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Running Alternatives (Elliptical/water Running)

scott dinhoferscott dinhofer
in General Training Discussions

my original Dashboard post was: Elliptical as alternative to running? Can't run for 4 more weeks due to surgery, anyone have experience with elipitcals? can i do 2-3 hours on one? how do you figure out intensity, etc, aside from HR?

 responses included

Steven Harrast  Same boat--just had foot surgery. Going to mount a cleat on the boot so I can ride the bike. Planning to run again on March 1. Maybe I'll try the elliptical or pool running if I start to go crazy.

Ron Slack      I was out for a few weeks with ankle and did pool runs, have you tried? You feel like a dummy in the pool at first but it kicked my butt??. I found a plan on wiki under swimming. Hope you get better soon

Jan Schorpionwhat is the EN eliptical record? 

Shaughn Simmons   My vote would be for pool runs as well

Paul Hough   In October I did 3 hrs on elliptical and cybex. 1 hr on elliptical, then 1 hr on cybex, then 30 mins elliptical then 30 mins cybex. Straight through. Sucked but helped maintain some fitness while I was hurt. 

Comments

  • bob hillerbob hiller

    consider running on your bike on your trainer.  you can use your pm and hr.  I do this a lot.

  • William JenksWilliam Jenks
    The correspondence isn't 1:1 on any of these things, so I would really hesitate to do 2 hours right off the bat for that reason alone...likely to muscle strain. I would feel comfortable doing an hour and working from there. Just keep your head on straight and be willing to get off in less than an hour if something starts to ache!

    I have done water running, and while dull, I am not sure it's any worse than a treadmill. You certainly CAN make it very hard (e.g., take off the floaty-thing and go fast...). You might want to do a bit of all of these things, knowing that you're intentionally mixing it up to get different muscles working and get slightly different experiences.

    I have seen ellipticals with watt displays, but I bet that's pretty uncommon...so yeah, HR is probably your best bet. (Besides, what would you do with the watt information anyway; it's not like you know FTP....but you could use it to keep yourself honest.)

    Good luck
  • Juan VergaraJuan Vergara
    @Scott: if you are looking at maintaining run fitness deep water running has certainly proven effective for me. Not fun .... but it sure works.
  • Coach PatrickCoach Patrick
    To clarify there are two pool running threads in the run section of the wiki...I think it's best for running, but nothing to say that you can't mix it in with the elliptical on odd days, etc. Here's one of the links: http://members.endurancenation.us/Resources/Wiki/tabid/91/Default.aspx?topic=9+Week+Water+Running+Training+Plan
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