Many around the country have been reporting that the footing outside is !#^&!@^&*!! One terrific alternative to the treadmill and other indoor equipment is aqua running. You can run in the water for the same amount of time you’d spend running – and do the same speed workouts – including fartlek, repetitions, tempo runs, and slow long runs. Given that the water gives you 13 times the resistance of air, you’ll strengthen your core and upper body as well. In addition, you’ll have a chance to lengthen your stride – and burn many calories.
For information about correct form, check out how to aqua run. My work with injured Olympic trials marathoners in the pool has shown the power of aqua running. The injured runners were in the pool for a long as 2 months and then on land a month before the Trials. These runners performed just as well as their peers who had trained only on land. Pretty good!!
I may yet try that – after my “run” on the dreadmill at the gym today – good grief – how do people manage to do any sort of worthwhile workout on a dreadmill?
Must find the bathing suit and go to the Y and check out the pool -maybe this will be the month I finally do that – although the roads in my area are clear today.
Comment by Mary Harada — January 20, 2010 @ 12:57 pm