pool jogging

Use the belt thing.

I can't stand it.  BORING...  So, all workouts suck for me.

Deep end.

Aquajogging is so not boring. I've done up to 2.5-hr runs in the pool. Paula Radcliffe has gone triple that in the pool. I'll post more in a bit about aquajogging....have to take care of something at work first.

I've done it and I like it a lot!  I bought a belt thing for $20.  I've done it for 30 minutes or so.  I've read a few articles that say you can act like you are running or also pretend like you are cross country skiing.  I really like it when others are in the lane with me as I can pretend I'm in a race and I'm passing them.

 Since I'm a sloppy swimmer, I get nervous swimming when the pool is crowded so if there are a lot of people there, I'll hit the deep water running lane and go for it.  

2.5 hours?!?  You're nuts!  I'd rather chew off my injured leg.  For me its like a treadmill, with no TV and pruned skin.

I did a lot of it while recovering from surgery.  A few observations (YMMV):

1.  Time spent aqua-jogging is not equal to time spent running.

2.  It'll take a few tries to get the hang of it (probably), so don't give up immediately when it seems not to be working.

3.  Use the belt thing, deep end (feet not touching).  You might need to find a way to adjust the bouyancy.  (I had to add extra flotation material to mine.)

4.  Sorry to disagree with others, but I found it to be unbelievably boring.  Worse than a treadmill (which I dread).  

5.  You will get some good fitness from it, and if you do it properly, you will work SOME of the right muscles.  But not all of them.  And you will not get other sorts of conditioning, such as strengthing your achilles.  Be careful when going back to running, and don't think 'I did 2 hours in the pool no problem, so I can do a 2 hour run now.'  Probably, you can't (or shouldn't).

I do it.   Use the belt.  I use the dive pool and try to do laps or back and forths.  Also trying to avoid the Old Ladies that are floating.

Some people get the aqua Ipods (something like that) I justs let my imagination roam.

Unlike the treadmill, I can do intervals whilst aquajogging, so the time flies by. I am really only ever focusing like the next 3 mins. For my long runs, some intervals were longer, like 7 mins (maybe a few at 10), but that was it. Intervals make the time fly by.

Lauren (and everyone else)--

Thanks so much for the pool jogging replies! I did jog lastnight and I did NOT find it to be boring--at all! I went 20 minutes total, but divided it into two sets of 10. I thought the time flew by. Of course, I'm not really sure if I was really doing it right . . . I felt like I was running. I don't think I got my heart rate high enough . . . as high as it gets when I do "real" running anyway.

All in all--thanks for the tips everyone! And stand in the "aquajogging is not boring" camp.

Elishia.

It just helps you float better. I actually found that the speedo exercise belt with removable floatation thingies works the best. Aquajogging belts are like an inch thick and the belt part wraps around the side of your body. It forces you to keep your arms farther away from your body than you would when running. With the speedo exercise belt, I can remove enough of the floatation thingies to keep them entirely on my back so that I can keep my arms closer to my sides when running.

I think so. I don't claim to know anything about pool running in which your feet touch the ground. But I've been instructed to only do that if a) you're healthy enough to run on dry land, and b) you are wearing your regular running shoes (with orthotics if you require orthotics).

Just don't go Aquajogging with ^^^ she jogs circles around you then taunts you whilst doing it.  

Do I understand this right?  When aquajogging you should progress forward as opposed to staying in one place?

I am currently doing Pete Pfitzinger's program due to a stress fracture. Personally I find it boring and I can't wait to get back onto the roads doing REAL running. But if you do it correctly, it IS a hard work out.

 http://pfitzinger.com/labreports/9wkH2O.htm

Listen to Lauren..she has done a lot and trained for an IM using this method.

I can attest she is quite normal

I move forward. But, don't concentrate on moving forward or staying in place, just concentrate on your run form and your body will take you where it's going to take you.