I’m 30 days out from completing 11 marathons in 11 weeks for LLS and my body feels great.  One thing I gained during the 11 weeks was an appreciation for the rigors of an NFL season.  I’m not comparing running marathons to the NFL; however, there are similarities.  Each week I participated in an event requiring a high level of physical exertion while pushing my body to the extreme.  Instead of watching film and going to practice, my week was filled with my day job, my business and meetings.  I worked out almost every day, focusing on strength and conditioning.  Throughout the week I would evaluate what went wrong the previous week while preparing for the next event.  Eight of the eleven marathons were out of town, requiring travel to “road games”.  Staying on top of weather conditions each week was critical in selecting proper gear and overall strategy.  And most importantly, my weekly recovery plan was the glue to keep my body together, race by race. 

This feat would have been impossible without utilizing many of the recovery modalities that became part of my weekly routine.  Here’s what that plan looked like:

Weekly:

4 Whole Body Cryotherapy Sessions – Cryotherapy was utilized to mitigate pain and inflammation while reducing recovery time.  Cryotherapy also naturally boosts my body’s natural production of melatonin, thus improving my sleep between races.

1 Hour Hip Compression & 1 Hour Leg Compression Therapy – Compression therapy squeezes the lactic acid out of my legs and hips while delivering a relaxing massage.  I notice instant improvement each session. 

1 Hour Infrared Sauna – The infrared sauna helps my overtaxed muscles relax while my body pushes toxins through skin pours.  It’s an energizing detox that assists my body with increased red blood cell production.

1 Pregame iV – This iV replenishes my hydration while giving me essential supplements for optimal performance.  Vitamins in this iV include taurine, vitamin B12, glutathione, B complex, calcium gluconate, magnesium chloride, bi-amino, vitamin C and zinc sulfate.  These supplements not only increase energy; they’re great for sustaining high stamina. 

1 Chiropractic Adjustment – My back was never sore over the 11 weeks, but proactive chiropractic care added an extra layer to my weekly “tune-up”.  My chiropractor is Dr. John Dold (from Ignite Chiropractic) who uses state of the art technology and a modern approach to care.

4 DDP Yoga Workouts – I rotated exclusively between two workouts on the DDP Yoga app, “Hip, Back and Knees Workout” (led by Diamond Dallas Page) and “Live 6.29.2021” (led by Payge McMahon Page); on some days I’d complete both.  These two workouts strengthen muscles used most when running while increasing flexibility and range of motion. 

4 “Seven Way Hips” Workouts – This is a quick hip mobility workout found on YouTube:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iLTBIaHU5iw&t=1s. 

Every 3 Weeks:

1-Hour Massage – The massages helped reduce soreness while improving soft tissue function.  My massage therapist is Amber Mettlen (from Back to Life Family Wellness).  Her massages made me feel noticeably better and the hour of conversation each session was delightful.

ZenRX – Ashley Herring specializes in non-traditional practices to help heal the body.  Ashley can identify gaps I have not already addressed through my recovery plan.  For instance, Ashley identified a knee issue that was causing hip pain.  My knee was not producing any discomfort; but addressing it eliminated hip discomfort.

I would like to give a shout out to the entire staff at iCRYO Wichita West for their support over the campaign.  The team did an excellent job facilitating my recovery services.  I also want to give a shout out to Dr. John Dold, Amber Mettlen and Ashley Herring.  I fully recommend visiting these folks.  Not only are they the best at what they do in Wichita, but they are also amazing human beings who have a heart to serve others.

Most important, I give thanks to my savior, Jesus Christ, for making all of this possible. He provided the path for me to overcome spinal stenosis. Without him, I would have spent spring on the couch.

Training for the next adventure begins soon….

Go get it!