Rollers!

Saturday was my birthday. I turned 36. Or, 18 for the second time around, right? Well I am in as good of shape, probably better than I was at 18. So, I've got that going for me. My training plan called for what amounted to a Oly distance race simulation. The forecast called for wicked wind and rain. Sure enough, Saturday morning brought both. Lucky for me, my wonderful significant other, Sarah, got me a sweet birthday present! Rollers!

This was my first ride on rollers and 2.5 hours on these made me aware of some less frequently used muscles. My hammies were pretty tired by the end. But, the sun came out for my brick run and I have to say I was very pleased with the pace. The time passed much more easily on the rollers than on a standard trainer and the resistance setting allowed for a harder-than-flat-road effort. Plus, my Kueen-K stayed nice and clean, OK, except for a little sweat.

Recovery

Recovery is probably the most important part of training. Without it we never realize those fitness gains we all work so hard for. Recovery may also be the most overlooked aspect of training. It's usually not on your training plan "recover well, get x calories right after, get to bed by x time, etc". I think I do a better job than most when it comes to this, but I can do better, especially in the sleep department.

My usual post workout routine includes stretching and getting some Hammer Recoverite in me ASAP. I truly believe in the Recoverite and I love the new Strawberry flavor. Also, after my rides and runs, I'll roll-out my legs on a foam roller and if it was a real long session, I'll lay on my back with my legs up against the wall for about five minutes. During super-eavy volumes, I've even done contrast baths-five minutes in a trash-can full of ice water and five minutes in a warm tub- repeat three times. Often times before bed, I'll roll my legs out on a length of PVC pipe.like It's like getting a deap tissue massage. It hurts like hell, but my legs feel great afterward.

I have a new weapon in my recovery arsenal, Zoot compression tights. I've been experimenting with theses for a couple of weeks. In addition to all I motioned before, I've been putting these on right after I shower following a workout. I'll leave them on for a few hours or even sleep in them if the session was long or late. I've definitely experienced far less DOMS (delayed onset muscle soreness) after wearing these and I really feel I'm recovering better than ever. Get yours at Trisports.com http://www.trisports.com/zoot-compression-clothing1.html . Save 10% with discount code BHEN-S.