PRODUCTS TO CONSIDER

I wanted to share some thoughts on a few products that I think anyone who is serious about training should consider.

Recovery: There is no substitute for proper recovery. In order to allow your body to recover effectively, you must get adequate sleep, eat properly, hydrate, and stretch. In addition to doing these things, you might also want to try:

1. Foam roller. Self-myofascial release (in English basically self-massage) is a great way to relieve muscle damage and soreness that can be caused by strenuous training. There are a ton of different brands of foam rollers out there. Dick’s Sporting Goods sells a 24 inch by 4 inch roller for about $25.00. There are also a ton of different options available online. Check out the following link for a description of self-myofascial release, and suggested techniques:

http://www.performbetter.com/catalog/assets/Exercisesheets/PDF/FoamRoller.pdf

2. Ice. Yes, good old ice. Consider soaking for between 10 – 14 minutes in an ice bath (water temp between 12 to 15 degrees C) after a difficult workout, or when experiencing muscle soreness. Make sure you limit the time of exposure to 14 minutes max, more is not better in this case. Submersion is also much more effective than local ice packs.

Performance:
1. Weight lifting shoes. As with any sport, weightlifting (we’re talking about the explosive lifting of heavy loads here, not barbell curls) places specific demands on the body. As such, shoes with the correct support and mobility for the movements required have been developed over time. See the following article:

http://www.dynamic-eleiko.com/sportivny/library/farticles015.html

Lifting shoes come in a variety of shapes and sizes, and probably more importantly a variety of costs (anywhere between around $100.00 – $250). Manufacturers include Do-Win, Addidas, Nike, etc. I purchased a pair of Do-Win lifting shoes from MuscleDriver:

http://www.muscledriverusa.com/wesh.html

I would recommend ordering about .5 size smaller than you wear in normal running shoes.