The 2XU Compression Recovery Tights are an essential piece of equipment for any individual in need of muscle recovery or serious muscle support. Extra powerful fabric and compression enhances blood flow for faster recovery and with a marathon and Ironman 70.3 to contend with in the same month, actually only one week apart, it’s no wonder the 2XU team at Sport In Life Distribution recommended that I use them.
On 22 January Rio and I completed the Dubai Marathon and then on the 29th we finished the Ironman 70.3 triathlon (all 6 hours 12 minutes of it). Before the events I was asked the same two questions by numerous
people:
1. Why would I want to do a marathon with Rio and then the 70.3 a few days later?
2. What did I do in terms of preparation, fuelling and recovery to be able to complete both races injury free, especially with all the other races I had planned with Rio?
These two weekends were the epic of races for me this race season, especially being back to back. They loomed nagging me in my conscious since September 2015 when I was planning my race schedule. Injury always
worried me as I still had many other races to do with Rio.
However, my biggest and most shameful confession in all this is that although I had run many marathons and ultra distances previously, I was not really prepared for the distance of the marathon this time round. I had not run further than 21km in a session, but I am stubborn. Delphine, my wife, often tells me that I am more stubborn than bright. I am mentally strong, so I wanted to do it – it was going to be. A bit like George Mallory’s quote when asked why he wanted to climb Mount Everest he said, “Because it’s there” Well, I saw two great races there in front of me on the race calendar and they were yelling out, “Race Me!” What was a man supposed to do?
The guys at 2XU recommended that I use their recovery compression tights in preparation and for recovery for both races. I was advised to wear them a couple of nights before the race (as in sleep in them) and then wear them immediately after the race, including sleeping in them for a further two nights to aid faster recovery. And that is exactly what I did – “down to a T”. The first time I put them on to sleep in, I proudly modelled them for the wife. I asked her what she thought, expecting a wolf whistle and a reply that my legs looked great in them, but she looked me up and down and laughed. With the laugh came the somewhat unnecessary comment, “Had I known the day that you asked me to marry you that one day you would end up having smoother legs than me and wearing tights to bed, then you may have received a different answer!” I assumed that must have been her jealousy speaking as they felt great on and looked great too!
Looks aside, wearing them pre-race prepares the legs for competition and training by promoting increased blood flow for faster warm-up and greater oxygen to the muscle tissue. This allows muscles to become more extensible for greater movement efficiency; reducing risk of injury. Injury was my main concern with these two races being so close together and at such distances, so I was willing to try ANYTHING if it would help.
For the recovery stage, the tights help restore your body back to peak levels in the fastest possible time for your next race
(or training session) and this was what I desperately needed. It aids in doing this by increasing venous return to the heart and
increases blood circulation; which helps with the removal of blood lactate from muscles to reduce swelling, soreness and speed muscle repair for faster recovery. Awesome.
I have to say, the 2XU recovery compression tights were very comfortable and effective. I believe my quick recovery from the marathon and triathlon events and remaining injury free was greatly due to wearing the recovery tights. Many athletes wear 2XU active compression tights during performance training too, as it protects muscles to help reduce damage, fatigue and long-term overuse injuries for stronger performance. This also helps to align and keep muscles in place to reduce risk of muscle strain and soreness, which then helps you go harder and longer. I so wish I had worn them during
the marathon, it may have been a little less painful!
Product Details & Benefits
The 2XU Recovery Compression Tights are the ultimate full length tights for the fastest muscle recovery. Extra powerful PWX WEIGHT fabric stabilises muscles, while graduated compression enhances blood flow, aiding the athlete’s return to form with the greatest possible efficiency. The optimal recovery tool after rigorous training and competition and exceptional muscle support for non-aerobic activities.
• Greater oxygenation of blood
for faster recovery
• Reduced fatigue through less
muscle oscillation
• Reduced muscle soreness
• Reduced long-term overuse injuries
• Faster muscle warm up pre-exercise
• Greater power output
• Heightened proprioception – awareness
of limb placement for agility
2XU Recovery Compression Tights are available from all major sports stores, such as Beyond Fitness, GO Sport, Adventure HQ, Modell’s, and Saucony for 595 AED.
Words by: Nick Watson
Photos by: Nick Watson and Carl Bailey
