Why wait

I have never been shy of a little innovation or giving something new a go. A number of weeks ago, I stupidly upset my archilles while out running. Although it was managable to run, I thought better of it. I decided it was a good opportunity to give aqau walk/run a go in a standard depth pool approx 1.2 meters. I personally think this is better than the standard aqua jogging in a deep pool (in most cases) where you cannot touch the bottom - and feels like you are going nowhere fast.

 A little innovation

After 3 weeks of what I felt were some real gains, I felt I had reached the limit of improvement. You have to be able to grow your sessions and have ways to do this, otherwise improvement stagnates along with your interest.I started doing some research and came across these bad boys pictured from #aquastrength that I have strapped around my lower limbs. The extra resistance was exactly the challenge my mind and  body needed.

 Aqua exercise options

Being able to touch the ground in the pool allows an excellent range of conditioning. Examples are walking/running backwards, which gives the hamstrings and glutes an excellent workout. Side lunges are another. All manner of drill exercises for running can be achieved. Let your imagination run wild to keep it all interesting.

 Success story

After spending time with Brett Sutton, possibly the world’s most successful triathlon coach, many years ago at a training camp, he shared one of his many success stories with me. It was about how a top 3 triathlon Olympian used water for all his run training while he had a stress fracture using the method I mentioned above using a waist deep pool. Without any land run training, this athlete came out after this rehab period in the water and won his first triathlon of the season. He was flying. 

About the author

Walter is the founder and coach of Go2max Endurance coaching since 2001.

He is a 2 x New Zealand long course elite triathlon champion and 2 x World age group champion with 35 years of Endurance sport experience.

He held the prestigious NZ Port of Tauranga Half Ironman 2k swim/90 k bike/21K course record of 3 hrs 48 minutes for over 11 years. Walter also spent 5 years as a professional athlete based with Japans leading Ironman team.

Walter has coached and guided triathletes to New Zealand and world age group titles since 2001 as well as top 3 results in the Speights Coast to Coast along with NZs premier marathons as a full time professional coach.

Walter also founded and is the director of the NZ Altitude Training Centre in Auckland