Whether you are a varsity athlete, fitness fanatic, or casual gym goer, injuries are devastating. As a college runner who’s aches and pains had never required more than a few days rest and a mug of hot chocolate, hearing that I would be confined to a removable walking cast for a few months caused an immediate panic. Running is more than a sport, it is an emotional outlet that lifts my mood on even the toughest days, and ( lets face it) keeps me in great shape. Of course, nothing compares to being outside pounding the pavement on a gorgeous spring morning, but deep water running is an effective non impact way to get in shape or maintain fitness while recovering from an injury.


To perform deep water running, all you need is the deep-end of a pool, something to wear in the pool, a stopwatch, and yourself. Deep water running is an activity where you mimic the running motion in the deep end of the pool (without touching the bottom). Note that this is not the same as treading water and it is very important to keep your torso upright and your legs and arms moving in a synchronized manner against the resistance of the water. This way you are working your core and upper body as well as getting a great cardio workout. If you are having trouble keeping your head above the water, they sell aqua jogger buoyancy vests that will give you an extra boost until you are confident enough to go without.

The goal is to keep your arms and legs moving as quickly as possible without sacrificing your form. Depending on your level of fitness you can add in some faster timed intervals in order to get in your desired workout. The only downside to deep water running is that is can be a bit lonely, so when you are about to hit up the pool for the day, try to bring along some friends and your favorite mix CD. I would also suggest investing in some good moisturizer and swimmers shampoo in order to combat chlorine.

So… if you are recovering from an injury or simply longing for those exercise endorphins, take the plunge and go deep water running.

 


Miriam S has 6 post(s) on RTR On Campus