I once read some fitness wisdom that stuck with me: You WILL at some point spend time and money in order to keep your body functioning; either taking preventative measures or reactive ones. As a recent grad I know the consequences of spending little time and money on my health. I started running as a way to stay active but save money. I call it “the poor mans fitness” because you don’t have to pay for a gym membership to walk out your front door and start running. During a hectic work week, going for a run is my saving grace. It allows me to clear my head, and stay healthy. Its important with any activity that you do them safely and properly, and as much as I love running, I have no interest in enduring injuries from it. For any level of fitness its imperative to warm up and cool down properly and I have discovered some excellent (and inexpensive) tools that help facilitate my frugal fitness, and hopefully pave the way for a smooth journey into aging gracefully.
All this for under $100
I can’t stress how important it is to have a foam roller in your life. Regardless of fitness level (even sedentary) you should have one, they just feel plain good. Foam rollers can be used for a myriad of stretches (download a free exercise chart). Using your body weight to roll you can achieve deep massage with relatively little effort. Although they are no replacement for a real massage therapist, if you roll regularly, you can easily reduce the amount of soreness and stiffness caused by being a human being. Stand with a foam roller between your back and a wall for an nice back massage. Foam Rollers can also double as a tool for stability exercises and strength work.
2. ProStretch- Single: $29.95
The Pro Stretch unique design naturally induces movement and enables you to stretch hamstrings, calf muscles, Achilles tendon and plantar fascia. Professional sports teams keep it by the bench to keep athletes calves and ankles flexible during games. It is a great way to turn muscles “on” pre run and feels amazing after a hard workout as well. The curvature helps with dynamic stretching so your muscles wont be held in a static position. I like it for running because it takes the guess work out of “which stretch should I do next” and with the Pro Stretch you can feel the stretches right away.
3. Torex – various sizes : Range $12.95 – $26.95 various sizes
R.I.C.E. is the age old acronym for Rest Ice Compression Elevation. For those of you who skip this important part of recovery, because being out of commission sitting on a couch holding a frozen bag of peas is not only inconvenient but boring, then YOU are in luck. The Torex radial sleeves are designed for elbow, knee, ankle and any other part of your body you can roll them around, which means they are HANDS FREE! ( multi-tasking optional). They are non toxic gel bags that don’t freeze solid but are as cold as ice, so they are flexible and give you a full 360 icing. They come with a compression sleeve that is easy for the Torex to roll over and means no direct contact with your skin. Once I bought one of these I was excited to ice. Torex are not just for icing either, they can be put in boiling water for heat therapy (just read the directions). They are also great for pre and post operative treatment and chilling a warm beverage.
4. Ever Bamboo Deodorizer Dehumidifier for Shoes : $9.95
These wont help your performance, but they will help you feel better about the freshness of your runners.These deodorizers are made from 100% natural moso bamboo charcoal. They are not chemical additives like most deodorizers, they simply suck up the stink and leave your sweaty stuff dry and scentless. They remove moisture from your shoes or gym bag which reduce the likelihood of bacteria. They are also a great addition to your frugal fitness regime because when you are done with them ( about a year of use) you can sprinkle them into gardening soil.
5. Tiger Tail – 18″ : $24.95
“I {heart} Happy Muscles” reads the band around the handle of the Tiger Tail massager, and that’s exactly what you get. Not only is it the coolest name for a product but it works well too. The tiger tail is very firm, and with a smaller surface area than the foam roller it is better for massaging specific and hard to reach areas. There is so many different massages you can do with the tiger tail , and twice as many that you can do with a friend. Beware: when the Tiger tail is used properly it can result in guttural “Ohhhs” and “Ahh Ah Ahs” ( those are the sounds of pleasurable pain). I found this helpful massage chart for the Tiger Tail, which introduced me to using it for foot rolling for sore arches. These are small enough to keep in your gym bag or on your desk at work for a mid-day roll.
