September 21, 2023 - Recovery (Or Lack Thereof)

For the most part, I try to do "all the things" in my running and training. I run consistently, try to sleep well, eat well more often than not, and so on and so forth. I'm not a zealot about all things. For example, I am a bit spotty on keeping up with strength and core work, but do try to make that a habit. I do occasionally pig out (THANKSGIVING!) or eat just for pleasure. But mostly I do just about everything to train reasonably well for a hobbyist.

Except recovery. I don't really do much of the recovery stuff. Yes, I am very particular about following a long or hard effort with a really easy one. After my Sunday long run, I try to stay off my feet and eat a bit extra. But that's about it for recovery.

I have never tried any of the other recovery things. No sports massage. No compression boots. No red lasers or yoga (okay, maybe yoga for a short while) or recovery drinks or meals. No ice baths. No cryotherapy. No ART. No special supplements. None of it. 

I often wonder if I should include some of that. I've stayed away for two primary reasons. One, it doesn't seem there's much research to support much of it. Nutrition, yes. But even that seems to suggest just eating well and timely after hard training is really enough. And most of the rest of the things listed, well, I've only seen pretty weak supportive research where there is any at all.

And two, and the bigger reason, lots of that is expensive. Some really expensive. I haven't wanted to spend the money. Perhaps with really powerful research support, I'd feel differently. But I'm not sure that's even the case. I'm just a bit frugal and haven't found the need nor desire to spend money on these recovery tactics.

Maybe I should. Maybe I'm being closed minded about this, relying too heavily on lab research. I don't know. I haven't seemed to need it. I've basically been able to do the things I've set out to do. I've managed to stay mostly injury free. But perhaps I've left a lot on the table. Perhaps the training I've done could have led to better results with some of these recovery tools. (Ha! Let's leave defining "better" for another day.) It's possible. I don't know.

So I wonder. Yet never try them.

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