Having real problems with my training for the full. My knee is bad and has been since the start of my main training in August. I have been going to physical therapy for 2 months now. I made it up to a 15 miler on Nov 19th. When I finished I could barely walk. I was having a different issue with my "good" knee. I had a trip to Orlando the next day, so I limped around for a day or two before my knee was better.
I tried to go on Sunday on the treadmill when I got back but the "good" knee was bad. I went to the gym and got on the elliptical for an hour. I have no problems with that because it puts no pressure on my knees.
Last night I went to the gym and did an hour running in the pool. My heart rate never got up to where it would be with the equivalent time on the road. My legs were jelly for a few minutes after I got out though.
This whole situation is upsetting because I wanted to run a decent time. That isn't going to happen now and I will probably have to walk most of the race.
My question is, what do you think is better training, the elliptical or the pool? Has anyone done any pool running before?
First, careful with the second knee and really talk about what you are seeing and feeling with your PT. I find that worse and more debilitating injuries occur to the 'good' side of the body when nursing through an issue on the 'bad' side.
WIth regard to what is better, let me say that anything taking a load across an injury is not good. Obviously, the lighter the load or stress across an injured joint, the better. So saying that, the elliptical carries a the full load of the body during use. There is one newer model of elliptical that diminishes the load due to it's variable length of foot path. The Precor Adaptive Motion Trainer takes a lot of the stress off an injured leg because the foot pads can freely move between what resembles a long arc to elliptical to stairs.
Pool running may remove the full load - depending on pool depth. What we shoot for in pool running is a depth where you are not really contacting the bottom of the pool. Most clubs and swim lanes do not provide that depth. Next best is chest deep where your are barely striking the pool. I would think that a in a real pinch a lap lane may work, but again, you are pushing a load through the knee. Note that floaties and the like add resistance, making the run harder.
I think I would look at the ergometer (rowing machine) as an option. I used one when I suffered a stress fracture and could not get into our pool. I just did not hook in the bad leg. I the case a knee, if you have range of motion, it may be better.
Look at cycling. It does not carry the stress of having your full weight across the joint. Set up is critical. You want your leg fully extended at the bottom o the stroke. Too tall or too short a saddle position may irritate the knee.
So to answer your question, I would look at pool running over elliptical, but also look to other forms of cardio.
I would also add, that you may not feel like it now, but you are at a point where if you were unable to run another long run, you can still finish the full.... as long as you do not do further joint damage. Look at low stress ways to maintain cardio and not necessarily long runs to get through the rest of your training. As an example, you could ride a cycle for 4 hour at a HR similar to your running HR or intensity and still derive the same cardio benefits as running the same amount of time.
Hope this help
Take time to get well
