 - 1st place 45-49, 8th overall
12/20/97

Sunmart Texas Trail Endurance Run 50 mile
Huntsville, TX

1997 USATF National Masters Trail Championships
6:32:43 - 2nd place 45-49 (USATF), 10th overall 
11/15/97

Helen Klein 50 mile Ultra Classic
Sacramento, CA

1997 USATF National Championships (road)
6:26:49 - 3rd place 45-49, 7th overall
4/26/97

Collegiate Peaks 50 mile Endurance Run
Buena Vista, CO (low point on the course is 9,800')
8:03:30 - 1st place 40-49, 4th overall 
12/14/96

Sunmart Texas Trail Endurance Run 50 mile trail
Huntsville, TX
6:33:14 - 1st place 45-49, 11th overall
8/23/96

Leadville Trail 100
Leadville, CO (low point on the course is 9,600')
22:23:44 - 3rd place 40-49, 8th overall 
4/6/96

American River 50 mile
Sacramento, CA
6:49:20 - 2nd place 40-49, 11th overall 
12/20/95

Sunmart Texas Trail Endurance Run 50 mile
Huntsville, TX
6:52:21 - 1st place 45-49, 8th overall
11/16/95

JFK 50 mile Endurance Run
Williamsport, MD
7:17:24 - 1st place 45-49, 10th overall
9/24/95

50 Mile Front Range Ultra Extravaganza
Boulder, CO
6:29:53 - 1st place 40-49, 2nd place overall 

Want more? Read Danny's Blog, where he shares thoughts on running and walking technique and mastering the mind-body connection.