Deep Water Running

Well, at least you're not alone! I'm a 5'10, ~145 male who's also been doing pool running since a few days ago, and I have no idea what I'm doing, hahaha. However, I don't use a belt, I just pump my arms in a running fashion while kicking my legs straight up and down. At least I can stay afloat that way. If I start trying to reach out in front of me with each leg lift and kick it down behind me like a normal runner's motion, I instantly begin sinking like a rock. Actually, I think my technique (normal arm motion, "stay afloat" legs) is just the opposite of yours ("stay afloat" arms, normal leg motion), and I don't know how a person would do both arms and legs with a normal runner's motion without plummeting instantly, flotation device or not.

As for moving around while pool running, it personally seems to have something to do with which way I'm leaning. Leaning forward makes me move forward. That would explain why you tend to move around a lot, since you described yourself as leaning forward a lot.

According to the Pete Pfitzinger article, moving around and doing laps is not uncommon or anything to be worried about. It also suggests that form is not as important as pure workout intensity. The highest I can get my heart rate is usually just under 170 during 30-240 second intervals. (Regarding max heart rate, I'm age 26.) I wish I could get it higher, but I can't seem to top that no matter how hard I blast away. But again, the article says lower heart rates i the pool is completely normal, so I'm not sweating it too much (no pun intended).

P.S. I feel like a total idiot doing pool running when everyone else has never seen it before and are all swimming laps, but my fitness is much more important to me than my pride. =)

I'm in the same boat, so to speak. No running for a minimum of 4 weeks, except in the pool. I do use a belt, and I've attached a bungee cord so that I can tether myself to the wall. Keeps me in one spot.

The Pfitzinger article was very helpful--thanks for reposting it.

Even more boring than the treadmill, but at least it feels good.

Check these shoes out to help your resistance in the water better mimic land. My old coach/professor designed them.

http://www.aqxsports.com/

Don't give up on it, it takes a short while to get the form down. I spent a few months in the pool when out with a stress fracture earlier this year. It's certainly OK to move around in the pool, just focus on tiring out your body. Work on keeping your back straight up and down. Try arching your feet, sometimes that helps getting the form

down. When I pool run I generally have a high knee lift and short stride. And the key to quick leg turnover is your arms so focus on them when you are giving yourself a workout. I recommend using the belt, it enables you to concentrate on form and have higher leg turnover. I had a lot of success with this so hopefully you will as well. Best of luck.

I went through 8 weeks of it using pfitz' program.

As to sinking, I had the same problem so bought the "pro" version of the vest which has more buoyancy. I guess the regular one is for those with high-ish body fat.

And I definitely moved, doing small circuits around the pool which actually helped pass the time.

I think it will help keep your cardio--I ran a marathon 8 weeks after to a PR but not sure I couldn't have if I didn't go in the pool.

Thanks for the tips. I guess I'll just go in there and keep trying. I'll also order a different belt. If I could stay afloat a little better, it would be easier to do the proper arm movements.