Disclaimer
I bought “The Stick” about 2 years ago. Not being a customer to throw down money on tools I won’t realistically use, I went through a four step process before I realized the true benefits. In case you’re currently going through the same process (and currently in the research phase of Stage 2 below), I’ve outlined the process so you can go directly to stage 4 below, and spend more time outside running or cycling.
Stage 1: Sceptical
When I first saw “The Stick”, I thought this has to be a gimmick. Another way for endurance athletes to throw down $40, and then just toss the tool in a corner never to be used again. There are lots of new exercise products coming out every day. You see them at race expos, infomercials, and Internet chat boards.
Stage 2: The Double Take
I’ve struggled with a lot of injuries the past couple years, including getting significant knots in my calves anytime I start doing serious running mileage. I stopped running for a whole year because the injuries were so persistent. I was getting desperate to get back out on the trails. I saw “The Stick” at the RunningFree Markham store, and I thought it may be worth pursuing. I decided to dedicate 30 minutes to some Internet research and see what customers had to say. Most of the reviews I read were positive, and many reviewers concluded it helped with various injuries. I was sceptical, but figured I didn’t have that much to lose.
Stage 3: The Purchase
So I bought one. I used it mostly on my calves, quads and hamstrings. Almost immediately it helped. I started using it before work-outs to loosen up. I started to use it after work-outs to loosen up. I started using it on day-offs. All of a sudden it became one of my most used tools, next to my running shoes.
Stage 4: The Enlightenment
This product works. I always stretched before and after exercise, but this allowed me to massage the specific muscles which were giving me problems. Since I bought it, I’ve been able to avoid many of the re-occurring injuries I was having.
Conclusion
Overall, I think “The Stick” could have a home in even the most casual endurance athlete’s tool box. The benefits were pretty high, given its relatively inexpensive compared to many similar type tools available. I trained and raced more during 2011, than any season since 2008, which was a function of staying injury free. “The Stick” played a key role in this success.
There are a few different versions of the “The Stick” available. Models are differentiated by stiffness and length of the stick. The firmer or stiffer the stick, the deeper message. The more flexible the stick, the lighter the message. Neither is better than the other – it’s the preference of the user. The shorter sticks may be more appropriate for those individuals that plan to travel with it.
I bought the “Marathon” model, and it’s more on the flexible side. Sometimes I do wish for stiffer – dare I say I’ll be getting a second one soon! “The Stick” can be purchased at any of the RunningFree Stores.
