When I first started running ultras (nearly 10 years ago now), I was all about being a gear minimalist. Basic running shoes. Tank top. Shorts. Hat. Hand bottle. And go. I was in my early 20’s and was totally invincible…I had no interest in a GPS watch, learning about proper hydration or fueling (what, no margaritas the night before? Pssshhhhhh….I’m good), and definitely no need for any kind of recovery. Recovery…didn’t that just mean sleep it off and eat brunch the next day?
As I got older, my fabrics got more technical. All of a sudden, I was chafing in all the terrible places. And I started getting pukey out on runs (cue: learning how to hydrate and fuel)! And muscle cramping? Eat a banana and it will just vanish, right? Wrong!
Now that I’m a bit older and wiser, I realize I need a little more running gear (still not a lot) to be a successful, chafe, puke and muscle cramp free and happy runner.
One of my many upgrades has been to arm myself with some high-quality compression gear from SKINS (because #Skinsornothing, baby!) that is both comfortable to run in and to lounge in for all that muscle recovery post run.
If you’re running, whether you’re logging a few miles or a few hundred, I highly recommend that you get yourself some good compression gear. And if that’s not enough to convince you to jump on the bandwagon, here are my 4 top benefits of investing in good compression gear, like Skins.
- Reduce your recovery time: My favorite benefit of incorporating compression gear into my running arsenal is that it helps reduce recovery time. Compression gear helps to reduce swelling and help you fight muscle fatigue and soreness, meaning you can get back on the trails (or on the road) faster and more easily! And I’m loving my compression shorts from Skins as they make my quads and hamstrings feel brand-new and ready to tackle the trails and all the hills shortly after a long run or race.
- Chafe prevention: Another great benefit to compression gear is that it is tight to your body and made of sweat wicking materials that will help you stay dry…aka prevent chafing. Compression gear is form fitting (ie suck it allll in…!) so that everything stays in place and also uses a sweat wicking material to help wick away moisture and sweat.
- Eliminates muscle fatigue: Because of its form fitting properties, compression gear helps trap in heat keeping your legs and body warm which helps to prevents muscle fatigue and strain.
- You’ll look cool. There’s nothing like looking like a runner to make you want to run a little faster and farther…#amiright? SKINS are not only functional but also
If you haven’t yet tried SKINS compression gear and are running and / or on your feet for long periods of time, I can’t recommend them enough! Get you some!
Stay sweaty friends,
XOXO
Jamie
Disclaimer: This post was sponsored by SKINS. I was provided with SKINS product to review but all opinions expressed are my very own. I truly appreciate all of the brands that support the Sweat Pink community.
Harry Rosen says
February 22, 2018 at 10:23 pmI really appreciate this post. I am looking into buying a GPS watch to track my runs and am glad to have recommendations and comments.