With marathon season coming to an end, now is the time to focus on recovery. These five items will help you self-massage, ice down, stretch out—and work your way back to mint condition by ski season.
Roll 8 Recovery Massage Roller ($120)
When you get one of the wheels into a patch of angry tissue, the pain is intense—in a good way. Instead of a foam roller, which relies on your body weight to work out any kicks, this tool uses springs to create the pressure needed for self-massage. Sit on your couch and work out your quads, glutes, IT bands, calves, shins, and hip-flexors.
Lacrosse Ball ($3)
Working a along the bottom of your foot an excellent cure for . While standing, move the ball from your toes to your heel and back. Pay extra special attention to the tender parts of your foot along the arch. Feeling mighty pain tolerant? Try using a golf ball for a deeper massage.
RecoFit Shin Splint Therapy Sleeve ($60)
While the benefits of icing are disputed, it sure feels good after a long run. One member of my running group recovered from debilitating shin splints thanks in part to the . For a few weeks, he ran with the compression sleeves on his legs, slipping the freezer gel packs over his shins after the workout.
Theraquatics Aqua Jogging Belt ($14)
Throw on a buoyancy belt like the and join those octogenarians in the pool for some water aerobics. Don’t be embarrassed: this workout is about as low-impact as active recovery gets and it’s way cheaper than an Alter G zero-gravity treadmill.
OTPTP Pro Roller ($34)
While any foam roller can help you work out kinks in key areas like IT bands and hamstrings, we like the because its closed-cell foam keeps it firm and durable.