Has anyone tried aqua jogging? Is it any good for exercise?

I tried it briefly when recovering from chondromalacia (runner's knee).
I found it frustrating trying to match the exertion of training runs to maintain fitness. I also found it awkward for my arms...I switched to biking as soon as I could and then taped my knee to get back to running.

I hear other runners & athletes seem to benefit from it - I guess it just wasn't for me.

I can't run on land at the moment, not much of a runner at all to be honest so I won't really be comparing the two. What kind of belt did you use for bouancy?

I don't know the brand of belt - it was something my PT gave me to try.

As I live right opposite a school with a swimming pool I did go for aqua jogging for a while. Yes, it is good for exercice and in fact quite physical.

I guess it does depend on the group and what kind of programme the instructor has set up. But it is fun!
I was always hungry like crazy after a session.

I found this old thread of aqua jogging, hopefully someone still reads it.. As I don't like swimming and it's getting cold and dark for running outdoors I would be really interested in trying it. Do you know if you can borrow or rent the belts in swimming halls in Zurich? I wouldn't like to buy my own in case I won't like it at the end.

In addition to above I have one more thing to ask. Can you also do it by yourself or should you take part in a instructed group?

Thanks for any reply!

For a start - posting to an old Thread gives it a new lease of life so it comes back onto the 'new Posts' section and also to the top of the relevant sub-forum list.

Re belts - some pools rent them out; probably not all of them though.
I think if I were to want to do it 'seriously', I'd either get a book about it and study it carefully and get someone to watch me underwater occasionally or join a group - preferably run by someone who knows something about anatomy!

Swimming crawl I get to see a lot of the leg work of folk doing Aqua jogging and a lot of them are more 'cycling' than jogging. In addition, their pulse is nowhere near as high as it should be to make them fitter. Certainly better than doing nothing at all but not more than that.

I'm not saying you cannot do it by yourself but it's like cross country skiing and Nordic Walking, there's a lot of difference between 'sort of' aqua jogging' and doing it competently to the greatest advantage to your health and physique.

__________________
Longbyt

Here are some useful links:

http://www.aquarunning.com/index.HTML
http://www.aquajogger.com/

I have found it invaluable in maintaining aerobic fitness whilst not damaging injuries and adding extra strength through the resistance of the water. You don't get your heart rate as high as running or cycling for the same amount of perceived effort so work on about 10 bpm less if using a heart rate monitor to what you'd expect running at the same perceived exertion.

If you want to improve strength you can try split fins and or the gloves, I have just ordered some. Seen people down the local pool today with them and seems quite a standard training aid.

I particularly want the split fins to help build lower body/abs strength. Tried out my new Aqua Sphere goggles absolutely the business, decent pair no water in the eyes, fantastic.

Just recovering from injury myself and this was my first time doing any real exercise in a few weeks and it felt good. Check out the deals at the pool I managed to buy a monthly pass for 20 CHF which as I plan to go most days is a bargain.

Standard for swimming training, not for aqua jogging!

I haven't checked them out personally, but there are sure to be video sequences and tips on the internet which can help you avoid the most common 'mistakes' and help the beginner to understand the 'why?' of some points.

Several runners in my group do aqua jogging while recovering from a running injury. I have done it myself on occasion but I figure, heck, if I am in the pool, I might as well swim laps. The sport center at my university provides "aqua jogging belts" free of charge. The pool is divided into lanes labelled "slow", "medium", "fast". There is almost always a slow lane with a few aquajoggers and a few very slow swimmers in it. I do not see the need for any other equipment. No need for instructions, just get into the water, assume an upright position and "run". After 30 seconds you get the hang of it. With a good belt, the upright position is trivial to maintain.

Aqua jogging is not running. But it is a very good form of cross-training for runners, specially older runners who are injury prone. A good friend of mine, now in his early 60s, has gone from 5 runs per week to 3 or 4 runs and 1 or 2 aqua jogs per week. It seems to work well for him.

Happy training!