Ricky & Recovery | HCC Journal 10

Hailing from the West Coast of Cumbria, you may already be familiar with HCC Ambassador, Ricky Lightfoot. Ricky has achieved incredible feats of endurance while competing on the world stage during his elusive career. Ricky became hooked on running as a teenager, despite having a somewhat disastrous first race, getting lost on course to finish 20 minutes after everyone else, while covered in mud and sheep sh*t.

We catch up with Ricky this month to uncover his plans for 2022.

- So, what's on the running cards for 2022?

I've not got a great deal lined up in 2022 just yet. There are a few races from 2020, which I still have entries for, so if things get back to normal this year, I'll be doing some of those; Trail Marathon Wales and Man Vs Horse Marathon.

- Which event will you be most excited about?

I have a relay event coming up, which I'm looking forward to. It's a 24hr relay on a track where 4 of us each run 6x 1hr slots for 24 hours. It'll be something totally different for me which excites me and makes me nervous all at the same time.

- What does a typical training session look like for you?

It depends on what I'm training for, but it can be anything from speed sessions to hill reps and long runs on the fells.

- How has using HCC's CBD products helped with your training and day-to-day life?

After a hard session, my body really struggles to switch off; using CBD Oil regularly helps me switch off at night and get better quality sleep. Sleep is a really important part of recovery, and the better sleep you get, the better you'll feel for the next day's training - It's been a game-changer.

- Arguably the most important question of all: As a self-proclaimed Ice Cream connoisseur, what's your favourite flavour?

Haha, that's a good one. I honestly love all flavours, but if I were to pick one or two, it would be vanilla or pistachio. But, it's got to be a good one; not many companies make a good vanilla ice cream, in my opinion!

We wish Ricky the best of luck with his training and events this year. Don't forget to give him a follow on Instagram so you can keep updated with his efforts too!

To ensure your mind and body get the most from your workout, you should have a strong recovery plan in place. Implementing a good recovery plan helps reduce DOMS, hasten the healing of muscles, and promote healthy blood circulation. We've put together a quick and simple guide to get your recovery plan on track.

Of course, this is by no means a comprehensive bible of recovery aids, but it's a good start. If you'd like to learn more about recovery techniques and what works best for you, have a chat with a healthcare professional.

#1 Drink plenty of water.

In addition to drinking water before and during your workout, drinking water afterwards helps compensate for water loss through sweating. Drinking water will stave off dehydration and help to regulate your body temperature.

#2 Stretching.

Stretching is a great way to keep your muscles supple and reduce the build-up of Lactic acid created from working out. You also help your heart rate return to normal through stretching while promoting healthy blood flow. And lastly, post-exercise stretches prevent tightening of the muscles and the chances of injury while remaining flexible and toned.

#3 Eat well.

Your body uses a lot of energy when exercising. So, not only do you need to replenish your glycogen reserves, but your body needs the right kind of foods to help repair and grow your muscles. It's suggested that you should consume both carbohydrates and protein within two hours of finishing a training session.

#4 Rest and relax.

Exercising puts your mind and body through a lot. Your body is put under physical stress while your head is swimming in huge floods of adrenaline, cortisol, Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor and more. Giving yourself quality rest and sleep allows your body to repair and develop your mind processes and reset its chemical levels.

#5 HCC CBD.

Quality CBD has been proven to help reduce muscle inflammation and pain, making it an ideal recovery aid for your body. Even more so, by coupling this with CBD's power to promote quality sleep, you can benefit from boosting the rest element of your recovery process. And these are just the recovery benefits of regularly using CBD. Head over to Hill Country Collective to learn more about how CBD can improve your quality of life.