why do i wear compression socks? + week in workouts
Skirted just under 30 miles this week and dealt with muscle soreness from Wednesday forward. It amazes me how achy I get after every strength training session: this week I could barely bend down without very unpleasant burning up my quads. I wonder how religious weightlifters do it without stumbling around with stiffness every day of their lives. Props to them.
I am currently trialing some CBD-based balms for my hip and related issues, and am quite eager to judge their efficacy. I hope I can confidently add them to my recovery repertoire, like I do compression socks! Below I talk a bit about what makes compression gear so unique and effective for runners and offer a bit of information about my brand of choice, Pro Compression. This post is NOT sponsored, but I truly believe in PC and think others can benefit from their line of products.
Monday, 12/9: 4.01 miles, 9:30 pace
Tuesday, 12/10: 7.13 miles, 9:07 pace – 4 x 5 min @ 10K, 5 x 1 min hard/1 min easy
Wednesday, 12/11: 20 min easy elliptical + 30 min strength
Thursday, 12/12: 9.01 miles, 10:01 pace – aerobic long run + 5 strides
Big ole struggle during the first 5K, with some serious muscle soreness from the previous day and 20mph gusts sweeping any enjoyment out of the picture. Thankfully, by mile four I loosened up, hit a comfortable easy pace, and was able to redeem the run and finish satisfied rather than completely wiped!
Friday, 12/13: 4.27 miles, 9:38 pace
Noticing I’m pretty bad at reducing my mileage lately, but running has felt shockingly good and the wintry weather definitely helps!
Saturday, 12/14: 4.26 miles, 9:29 pace + 8 strides
Ran 5K progression-style (10:05-9:38-9:01) then the final mile alternating :20 fast/:40 easy to get some foot turnover in my day. Felt nice to move fast and with the soreness in my legs finally lessening.
Sunday, 12/15: 20 min easy elliptical + 30 min upper body & core strength
Total mileage: 28.68
The Whats of Compression Socks
I started wearing compression socks while struggling with posterior tibial tendinitis last year, at first religiously after runs and eventually during my training miles as well. Compression socks, I read, increase circulation and promote healing by preventing blood from pooling in the legs. At that point I desperately conceded to any mechanism of pain reduction I could find, so I hobbled to the running store and purchased a $50 pair of pink socks that became my constant clothing companion for weeks: I wore them out in the real world, too, even if the rest of my outfit didn’t match. The obsession coined me as The Girl in the Socks at one of my prior jobs.
So what are compression socks? These special articles of footwear contain “graduated compression,” which means the closer to the ankles, the more compression one experiences, since blood circulates less efficiently further away from the heart. Pressure is measured in millimeters of mercury (mmHg). The higher the mmHg on a product, the more intense the compression level. Most socks for runners, including my favorite brand, Pro Compression, fall in the 20-30 mmHg range (lower number is higher on the legs, while the higher grade is found in the foot region), but gear can reach as high as 50mmHg – usually, that’s reserved for people with severe circulation issues and are prescribed specially by doctors. Certainly, there’s good reason compression is advised when healing soft tissue injuries or swelling, by means of bracing or wrapping, so why not wear stylish gear designed to accomplish the same feats?
Why I Love Them
Wearing compression socks or calf sleeves certainly helps my legs recover better after tough workouts. I experience more “pop” in my miles even when hard intervals or long tempo runs characterized my run early in the day. Once my Post Tib issues cleared up, the rest of my half marathon cycle last year proved strong and healthy.
Further, it may be part of my imagination, but my stride feels more efficient when I wear compression socks, probably since the tighter fit mitigates any shifting or moving in the skin. I’m not sure if any science backs this claim, but my body enjoys the feeling of a warm sock hug around my calves at any rate. On the same token, my legs fatigue much less quickly during long runs and my calves experience less tightness and soreness after.
So many good reasons to try compression socks! Pro Compression offers three lengths: knee-high, mid-calf, and feet only, as well as sleeves that cover solely the calf.
I featured Pro Compression in my Holiday Gift Guide, and the brand is running tons of sales for the winter season! Their Instagram page offers special codes for deals as well, so it’s certainly worth giving them a follow in order to receive word on these amazing discounts.
Have you tried compression socks? What do you think about them?
