Every runner has certain items they believe are worth the splurge. And if you've ever experienced a running-related injury, chances are you have a routine to help recover and prevent it from making a comeback, including the tools that help you get back to peak performance. We talked to runners around the country to learn the recovery devices they can't live without.
Mine are the Roll Recovery R8 ($129), which helped me bounce back from a knee injury in time to run a marathon PR three years ago, as well as a spiky massage ball that's helped me kick plantar fasciitis during my marathon training taper twice now and is available for just $7 on Amazon. Read on for eight more recommendations with a range of price points.
Theraband Resistance Bands, $13 for set of three
"These bands are great for doing easy strength exercises to activate my hips." —Meg Gayman from Seattle, Washington
TriggerPoint GRID Foam Roller, $35
"I use this foam roller before and after runs and if I have any niggles. If I skip a few times, I notice tightness in my calves first, followed by my quads and hamstrings." —Marci Kirk from Chicago
Therawheel Pro, $75
"This roller is able to dig deeper into the muscle than other tools I've tried, such as a foam roller." —Rob Rueff from Greenville, Indiana
KT Tape Pro Kinesiology Sports Tape, $17
"This tape has helped me recover and get through my plantar fasciitis flare-ups." —Ashley Wynne from Greenville, South Carolina
Theragun G3, $399
"Most of my injuries have been glute- and hamstring-related, and the Theragun has been great for loosening it up and helping me build strength in these areas." —Lindsay McClelland from Sarasota, Florida
Hyperice Hypervolt Vibration Massage Device, $349
"I had hamstring tendonitis for two months, and this device definitely helped ease it up." —Jana Trenk from Brooklyn, New York
NormaTec Leg Recovery System Pulse 2.0, $1,295
"My legs feel a lot better after 30 to 60 minutes in the boots than any massage I have ever had. I feel like I recover quicker and am ready to resume regular running activities, especially after a goal race." —Rob Rueff from Greenville, Indiana
CEP compression socks, $35
"I wear these to recover after long or hard workouts, and I swear my legs feel brand new afterward. It may be in my head, but if it works, I'll keep doing it!" —Marci Kirk from Chicago
Rapid Reboot Recovery System, $995
"This system provides compression to the legs similarly to the NormaTec boots and allows me to recover a bit faster. I use it almost every day (sometimes twice a day), including 10 minutes first thing in the morning to get my blood flowing." —Danielle Prior from Camp Hill, Pennsylvania
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