www.ArkansasRRCA.com

Anyone using them? Just bought a set of sleeves at Easy Runner today. Not really having any issues, but I did notice my calves were pretty hard after running Heart and Sole Half. Wearing them right now and can see they will take some getting used to.

I've used them on numerous occasions. There are tons of studies that prove they improve recovery, but none that can prove "performance enhancement" during the actual activity.

I have always done my speed workouts on a Tuesday and Friday. Recently, in an attempt to provide a more efficient long run on Saturday(by pushing my anaerobic threshold session to thursday), I took all the extended precautions to recover faster. I ate a Clif or Power Bar within the 30 minute window after my cooldown, I took an ice bath directly after my clif bar, and I wore "compression leggings" from post ice bath until I woke up the next day. My findings were astounding. Not only was a able to speed on a days rest, I could even do my Wednesday recovery run 15 seconds per mile faster with the same heart rate exertion.

Don't ask a runner how much recovery matters, ask a cyclist! Cyclists and Triathaletes are a step ahead of us runners.

Another thing the compression clothing is good for is traveling. I promise that if you wear your compression socks or leggings after an hour+ in a car, you can tell a difference the second you get out!

'NI

That's good info. Are you saying wear them WHILE you travel or put them on after you arrive?

There was an article in the Journal of S&C a few months ago that actually showed performance improvement in 5-k times with compression socks at a specified mmHG. Funny, I actually thought they might make the few seconds of difference to break 17 in 5-k...now I am wearing one to help control the chronic inflammation in my surgically-repaired ankle.

I wore a pair recently in the Soaring Wings Half Marathon and they made my calves burn through the whole race. I feel like such a rookie! ......maybe wearing them after makes more sense at that distance.