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 but I feel it might be possible if I train correctly.So I had a look through the various running gadgets and bits and pieces that Ive been sent over the last few months, and there was one that I meant to use around the London Marathon but didnt get around to: the Hyperice Vyper (well, technically the Hyperice Vyper 2.0).Hyperice Vyper sample provided by WiggleThis thing is unbelievable. It may look like a basic foam roller, but its one of the greatest bits of running tech Ive ever used. You can just use it as a roller, but that avoids one of the best bits of it: the fact that this thing vibrates, delivering a deeper, more complete post-run recovery.What is a foam rollerIf youve never used one before, a foam roller is a solid cylinder of foam that you place a tired leg muscle on, lower your weight onto said muscle, and roll it back and forth.For the uninitiated, the rolling can make you cry with pain if youre really stiff but annoyingly does actually help release said muscles.There are three levels of vibration, with the first a relatively modest rumble. This setting is good for beginners (as I found out when showing one new runner this) because the feeling of using a vibrating roller for the first time is weird enough, so simpler is definitely better.Then you can crank thing up a notch and go to level two. This is like a deep tickle, the muscles getting jiggled around in a targeted way, and you can definitely feel the depth of the vibration going deeper.If you ever own the Hyperice Vyper, youll never spend time in these first two modes after day one. Trust me, head to level three and youll be greeted with something like a bucking bronco fused with a recovery aid.My god, its wonderful though. It not only delivers a really deep and refreshing release of the muscles, but it also seems to reduce the amount of pain a roller usually brings.I think thats more down to how distracting this thing is though, as its actually quite hard to keep it under control.Turn it on before placing a body part on it, and youll find that its moving around a lot on the floor (watching it bouncing around a hard floor being quite entertaining to watch it scares the living daylights out of a pet thats just wandered in though).Even when youve locked the Vyper under a limb, its still trying to escape, such is the power of the motor inside. I often had to readjust during a roll, and sometimes found Id slowly made my way across the room trying to chase the bouncy cylinder.Its also so loud. Like, you cant really use this with thin walls or floors - it can be heard so easily just by itself, and when you're rolling on it you're forcing the vibrations into the floor.Hyperice Vyper sample provided by WiggleThis was actually something of an issue as it limited the time I could roll - I sometimes enjoyed a night run and didnt feel comfortable using it when I got in, lest I wake the neighbours.I should probably mention the cost: the Hyperice Vyper cost is a rather high 150 / $199, which will seem eye-watering for some and is clearly a significant investment in your running recovery.Heres the thing though: if youre training for a marathon or brutalizing your legs in some other way, its utterly worth it.The reason Im so effusive about this is that it makes my legs feel magical after each run - I actually look forward to using it at the end of a hard tempo run.The only tough thing, when Ive pushed myself hard, is the effort required to hold myself up while rolling it under my calf or thigh - but that aside, it feels wonderful.Hyperice Vyper sample provided by WiggleIt feels like someone has gone inside my legs and taken a cold hose to each muscle, freeing it from its tense prison - Ive never experienced anything like it, even with a post-race massage.Perhaps some of the feeling comes from the fact its such a novelty and it might be less cool in the future - but I cant see that if it keeps my legs feeling good under heavy mileage load.The battery life is pretty good too - it takes a few hours to charge the Hyperice Vyper up from dead, but Ive been able to port it around with me and not worry about the charge level for days on end.This feels like the ultimate big gift for a runner at Christmas or on their birthday - yes, its an investment, but think of it the same way you might about trainers and it starts to make sense.Perhaps try and have a go on one first though, because it really is a weird sensation7a9HSMvAV2svf8VYnj5Nyj.gif# ){kind=spacer}
Hello you lovely people - its been a long time since weve spoken, I feel.
Thats partly because Ive been a bit lazy with running, just chugging along with training idly, and Ive not been testing things as often.However, Ive now started training for the Abingdon Marathon in October this year, and I really, really want to try to trickle under three hours for this one.
Yes, thats the Holy Grail for so many marathon runners, and its a bit jump for me (my previous best has been 3:09) but I feel it might be possible if I train correctly.So I had a look through the various running gadgets and bits and pieces that Ive been sent over the last few months, and there was one that I meant to use around the London Marathon but didnt get around to: the Hyperice Vyper (well, technically the Hyperice Vyper 2.0).Hyperice Vyper sample provided by WiggleThis thing is unbelievable.
It may look like a basic foam roller, but its one of the greatest bits of running tech Ive ever used.
You can just use it as a roller, but that avoids one of the best bits of it: the fact that this thing vibrates, delivering a deeper, more complete post-run recovery.What is a foam rollerIf youve never used one before, a foam roller is a solid cylinder of foam that you place a tired leg muscle on, lower your weight onto said muscle, and roll it back and forth.For the uninitiated, the rolling can make you cry with pain if youre really stiff but annoyingly does actually help release said muscles.There are three levels of vibration, with the first a relatively modest rumble.
This setting is good for beginners (as I found out when showing one new runner this) because the feeling of using a vibrating roller for the first time is weird enough, so simpler is definitely better.Then you can crank thing up a notch and go to level two.
This is like a deep tickle, the muscles getting jiggled around in a targeted way, and you can definitely feel the depth of the vibration going deeper.If you ever own the Hyperice Vyper, youll never spend time in these first two modes after day one.
Trust me, head to level three and youll be greeted with something like a bucking bronco fused with a recovery aid.My god, its wonderful though.
It not only delivers a really deep and refreshing release of the muscles, but it also seems to reduce the amount of pain a roller usually brings.I think thats more down to how distracting this thing is though, as its actually quite hard to keep it under control.Turn it on before placing a body part on it, and youll find that its moving around a lot on the floor (watching it bouncing around a hard floor being quite entertaining to watch it scares the living daylights out of a pet thats just wandered in though).Even when youve locked the Vyper under a limb, its still trying to escape, such is the power of the motor inside.
I often had to readjust during a roll, and sometimes found Id slowly made my way across the room trying to chase the bouncy cylinder.Its also so loud.
Like, you cant really use this with thin walls or floors - it can be heard so easily just by itself, and when you're rolling on it you're forcing the vibrations into the floor.Hyperice Vyper sample provided by WiggleThis was actually something of an issue as it limited the time I could roll - I sometimes enjoyed a night run and didnt feel comfortable using it when I got in, lest I wake the neighbours.I should probably mention the cost: the Hyperice Vyper cost is a rather high 150 / $199, which will seem eye-watering for some and is clearly a significant investment in your running recovery.Heres the thing though: if youre training for a marathon or brutalizing your legs in some other way, its utterly worth it.The reason Im so effusive about this is that it makes my legs feel magical after each run - I actually look forward to using it at the end of a hard tempo run.The only tough thing, when Ive pushed myself hard, is the effort required to hold myself up while rolling it under my calf or thigh - but that aside, it feels wonderful.Hyperice Vyper sample provided by WiggleIt feels like someone has gone inside my legs and taken a cold hose to each muscle, freeing it from its tense prison - Ive never experienced anything like it, even with a post-race massage.Perhaps some of the feeling comes from the fact its such a novelty and it might be less cool in the future - but I cant see that if it keeps my legs feeling good under heavy mileage load.The battery life is pretty good too - it takes a few hours to charge the Hyperice Vyper up from dead, but Ive been able to port it around with me and not worry about the charge level for days on end.This feels like the ultimate big gift for a runner at Christmas or on their birthday - yes, its an investment, but think of it the same way you might about trainers and it starts to make sense.Perhaps try and have a go on one first though, because it really is a weird sensation7a9HSMvAV2svf8VYnj5Nyj.gif#
