We pound the pavement. We lace up. We run. That’s what we’re good at. Turning up to training sessions is our forte and those hours spent on the trails are our meditation. But it’s the hours spent away from the training paddock that seem to be our undoing.
Too often we find ourselves in top form ready to race, but are put in a spin by injury. And it’s our lack of time spent on the recovery aspect of training that is letting us down. A good coach will tell you, the training sets you up to improve your fitness, but it’s the rest and recovery that allows your body to adapt and make the gains.
On this note, we had a long think about what are the must-have recovery tools that every runner should have in their arsenal. And to make it even better, they’re all under $100.
Foam Roller/Trigger Point Tools – $39.99
A foam roller is an athlete’s best friend. When used every day, it will loosen your muscles and allow you to train effectively without fear of injury. Self-myofascial release is ‘massaging’ your muscles with the hard, cylindrical piece of foam that enables your muscle to return to its elastic, healthy state.
Compression Wear – from $59.99
Compression wear has been used in medical settings for decades. But it has only appeared as a ‘trendy’ athletic garment over the last 15 years. Scientifically proven to increase strength, power, and endurance, as well as remove lactic acid faster, and accelerate the recovery process, compression wear is a must-have for all runners.
A yoga mat is one of the simplest pieces of equipment a runner can own, but makes life incredibly easier when stretching post-training. Providing a stable, yet comfortable platform, you can relax on the soft surface and undertake a yoga/pilates regime, or simply stretch those tight muscles.
Theraband- $10 (per metre)
Therabands are the stretchy band used for resistance training and stretching. The bands are tough, but flexible and allow you to stretch your muscles to increase flexibility and range of motion. Active isolated stretching is a key component to recovery, and a theraband is the perfect tool to cater for this.
We’ve long been told about R.I.C.E.R. after training and protecting our muscles by icing or cooling them down to slow the inflammation process. The Dr Cool wrap is an ingenious piece of wizardry that allows the user to combine compression and icing on the ankle, knee or elbow. Simply wet it and place in the freezer for at least 20 minutes, and then apply it to the affected area to reduce swelling and inflammation.
*All prices are listed according to the named website and are in AUD.
By Liam Bromilow
