Cool Awesome Things that Every Runner Needs

                I have been running for about four years and have come across some products that every runner should have. Having quality products can seriously help runners or can just be fun for every runner to have. Over the last few years I have come to really enjoy and occasionally depend on my Pro-Tec Athletics’ Roller Massager, Biofreeze, and Sport Beans.

                I literally don’t think I could survive cross country and track without my magic rolley (I realize that’s not a word, but it definitely should be)  stick, technically it is called Pro-Tec Athletics’ Roller Massager, but that’s too long and complicated to say. If you are a runner and you don’t have one of these things stop reading this right now and go buy one. They have them at running wild for around 25-30 dollars. They are like heaven for your legs!!! Magic rolley stick’s help loosen tight muscles and reduce muscle soreness. According to the Pro-TecAthletics website the Pro-Tec Athletics’ Roller Massager works, “By rolling the Roller Massager along the area of tightness, you can perform a self-massage or Myofascial release. Myofascial release has been shown to relieve various muscle and joint pains such as IT band syndrome and shin splints as well as improving flexibility and range of motion.” This is pretty much just a scientific way of saying that the Pro-Tec Athletics’ Roller Massager is magic. Use the magic rolley stick after hard practices or when your legs are feeling tight and it will decrease soreness by a lot!
 

                Biofreeze and Icy-Hot are also great for soreness. I got really bad shin splints freshman year (before I got my magic rolley stick) and I depended greatly on these two products. Biofreeze and Icy-hot are gels that you rub on sore muscles and it helps relieve pain. They offer quick pain relief and are great to use right before races.  You can get these two products from a lot of different places, including Wal-Mart. They aren’t too expensive and they are great at stopping muscle pain.

                Another thing that I quite enjoy as a runner is Sport Beans. These are jelly beans that provide a quick burst of energy. They are really nice to have on days that you are just exhausted and don’t want to run. I’m not quite sure if they are actually very healthy for you, but they do give you a burst of energy and they taste really good! They come in small packets and taste a lot better than normal jelly beans. The Sport Beans website says, “Sport Beans energizing jelly beans are formulated to help you blast through any athletic endeavor. Used by the Jelly Belly Pro Cyclingas well as other athletes, Sport Beans are clinically proven to maximize sports performance.” I am not sure how well they “maximize sports performances,” but they are really nice to have when you are too tired and lazy to run.

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