How much does does the fitness crossover to running? Is it worthwhile to aqua jog a couple times a week while at full volume running to get more aerobic benefit?
How much does does the fitness crossover to running? Is it worthwhile to aqua jog a couple times a week while at full volume running to get more aerobic benefit?
Galen Rupp is known for doing a lot of aqua jogging to increase mileage without much of stress on the body. Aqua jogging is used a lot for this or to maintain mileage when some injury pops up.
Galen Rupp does it on a underwater treadmill. Is it still effective in he deep end of a pool with a flotation belt?
Our coach used to tell us about Mary Slaney aqua jogging for six weeks with a stress fracture and then running an American record as soon as she was healthy. I didn't fact check him, but he wasn't the type to make crap up, so it probably happened.
Aqua jogging is kind of difficult to get a rhythm going. Whenever I've had to do it, it usually felt either way too easy or way too hard. Very rarely am I able to get into a groove that feels like an easy run effort.
in my experience of n = 1, aqua jogging can help with the neuromuscular part of running but I have never seen any cardiovascular benefits from it. I've tried with a belt, without it, all kinds - still can't ever get my heart rate up or feel tired with it. So I use the bike to keep up cardio but aqua jog to help retain the neuromuscular side. Who knows if it works.
When healthy, I do a few times a week for recovery - the compression from the water helps with soreness.
Most runners have lower VO2peak on a bike than in running; still many runners can find benefit there, especially when hurt.
Running isn't all about the cardiovascular.
Every alternative to running has benefits and costs to weigh out.
Slaney wasn't aqua jogging, rather she was running in the pool, doing high quality work.
The resistance goes up quickly w/ added effort. Plus the gain of power coincides with injury recovery.
McChesney told me he had pool workouts so tough he needed help out of the pool.
Cruz did more work in 20' in the pool than an aqua jogger would do in a month.
Yes the HR might be lower but the effort can make land running feel like nothing.
If tight, you can loosen up
If weak in hip flexion or extension. you can strengthen.
If discouraged or burnt, you can regain emotional equilibrium along with refresh perspective.
ive been aquajogging a few times a week while out with a SF and i plan to keep doing it even when im healthy. I do intervals without a belt and can get my heart rate up to 170 pretty easily.
Also i think its really good for recovery, theres a natural spring close to me where the water is <70* and my legs always feel really good the next day after aquajogging. I think the cold water mixed with pumping blood through them helps