Is Pool Running Boring?

liz reichman - 8/15/2007 7:24 PM "Aw man, I am sorry. Pool running is incredibly boring."

Kathy N - 8/15/2007 9:45 PM "you could do some kicking stuff to break up the monotony."

Todd-O - 8/16/2007 7:41 AM "Pool running is boring, Boring, BORING! Good luck with that"

Natalie. "I know it's not any fun".

Joel H - 8/16/2007 10:42 AM "Man pool running sounds boring... I don't think I could stand it... I am not jealous that is for sure."

Meggan Ann - 8/16/2007 12:11 PM "Pool running is boring, I agree with everyone else."

And Amanda said "it sounds awful."
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Well, now that we know that POOL RUNNING IS BORING, let's get on with DAY 2 OF NATALIE'S ACHILLES RECOVERY PROGRAM shall we?

This morning I did my strength workout. Without boring you with the tiny details, I did

Leg extensions

Lateral squats over the bosu

Squat into military press (8lb)

Seated rowsbicep (pulley)

Bench press

Stretch

All done with that, I took my daughter with me to the pool and did 40 minutes of pool running. After 20 minutes, my daughter was even saying she was bored. I entertained myself by watching the summer action on the neighbor's zinnias. Goldfinches, butterflies, and hummingbirds this morning.

My achilles is feeling much better. No running tomorrow (scheduled rest day), but hopefully I'll be able to run again on Saturday and Sunday. I plan on finding a flat place to do my 16 miler as I wonder if the hills are taking a toll on my ankle.

Here's my view from the pool:

Everybody into the pool!

Today was the first day of "Natalie's Achilles Recovery Program." I'm a firm believer in pool running as the next best thing to simulating real running without the impact. The only thing is, pool running can be mind-numbingly boring. Fortunately, by sticking the ipod under my hat, winding the headphone wire around it a couple of times, and plugging the earbuds in my ears through the back, I was able to listen to some music. A one hour episode of podrunner goes a long way when you've got eighty minutes to kill.

That was my plan. I'm supposed to run 8 miles today, so instead I pool ran for 80 minutes to at least simulate the length of time I would have been running. Even with the music, it was more boring than a treadmill, so every 10 minutes I alternated between high-knee jogging and "cross-country skiing." I was the only soul in the pool. Just me, two yellow swallowtail butterflies, a few cicadas, a pair of mourning doves, and various other little birds.

At the end of the workout, my legs felt like jelly and I was starving. I've now negated the entire thing by drinking a protein shake (good) and snacking on cheez-its (bad).

Tomorrow will be 40 minutes of pool running in addition to my morning strength workout. Thank goodness I can take care of this injury now rather than after Labor Day. I'm lucky to use my parents condo pool since I don't belong to the Y and the JCC is still under construction.