# How An Injury Led to Launching a First-Of-Its-Kind Fitness App Author: Pal Sinha, Barnali Author URL: https://financedigest.com/author/pal-sinha-barnali Published: 2022-03-22 Category: TECHNOLOGY Category URL: https://financedigest.com/category/technology Meta Title: Discover Deep Water Running: A New Fitness Pathway Meta Description: Discover how deep water running helped me overcome injury and pivot professionally, leading to a new career in health and wellness. Read more! URL: https://financedigest.com/how-an-injury-led-to-launching-a-first-of-its-kind-fitness-apphtml ![undefined](https://prod.superblogcdn.com/site_cuid_cm5qst7v3003gwirgwqtxn8i8/images/istock-1040307986-1736815940518-compressed.jpg) _![](https://prod.superblogcdn.com/site_cuid_cm5qst7v3003gwirgwqtxn8i8/images/608-1736815940526-compressed.jpg)_ _By **Jennifer Conroyd,** Founder of Fluid Running and Certified U.S.A. Track and Field Coach and A.C.E. Trainer_ There are [10.4 million residential pools](https://www.liveabout.com/facts-about-pools-spas-swimming-safety-2737127) in the U.S. and over 300,000 community pools. Did I know that in 2010? Absolutely not. Why would I? I was a die-hard runner. I didn’t [spend time](https://www.financedigest.com/office-workers-waste-more-time-on-slow-tech-than-they-spend-on-holiday.html "Office Workers Waste More Time on Slow Tech Than They Spend on Holiday") pondering pools or water aerobics. I was running marathons, doing triathlons, and even completing the Ironman. And then I found myself injured six weeks from one of the [important races in my life](https://www.financedigest.com/life-insurance-why-is-it-so-important.html "LIFE INSURANCE: WHY IS IT SO IMPORTANT?"). Torn calf muscle, “You can’t run,” my [doctor](https://www.financedigest.com/doctors-bankers-protest-impossible-situation-as-sri-lanka-runs-out-of-fuel.html "Doctors, bankers protest ‘impossible situation’ as Sri Lanka runs out of fuel") said. I was devastated. When I got home from finding out my training was over, I typed into Google: “How To Stay In Running Shape When Injured.” I came across an article about deep water running, and that’s when I learned the importance of pivoting—not only [personally but professionally](https://www.financedigest.com/makes-successful-seller-digital-agewhy-sales-professionals-must-retain-personal-touch-succeed.html "What makes a successful seller in the digital age?Why sales professionals must retain their personal touch to succeed"). **Running in water** The [research I found about deep water](https://www.financedigest.com/water-soluble-vitamins-market-industry-research-segmentation-key-players-analysis-and-forecast-to-2029.html "Water Soluble Vitamins Market Industry Research, Segmentation, Key Players Analysis and Forecast to 2029") running was scant, to say the least. But I found an article that led me to an elite trainer, whom I emailed immediately with my dilemma. As someone who has spent her life devoted to [health and wellness](https://www.financedigest.com/health-wellness-market-growth-is-expected-to-occur-at-a-healthy-cagr-of-0-0-from-2021-to-2031.html "Health & Wellness Market Growth is Expected to Occur at a Healthy CAGR of 0.0% from 2021 to 2031"), being unable to participate in a run that was so important to me and my family was not acceptable. We were planning to run the 2010 Chicago Marathon to benefit the Juvenile [Diabetes Research](https://www.financedigest.com/diabetic-foot-ulcers-and-pressure-ulcers-market-revenue-status-and-outlook-2016-2024-detailed-in-new-research-report.html "Diabetic Foot Ulcers and Pressure Ulcers Market Revenue Status and Outlook 2016-2024 Detailed in New Research Report") Foundation because my nephew had been diagnosed at a young age. All four of my siblings were training to run with me, and I was the [team lead](https://www.financedigest.com/cavendish-further-strengthens-its-leading-sell-side-ma-advisory-services-with-the-recruitment-of-duncan-chandler-as-head-of-its-financial-services-team.html "Cavendish Further Strengthens Its Leading Sell-Side M&A Advisory Services With The Recruitment Of Duncan Chandler As Head Of Its Financial Services Team"). We had already raised over $10,000, and I was determined. The author of that article responded quickly, and put me in touch with a coach who could help. “I’ll get you to this marathon—in the water. Trust me.” So, he coached me, and I did all of my running in the deep [end of the pool for the final six weeks](https://www.financedigest.com/european-shares-end-five-day-losing-streak-still-down-for-the-week.html "European shares end five-day losing streak, still down for the week") leading up to the marathon. As I ran across the finish line—in one of my best times yet, qualifying for the Boston Marathon—I knew that I was ready to pivot again. I had to spread the word about deep water running and help so many others who may be unable to run on land, or even do traditional workouts. **The deep water pathway** My career has always been in marketing, though working with KFC, McDonald’s, and Domino’s Pizza, my [work didn’t always reflect my devotion to health and wellness](https://www.financedigest.com/biden-says-he-is-doing-well-working-after-testing-positive-for-covid.html "Biden says he is ‘doing well,’ working after testing positive for COVID"). After a while, I had decided I wanted to [create a career in the industry](https://www.financedigest.com/growth-of-mineral-processing-and-mining-industrie-is-creating-demand-for-rotary-trommel-market.html "Growth Of Mineral Processing And Mining Industrie Is Creating Demand For Rotary Trommel Market"), so I started by educating myself and getting health and fitness certifications—and with my discovery of deep water running, it was fate. People with back, neck or joint [pain usually never get to see the benefits of running or feel](https://www.financedigest.com/analysis-russians-feel-little-economic-pain-now-long-term-outlook-darkens.html "Analysis: Russians feel little economic pain now, long-term outlook darkens") the joy of putting a running shoe to pavement. It’s simply too painful, sometimes even too painful to walk because of the pressure applied to the whole body when the foot [meets the ground and gravity pushes](https://www.financedigest.com/queen-elizabeth-meets-sturgeon-after-new-push-for-independence-vote.html "Queen Elizabeth meets Sturgeon after new push for independence vote") down. But when you add water, these problems don’t exist. There’s no gravity or unnecessary pressure on joints and muscles. After the Chicago Marathon, I [traveled to Canada to become trained in deep water running so that I could help offer solutions to all the people who weren’t able to run or even exercise in the traditional way](https://www.financedigest.com/5-time-efficient-ways-to-travel-around-the-philippines.html "5 Time-Efficient Ways to Travel Around the Philippines") for any reason. When you’re floating in the water, the pressure is off your spine, your feet, any other problem areas—while still offering a valuable cardio-muscular workout. Once I received my certification, I [approached my local](https://www.financedigest.com/why-businesses-need-to-shift-their-e-invoicing-approach-from-local-and-tactical-to-scalable-and-strategic.html "Why businesses need to shift their e-invoicing approach – from local and tactical to scalable and strategic") park district and asked if I could start an interval-based deep water running class. Our first challenge was getting people to try a form of exercise they’ve never heard of.  Besides swimming, most [people think](https://www.financedigest.com/over-a-third-of-uk-people-think-thomas-whitmore-from-independence-day-will-be-joined-by-donald-trump-in-disneys-hall-of-presidents.html "Over a third of UK people think Thomas Whitmore from Independence Day will be joined by Donald Trump in Disney’s Hall of Presidents") of “grandma’s aqua aerobics” when working out in the water. And no offense to grandmas, but that’s not the workout that developed. **Making waves** As the classes grew, I named the program [Fluid Running](https://www.fluidrunning.com/). Once clients started trying the workout and seeing the results, the news spread like wildfire. The pools were full, and I had clients requesting one-on-one training. For a [small business](https://www.financedigest.com/how-banks-will-evolve-to-support-small-business-owners.html "How banks will evolve to support small business owners") like ours, I firmly believe that word-of-mouth is your best friend. If you have a great product, people will tell their friends. I’ve even had Olympic athletes reach out with praise after doing our workout. My initial goal to spread the word about the benefits of deep water running to as many people as possible began to seem more and more attainable. People from across the country started reaching out for more information on how to do the workout themselves, which is why with the help of my business partner Mike Lambert, we built the on-demand app, and bundled the equipment needed to create the [Fluid Running](https://www.fluidrunning.com/shop/) system. The do-it-yourself app-based version of the program includes instructional videos, coach-led, music-backed deep water running audio workouts, Bluetooth- waterproof headphones to [keep you connected to your workout coach, and a flotation belt to keep you upright in the water](https://www.financedigest.com/innovation-based-stability-to-keep-the-water-sink-market-going.html "Innovation-Based Stability To Keep The Water Sink Market Going"). This [app brings a life-altering platform](https://www.financedigest.com/make-way-for-the-rise-of-the-finance-super-apps-consolidation-of-financial-digitisation-tools-platforms.html "Make way for the rise of the Finance Super Apps – Consolidation of Financial Digitisation Tools & Platforms") to a broader audience. With the on-demand app and in-person classes, we have 10,000 Fluid Runners all over the U.S. and in many parts of the world. I’m committed to our customers, and I [know that opening doors to this type of workout can increase options for those who need](https://www.financedigest.com/g20-summit-what-you-need-to-know-now.html "G20 Summit: What you need to know now") it. From Peloton to YouTube, we live in a time where successful workouts have to be easy to implement and adaptable to a [wide range](https://www.financedigest.com/exclusive-wide-ranging-solarwinds-probe-sparks-fear-in-corporate-america.html "Exclusive: Wide-ranging SolarWinds probe sparks fear in Corporate America") of participants. With an app that can be accessed from anywhere, at any time, all you need is access to one of the millions of pools in the U.S. **_About Author_** **:** _Jennifer Conroyd is the founder of Fluid Running, a deep water running fitness company. She is an Ironman and has completed 16 marathons, qualifying for the Boston Marathon 15 times. Jennifer created Fluid Running after an injury left her unable to run in preparation for the 2010 Chicago Marathon. She ran exclusively in the deep water for the six weeks leading up to the race and not only finished that marathon but qualified for the Boston Marathon. Fluid Running [offers group](https://www.financedigest.com/uks-morrisons-agrees-to-raised-9-3-billion-offer-from-fortress-led-group.html "UK’s Morrisons agrees to raised .3 billion offer from Fortress-led group") classes that Men’s Journal voted one of the Best Workouts in America. Jennifer’s company recently launched the Fluid Running app, which is the only deep water running workout that anyone can do [anywhere in the world](https://www.financedigest.com/be-the-digital-eyes-and-ears-of-your-business-from-anywhere-in-the-world.html "Be the digital eyes and ears of your business – from anywhere in the world!"). Jennifer is an A.C.E. certified personal trainer, a USATF trained coach and a graduate of Miami University. She was [named a finalist for the 2018 Women in Tech Founders award](https://www.financedigest.com/praxity-named-association-of-year-at-iab-awards.html "Praxity named Association of Year at IAB Awards")._ --- This blog is powered by Superblog. 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