RECOVERY FROM TRIATHLON TRAINING

This year, Challenge Roth and Ironman Dublin 70.3 are my most important goals, and when trying to compete in an increasingly competitive field, you have to bet on what's available. My lifestyle as a veteran athlete is no different from that of professional athletes; long workouts, proper nutrition, good sleeping habits, physiotherapy and expensive equipment. One thing that is hard to come by as an elite athlete is the level of rest and recovery that is available to professional athletes. Training with a full-time and family life is difficult. There are simply not enough hours in the day for optimal recovery, at the same time everything else must be achieved - training, work, sleep - life!

During our wedding anniversary, the hotel where we stayed had a selection of air compression boots at the spa. Having seen many professionals use them as part of their recovery routine, I was ready to try them myself to see their effects. I was pleasantly surprised, the air compression boots made my feet lighter and fresher, they had less heaviness. Achieving this level of recovery in a 15-20 minute session is fantastic! By making my legs fresher after a workout, I can work harder during the next workout and achieve better and faster results - which is the main ambition of every athlete - I think.

Being positively surprised by the results of the compression boots, I researched the possibilities of getting them. I found three major brands. All three systems seem to offer similar features, but with a limited budget, I decided to buy an Air Relax compression system - that's only a fraction of the price (over € 800 cheaper) compared to the other two brands. In addition, Air-relax provided medically elevated 2x higher pressures (up to 230 mmHg). Since purchasing compression boots, I have used them almost every day. They are easy to use and I pull them up when I relax on the couch in the evening. The 15-minute session is not only great for recovery, but also a comfortable massage (if I want / need it). I have also used boots as a warm-up or even a motivator - there are days when the body (and mind!) Just don't want to train, the legs are heavy and the body seems sluggish and not in the mood for a long workout. But after relaxing with compression boots, everything is a little easier - the legs feel more mobile and the body more flexible. Then I had a quick sip of espresso and I'm already going, noting another workout in my training diary, glad I didn't give up today!

 Ever since I started using compression boots, my workouts have definitely improved. I can recover faster and as a result I can work longer and harder during my workouts. Given the cost of this system, there are great benefits to it, and any athlete should consider it. You can invest in new equipment or high-end gadgets to give yourself an advantage, but investing in a better recovery and thus in your own workout / body is definitely the best investment you can make. Now I seem to be one step closer to the lifestyle of a professional athlete, and at the same time I can balance everything else related to my age.

Karl M