Monday, August 16, 2021

Injured and Can't Run? Fluid Running H2Go Product Review

 Disclaimer: Fluid Running H2Go system was kindly gifted to me from the company. All my opinions are my own.

Earlier this summer, I broke my ankle and foot after falling from the climbing rope at CrossFit. After I fell, I initially thought I just rolled my ankle, but the x-rays proved me wrong. I was sentenced to at least 6 weeks in the boot and told that it would probably be 3-6 months before I could run again.

An avid runner, I went through all the emotions. Sad, angry, anxious, fear of gaining weight--you name it, I felt it. After a couple of weeks of a full-blown pity party, I made up my mind to find activities that I could do. The last time I had an injury that kept me from running was over 5 years ago. Back then, I did stationary cycling and pool running, but it was all on my own. With this injury, I discovered that my local park district has pool running classes. I also learned about Fluid Running. 

Fluid Running was created by Jennifer Conroyd, an avid runner, after she sustained an injury while training for the Chicago Marathon. She was unable to run on the road, so she took her feet to the pool and ran in the deep water for 6 weeks leading up to the marathon. She not only finished the marathon, but she also qualified for the Boston Marathon! Jennifer is a USATF coach and an ACE certified personal trainer. She brings her expertise and experience to the Fluid Running classes. 

The Fluid Running H2Go kit comes with a floatation belt, waterproof Bluetooth headphones, a tether device, and access to 4 of the digital workouts. There is also an option to purchase access to the workouts without the equipment. There are a total of 24 workouts (they keep adding more!) and most of them are about an hour long, although you can usually stop after 30 minutes if you are in a time crunch. Most of the workouts are a combination of sprints and endurance, using mostly running-type movements. There are 3 levels of workouts and most runners should have no trouble with any of the levels.

You'll want to do these workouts in a pool where you can't touch the bottom, ideally, a dive well or deep water pool. When I go to the pool, besides the floatation belt, headphones, and my phone, I bring a bottle of water. I have been doing Level 2 workouts and I was surprised to find out how much I sweat, even in the water! Water is 800x more dense than air, so you really work a lot harder than you might expect! The nice thing about water workouts is that the hydrostatic pressure of the water helps you recover quickly after a hard push. I'm never sore after these workouts, but I sure do get my heart rate up when I'm moving!

I've been fortunate to be able to compare the Fluid Running workouts to the in-person classes I've been attending at my pool. The park district uses a different system for their classes, but the classes are very similar. I actually prefer the Fluid Running classes because I can do them when and where I want to. I feel that the Fluid Running classes are more challenging than the ones at the park district pool. I'm not sure if it is because so many of the in-person participants are non-runners. I will say that you can make these workouts as easy or as hard as you like. 

I have been really pleased with the excellent instruction and cueing of the Fluid Running classes. There's always plenty of notice for an upcoming change. In addition, there are a lot of reminders about form. I'm a really visual person and I absolutely love the way she instructs-- 'imagine you are wearing flippers', 'your feet are a paddle', and 'your arms are a pendulum' are just a few of the helpful images that made me improve my pool running form. I do recommend watching the introductory video.

You don't need to be a good swimmer to do pool running! I'm not a strong swimmer. In fact, as much as I love being in the water, I don't like to swim. I always joke that the only swimming I do is when I jump out of the boat to swim to the waterski. This workout is not at all like swimming. You don't have to put your face in the water. You put on a belt and you run. It's that simple.

I'm really enjoying these deep water workouts. Having someone else tell me what to do and coach me through a pool running workout makes it much easier to focus on what I am doing. I'm hoping that by using Fluid Running, I'll be able to maintain my fitness until I can run again! I just may continue pool running even after I'm healed. It just feels so good to be moving in the water. 

Have you ever tried pool running? 

I'm linking up with Kim and Zenaida for Tuesday Topics, with the Runners' Roundup: DebbieDeborahJenLaura, and Lisa,



31 comments :

  1. Great review Wendy! I also love the excellent cueing she provides and gentle reminders to keep up form. I agree, the workouts are definitely a challenge and you can make them as hard or as easy as you decide.

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    1. Thank you again for the encouragement to contact Jennifer! This has been a lifesaver for me.

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  2. This is such an awesome review - thanks! I've never tried pool running but it's nice to know that there is a great option if i am ever injured. I like what you mentioned about the good instruction and cueing as that is something I would look for since pool running would be completely new to me.

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    1. The Fluid Running system exceeded my expectations! Looking forward to trying more of the workouts. Let me know if you have any questions.

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  3. I didn't do fluid running, but I trained for the Boston Marathon basically only in the pool (not swimming, but pool running) after having a femoral neck stress fracture. Such a great workout and probably the closest thing to running you can do. Glad you've found a way to keep in shape and do something that makes you feel like yourself. You will be back out there before you know it and you'll have a new found appreciation and strength!

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    1. Above from Beth @ shutupandrun

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    2. It's nice to have coached workouts. I feel like I'm getting so much more out of it than when I did it on my own.

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  4. I didn't even know this existed!
    I think I will need to get a H2GO now so that I have it ready when I'm injured. It's especially cool that you found the Fluid Running more challenging than the in-person classes. Have you done all 17 workouts yet?
    Thanks for this great review, Wendy!

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    1. Ha! No, only 3 of them. But there's one called 'Take the Long Way Home' and you know I'll be doing that one!

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  5. Wow that sounds like a great tool to get you through recovery! Especially since the creator was able to run her marathon after training with this through injury. I cannot swim BUT I have taken water aerobics classes in college which focused on pool running. It can definitely be a tough workout if you do it right!

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    1. No joke! I like to push hard and this is definitely letting me do that.

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  6. Thankfully I've never had to try pool running, but I have had friends who had to! I'm sure they would have loved this if they'd known about it. Thanks for the review, Wendy.

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  7. Thank you so much for this wonderful review Wendy! I truly believe you can maintain your running fitness by Fluid Running until you can land run again. And then, continue to incorporate it into your training plans to help injuries from flaring up!

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    1. Thank you for letting me try out the system. I love it!

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    2. I'm glad you knew it was me Wendy! It said I was replying as Jennifer@fluidrunng but I came up unknown! Thank you again!

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  8. This sounds like such a great cross-training option! You're going to be in such good shape when you get back to running. I think this sounds alot better than just regular pool running. The challenge for me is that I dont have a pool to use. When I was injured a few years ago I joined a gym just to use the pool a couple time a week.

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    1. I am fortunate that our park district has such great options at a reasonable price. I'm going to try to do this 3x/week, just like running. Hopefully I can hit the road with ease...

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  9. Sounds like a great program! I've never had the opportunity to try pool running, but I'm sure I'd like it. Barb and I have walked the lazy river several times, and I'm always surprised how much resistance the water gives you. One time we tried walking the "wrong" way, and we looked (and felt) like we were drunk because it was so tough to balance...and that was with our feet on the actual floor of the pool.

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    1. I'm hoping this will let me jump right back into running when I'm recovered. The only thing missing is the impact of running on land.

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  10. Great review, thank you.
    Pool running is the perfect solution to recover after an injury.

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  11. I love this. I wish I had this when I was injured. You will be in great shape once you can run again!!

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  12. I love this for you. I am so glad this was an option for you and that you settled into a productive routine. <3 <3 <3

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    1. It's been really helpful--I'm healing well and I have to think that this is helping that too!

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  13. What??? How am I just seeing this now? Well... i had a crazy week last week and am just getting caught up on blogs now. I'm so tempted... I just can't decide whether to get this or jst continue with what I've been doing on my own. So you think there's anything special about the belt that would be better than the one I have (random belt that I ordered from amazon?). Or should I just get the workouts... I'm still throwing in one day a week of pool running, but my days are numbered... in a couple months the water will be too cold. Anyway, glad you're enjoying this! It really is a great workout.

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    1. I think if you have the best and waterproof earbuds, you could just order the workouts. They are well worth the money!!!!

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  14. I pool ran when I had a broken foot. While it's a hassle to get to the pool, it's a great workout! I hope your injury heals up soon.

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    1. I'm healing very quickly! But I will continue to do these workouts. They're really a great way to cross train!

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