So what can it do for you?
I think there is a very common misconception when it comes to compression. I went and checked out a few popular brands of compression gear, and I stumbled upon these product descriptions:
"...going strong while all the other guys on the basketball court are dropping like flies"
"... aggressive fit for more explosive muscle power"
"...increases muscle power"
Here's my problem. There is no pair of spandex tights that is going to increase the power of your muscles. There is no spandex shirt that is going to make you better at basketball than all of your friends. I give kudos to the Adidas & Under Armour marketing teams, but they're really just pumping out artistically worded lies. The only thing that's going to make your muscles stronger is you hitting the gym and working hard.
No, you don't need to spend $50 on a tight pair of pants to be a good runner.
No, you don't need all compression everything to successfully finish a half marathon.
No, compression gear is not going to revolutionize your running experience.
To be honest, I think compression gear kind of has kool-aide-like qualities.
So many people buy compression gear thinking it's going to make them run faster and longer right off the bat. To me, that's kind of like assuming that there are hundreds of microscopic elves in the fabric that are secretly injecting you with an energy serum as you run. The true purpose of compression gear is to increase blood flow. Because of this, they really can reduce soreness post-run and lessen recovery time. Example: if you run 10 miles in compression gear on Saturday, there's a good chance your 5k run on Sunday will be less painful than normal. You follow?
Compression gear is not an answer to your prayers. It's not going to shave your mile PR in half and it's not going to turn you into a jacked Olympian. It'll make your body look tighter, it can aid in stabilizing your muscles, and it'll give you a little edge on recovering. However, if you're a newbie that's only running a 5k max - skip it. Use your money on something else like a good pair of shoes or a race registration. But if you're new to long distance running and post-run soreness is screwing up your flow - start simple with a pair of compression socks (Pro Compression makes a nice pair).
That's my two cents for the day.
Keep Running,
Kelli
