This pic is from a supposedly easy, slow three-mile run after Mercedes Marathon. Turns out that slow did not quite equal easy for me on this day. Those three miles felt like I was running in quicksand. Plus I was trying out the new Newtons. New shoes on tired old feet.
Even though it wasn't always pretty in the race recovery period, I had a little routine going that eased the hurt on my beat up legs (and shoulders and ears and tear ducts and everything else that you are surprised gets sore during a road marathon). If you're wondering what I did, welcome to recovery sharing time.
My top five recovery tools:
My top five recovery tools:
1. Compression gear. I use compression socks and shorts after races. As soon as I can hop in the shower (or as soon as I can safely bend without falling over), I like to refresh my socks. When I'm prepping for a marathon road trip, I pack about five pairs of compression socks. Remember that time when I wondered when I would use all of the million compression socks I ordered? No? Well, my husband does. Turns out that post-marathon is the time. One pair immediately after the race, one pair after the shower, one pair the next day. I only have one pair of compression shorts, but those don't get dirty if you wear them over your underwear. For five days in a row. Kidding. Not kidding. Um, look at that giant bear over there. Distraction, distraction.
2. Physical therapist and chiropractor. This is something I've been doing a lot of lately because of hip issues I had beginning in the fall and my back troubles that knocked me out of running for a couple of weeks this winter. When I first visited my chiropractor, he told me he had no idea how many visits I would need (and that he thinks it's a load of stuff when chiropractors prescribe a certain number of visits -- that's me paraphrasing). Instead, he told me to just come as often as I felt like I needed it. I really liked this idea of just listening to what my body needs (ommmm, just like in yoga) and deciding my visits on my own. Before I even knew how I would feel after the back-to-back races, I decided that I wanted to visit either the physical therapist or chiropractor in between just to help line up anything that got crooked during the races. Turns out they can't fix brains.
3. Foam roller and Theracane. These are my BFFs of recovery for working out knots, kinks, and tight muscles. I take them with me on car trips. We watch TV together. They sleep under my bed in case I need them during the night. My coach even writes them (or at least the foam roller) into my schedule. And you guys know that if it's on the calendar, you can either do it or your Type A personality (even if it's just a small chunk of who you are) will give you grief about it for at least a few days afterwards. Plus, if funds are tight for physical therapists or chiropractors, these are good self-help tools.
4. Vitamins and herbs. My chiropractor recommended a set of four herbs to help flush lactic acid post races. I tried to find them all in one container, but I had to buy three bottles to get all four. I took them at least two hours after eating and one hour before eating again so they weren't just a really expensive way to digest my food.
Also, I continued to take my multivitamins and brewer's yeast, both things I like to take on a regular (or when I sporadically remember them) basis.
5. Fluids. Water, water, water. I drank a lot of it. Smoothies. I may have worn out the XL smoothie button on our blender.
Plus I received a shipment of the new Cheribundi line in the mail and was able to test out some of their new products. Check out my original review of Cheribundi here. They are starting to build products specifically around added recovery assistance. Triple cheer. With the new product line, they stuck with the simple great taste and anit-inflammatory effects of tart cherries but, for example, added whey protein to the Cheribundi Rebuild to make an improved replacement for your post-workout chocolate milk.
The Cheribundi Restore added B-vitamins and electrolytes. I drank this version post-race, but I would also consider it a Gatorade replacement during runs.
On the night before my marathons, when I usually have a tough time sleeping, I chugged a Cheribundi Relax to get some ZZZZs. It includes the ingredient L-theanine which is supposed to compliment the natural melatonin levels in tart cherries. I very occasionally take melatonin pills when I can't sleep, and this was a good substitute for those.
New products from Cheribundi |
On the night before my marathons, when I usually have a tough time sleeping, I chugged a Cheribundi Relax to get some ZZZZs. It includes the ingredient L-theanine which is supposed to compliment the natural melatonin levels in tart cherries. I very occasionally take melatonin pills when I can't sleep, and this was a good substitute for those.
And for the purists, they still make their straight up Cheribundi and their Cheribundi Skinny, sweetened with Stevia.
If you'd like to try a case of the new line of Cheribundi, including the Relax, Restore, Rebuild, original and Skinny varieties, Cheribundi is offering a to send a box to one of you for free! (U.S. residents only)
To enter:
In the comments of this post, tell me your favorite way to recover from hard workouts.
* Follow Cheribundi on Twitter. Leave a comment telling me you do.
* Follow (or already follow) Yo Momma Runs via Google Friend connect. Leave a comment telling me you do.
* Follow (or already follow) Yo Momma Runs on Twitter. Leave a comment telling me you do.
* Like Cheribundi on Facebook. Leave a comment telling me you do.
* Follow (or already follow) Yo Momma Runs on Twitter. Leave a comment telling me you do.
* Like Cheribundi on Facebook. Leave a comment telling me you do.
* Like (or already like) Yo Momma runs on Facebook. Leave a comment telling me you do.
* Share this giveaway via Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, or your blog. Leave a separate comment for each share!
* Share this giveaway via Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, or your blog. Leave a separate comment for each share!
I'll pick a winner on Friday, March 8th, with a random number generator. Why is it already March? I just barely started remembering that it was 2013, and it's already one-sixth vanished.
My favorite way to recover is to foam roll and to visit my chiropractor. I used to not be a fan of the whole chiropractor idea until I became a runner and got some injuries. Now he is my best friend. I also did all of the things for the bonus entries!!
ReplyDeleteGreat giveaway! I'm a big fan of compression socks and recently became a believer in regular visits to the chiropractor and a good massage!
ReplyDeleteI already follow you on twitter via @earlymorningrun
ReplyDeleteAnd now I follow you on Facebook as Early Morning Run
ReplyDeleteIce bath! Chocolate milk. Recently bought my first pair of compression socks and am in love. Also yoga the day after a long run.
ReplyDeleteI follow you on Google
ReplyDeleteAnd on FB too!
ReplyDeleteFavorite recovery is lots of stretching and foam rolling. Followed by splurging on a serious massage a day or two after the long run :)
ReplyDeleteFollowing Cheribundi on Twitter
ReplyDeleteAlready follow Yo Momma Runs on Twitter
ReplyDeleteLiked Cheribundi on FB
ReplyDeleteAlready liked you on FB!
ReplyDeleteFollowing Yo Momma Runs via Google Friend connect.
ReplyDeleteI am already a follower.
ReplyDeleteI Liked Cheribundi on FB
ReplyDeleteProtein Shakes and foam rollers!
ReplyDeleteFollow you on fb
ReplyDeleteFollow on twitter
ReplyDeleteFollow on google
ReplyDeleteThe stick and compression for recovery!
ReplyDeleteI follow you on Twitter
ReplyDeleteI follow you on facebook
ReplyDeleteWish I could enter!!! That is a ton of stuff you are doing to recover, sounds like hard work:) I really need to get myself a foam roller. Last night I used a softball to roll my sore points!
ReplyDeleteI know.:( Sad my international buddies can't join in the fun.
DeleteThe softball sounds like it would feel great on the feet. And I bet you could even hit up some tight spots on your back and legs too, plus get an arm workout at the same time as you try to balance while rolling!
I like to chill out and watch TV...lol.
ReplyDeleteI follow Cheribundi on FB
ReplyDeleteAfter a hard work out, water, electrolyte drink, chocolate soy milk and legs up on the wall
ReplyDeleteI liked yo mamma runs on fb
ReplyDeleteI'm going to share this right now on face book!
ReplyDeleteI am a huge fan of water, hot showers, and my foam roller. Honestly, my foam roller allowed me to walk 8 additional hours around magic kingdom after running the disney princess half. Whodathunk?
ReplyDeleteWow! That's like another marathon. I'm impressed you walked that much after your race!
DeleteFollowed Cherbundi on Twitter!
ReplyDeleteGoogle says I already follow you on Friend Connect!
ReplyDeleteFollow you on Twitter :D
ReplyDeleteMy favorite way to recover after a long run is ice bath, compression, foam rolling and a recovery drink!
ReplyDeleteI follow cheribundi on Twitter (@dnardi710)
ReplyDeleteI like cheribundi on FB!
ReplyDeleteI follow you on something that sends me your latest post.
ReplyDeleteI follow you on FB
ReplyDeleteI follow you on twitter
ReplyDeleteI rest....
ReplyDeleteI follow you on FB
ReplyDeletefollowing Cheribundi on Twitter
ReplyDeleteBasically just water and being a blob! lol
ReplyDeleteOh, I love blobbing it too!:) That's #6 on my list (or maybe #1).
DeleteMy favorite recovery tip is smoothies with frozen cherries and bananas. Even if they don't really help me recover, they taste good.
ReplyDeleteI follow your blog.
ReplyDeleteI follow you on fb.
ReplyDeleteI'm still trying to figure out my recovery, but I like smoothies most of the time.
ReplyDeleteI follow you on FB
ReplyDeleteI follow you on Twitter
ReplyDeleteI follow you on Facebook
ReplyDeleteI follow you on twitter
ReplyDeleteI tweeted the give away.
ReplyDeleteI use my foam roller a lot especially after hard workouts. I also, if I can afford it, splurge on a massage from this awesome sports rehab massage therapist that I know. It hurts so good.
ReplyDeleteI'm now following Cheribundi on Twitter.
ReplyDeleteI already follow you on Google Friend Connect
ReplyDeleteI follow you on Twitter
ReplyDeleteI like you on Facebook
ReplyDeleteI liked Cheribundi on Facebook
ReplyDeleteTweeted here: https://twitter.com/mmhemsley/status/307885597152919553
ReplyDeleteI liked you on Facebook.
ReplyDeleteI liked Cheribundi on Facebook.
ReplyDeleteFor recovery, I like to put on compression shorts under a pair of sweats and lounge!
ReplyDeleteI follow you on Twitter, of course!
ReplyDeleteI follow you on Google friends :)
ReplyDeleteI SWEAR by cherry juice for recovery - helps reduce muscle soreness. I do! I've tried Cherribundi before but it's hard to find around here. Mmm, tart goodness!
ReplyDeleteI think the best thing we do for recovery is take the dog for a walk later that day and again the next day. Sometimes the walks are slow and painful, but I think keeping blood pumping through our achy legs helps us. We also try to use the foam roller and drink plenty of fluids.
ReplyDeleteAlready like you on fb, and would love to try Cherribundi!
ReplyDeleteI recover by stretching and wearing compression socks. Stretching is a must for me.
ReplyDeleteI follow Cheribundi on Twitter
ReplyDeleteI follow Yo Mamma Runs on Twitter
ReplyDeleteI like Cheribundi on Facebook
ReplyDeleteI like Yo Mamma Runs on Facebook
ReplyDeleteMy favorite recovery aids are definitely compression shorts and socks...and beer! :-)
ReplyDeleteI like you on FB!
ReplyDeleteI like Cheribundi on FB!
ReplyDeleteI follow you on Twitter.
ReplyDeleteI recover with water hydration and at least 15 minutes of flexible stretching after a hard workout!
ReplyDeleteI follow you on FB!
ReplyDeleteI follow Cheribundi on FB!
ReplyDeleteShared on my wall as well. Thanks so much!
ReplyDeleteI love whipping up a frozen fruit smoothie to reenergize after a vigorous workout! Would love to try a Cheribundi smoothie!
ReplyDeleteI follow Cheribundi on Twitter @serene_streams!
ReplyDeleteI follow you on Twitter @serene_streams!
ReplyDeleteI tweeted too! https://twitter.com/Serene_streams/status/309473500786196482
ReplyDeleteI like you on Facebook
ReplyDeleteI like Cheribundi on Facebook! Thank you so much!
ReplyDeleteI love Cherrystuff! For recovery I use my foam roller and/or stick and try to get some healthy protein (and usually tart cherry juice!) in me, stat.
ReplyDeleteI'm also one of your happy followers :)
ReplyDeleteI recover with a chocolate milkshake!
ReplyDeleteI follow Cheribundi on Twitter
ReplyDeleteI follow Yo Momma Runs on Twitter
ReplyDeleteI like Yo Momma runs on Facebook.
ReplyDeleteI recover in a hot relaxing bubble bath!
ReplyDeleteGeorgiana
I like you on FB
ReplyDeleteGeorgiana
I like Cheribundi on FB
ReplyDeleteGeorgiana
I take an ice bath for recovery and also love me some compression!
ReplyDeleteI follow you on Twitter.
ReplyDeletecompression socks and water
ReplyDeletegfc follower
ReplyDeletehttps://twitter.com/sweetums82/status/310203971295928320
ReplyDelete