{"id":620234,"date":"2026-04-22T03:37:22","date_gmt":"2026-04-22T03:37:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/620234\/"},"modified":"2026-04-22T03:37:22","modified_gmt":"2026-04-22T03:37:22","slug":"im-a-marathoner-and-this-7-accessory-is-my-secret-to-faster-recovery-after-runs","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/620234\/","title":{"rendered":"I’m a marathoner, and this $7 accessory is my secret to faster recovery after runs"},"content":{"rendered":"

The most important thing you can do to boost your recovery in between runs is to simply rest, something that\u2019s often not as easy to do as you\u2019d hope when you have other responsibilities to attend to.<\/p>\n

Along with resting, taking an active approach to your recovery can also help, and there are different ways you can go about this, from getting sports massages or doing yoga to using a massage gun <\/a>or foam roller<\/a> at home.<\/p>\n

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Even as a very keen runner who\u2019s usually marathon training, I\u2019m often guilty of neglecting most of the above, and judging by my conversations with other runners, I\u2019m far from alone in this.<\/p>\n

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I have a lot of recovery accessories and gadgets at home, and most of them are gathering dust in a corner, but one tool that I do use almost every day is a massage ball for my feet.<\/p>\n

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\"Lululemon\n<\/p>\n

(Image credit: Future)<\/p>\n

Massage balls are one of the cheaper tools you can use to support your body as a runner, and actually, you don\u2019t even need to invest in a specialist ball if you have golf balls at home already, because I\u2019ve used those in the past.<\/p>\n

The ball I use now is part of a set of three from Lululemon that costs $28, but since I don\u2019t use the larger balls at all, I\u2019d probably get a small one with spikes, which seems to increase the benefits of rolling.<\/p>\n

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Compared with the price you pay for a massage gun or even a foam roller, a massage ball is a relatively affordable purchase that I\u2019ve used a lot more than any gun or roller I\u2019ve had, and it\u2019s also more portable and easier to store.<\/p>\n

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Benefits of massage balls <\/p>\n

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(Image credit: Shutterstock)<\/p>\n

Just like foam rollers, massage balls provide self-myofascial release, just in a more targeted manner.<\/p>\n

They can be used to ease the symptoms of plantar fasciitis, a common running injury I have suffered with in the past, but I use them now to reduce the painful foot cramps I get after runs when I\u2019m doing a lot of mileage, especially when marathon training.<\/p>\n

If I forget to roll my feet, these cramps often come on late in the day, but if I roll my feet for 60 seconds on each, I rarely get the cramps.<\/p>\n

What to read next<\/p>\n

Massage balls relieve tension in the arch of the foot and increase circulation to that area as well. They\u2019re a cheap and effective tool and easy to use \u2014 just stand on the ball and roll it around the arch of your foot.<\/p>\n

It might not be the solution to all your problems, and if you\u2019re suffering from severe plantar fasciitis, a physio visit will certainly be more useful than a massage ball. But if you\u2019re a keen runner, it\u2019s an accessory worth having, given the low investment and high potential upside.<\/p>\n

Follow Tom’s Guide fitness<\/a> on Instagram for more workouts, routines, tips, and tricks.<\/p>\n

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