Friday, April 22, 2011

Copper Recovery (giveaway)

Get ready folks...it's time to start rolling out some new and exciting stuff which, of course includes some fun giveaways!

First up?
One of my (new) FAVORITE things:




Several weeks ago I was contacted by Jordan at Tommie Copper about doing a blog review and giveaway. I am a fan of compression garments but this was a whole NEW twist on the concept of any traditional compression product I have used:

Until now, compression wear was designed primarily for athletes to be worn for short periods of time to increase performance, enhance recovery and alleviate pain.
Today everyone can tap into these benefits with Tommie Copper's Cu29 Copper Compression products. The product line is enhanced with copper infused yarn and engineered to be worn all day, everyday. It acts as a support to aching joints and muscles, and delivers the benefits of copper at the point of your discomfort.


Unlike ordinary, bulky compression wear, Tommie Copper is made from a revolutionary, proprietary fabric.



Tommie Copper offers several options:


-Ankle
-Calf
-Knee
-Elbow
-Ladies and Mens compression shirts
-Ladies and Mens compression gloves






Deciding which type of compression garment to test was an easy choice; with the amount of running, biking and weight training I has on my training plan, I was going for the calf sleeves.

Do you remember back in January when I started going to Jared at OAPT and we changed a lot of my running bio mechanics (you can read about it here)? Well in my case, we eliminated the heel strike from my running and now I run using a mid-foot strike--the results mean the muscles that are now being used to RUN really engage the calves and the hamstrings. After long runs or hard runs, I would notice some soreness and tenderness especially in the calf.

I am skeptical about claims of magnetic bracelets for this ailment or those hologram bracelets for balance etc. so I was not really sure how copper infused fabrics would help with recovery. But, I really wanted to keep an open mind on this review and decided to give this test a full two weeks.

I received my package from Tommie Copper with two (very good looking) calf sleeves and I was immediately taken aback by how light, soft and silky the fabric was! This was nothing like the compression fabrics I had felt before.

So for the next two weeks, after each workout I would wear my calf sleeves for several hours. There were a couple workouts where my legs were really fatigued so I would wear them longer or even overnight to bed. They were so comfortable that I did not notice that they were even on.

I take an indoor cycling class on Tuesday mornings and starting a couple weeks ago, the class focus shifted to form based classes with lots of drills. These drills include one foot pedaling and candence drills. For those of you who are triathletes or cyclists, you know that spinning at 120+ rpm is a killer workout on the legs--especially when done with proper form. So, I started wearing my sleeves to class.



I was really pleased with the results I was seeing. My calf fatigue was MINIMAL and I found my recovery was a lot quicker. The only "problem" with this?
My calves felt great but the other leg muscles were not quite at "happy" (ie quads, hammies, glutes, hip flexors). I tweeted to Tommie Copper about this and I was told that some compression shorts are in the works! (Totally getting a pair once they do!!)

I gotta say the biggest test of the Tommie Copper sleeves came unexpectedly.

Last Saturday, my bestie Dawn and I got out for a 7 mile trail run on a cold, windy day. I am new to trail running so I am still learning my way around a tree root. I also wore an older pair of running shoes because I did not want to destroy some of my newer kicks with mud (yes, vain--I know). When I returned home from this run, I noticed I had a pain in a shin muscle. This pain was very reminiscent of the shin pain I suffered last summer and shut my running down for several weeks.

I put on the calf sleeves right away and wore them the rest of the afternoon and to bed that night.
I woke the next morning to ZERO pain, no soreness, nothing. My shin felt good as new. It was at that moment that I was totally sold on these calf sleeves. Just the difference in the muscle recovery between my upper leg and lower leg while wearing the sleeves was enough to convince me that they were working BUT this once incident sealed the deal for me.

So why Tommie Copper compression?
-their copper infused compression garments stimulate conductivity direct to the muscle
-increases circulation
-reduces inflammation

and they are MADE IN THE USA!!

I am so happy to share the Tommie Copper love with all of my readers and here is a chance to get YOUR OWN Tommie Copper product!

How to do you enter for a chance to win your own Tommie Copper compression garment?

First, you MUST be a follower of my blog!
If you are not already a follower, go ahead and click the FOLLOW button on the right.

Then there are four ways to earn an entry-
Please leave a separate comment for each entry!

1) Like Tommie Copper on Facebook and tell them Jen from Miles Muscles & Mommyhood sent you. Tell them which compression item you would pick and why!

2) Follow Tommie Copper on Twitter and tweet about this giveaway.
Please include @milesmusclesmom and @TommieCopper in your tweet!

3) Visit the Tommie Copper website and sign up for their newsletter--be the first to know when they officially launch!

4) Leave me a comment telling me which sleeve you would pick and/or a time when you wish you had some compression gear to help YOU!

I will accept entries until Saturday, May 1st at midnight and then a winner will be selected at random from all eligible entries.

Disclosure: I was sent this product by Tommie Copper for my honest review and did not receive any type of compensation for my positive review. All opinions expressed here are my own, and those of my happy calves.

64 comments:

Meredith said...

OH WOW! This is really cool!

I would love calf sleeves. My outer calf gets quite tight. It is because I midfoot strike, and because I am just starting out. I stretch a lot, but it still gets tight, so these would be really cool. :)

Meredith said...

Like them on facebook. :) told them you sent me.

Meredith said...

Tweeted it -- mduke722

Anonymous said...

I follow you!

Anonymous said...

I signed up for the newsletter...

Anonymous said...

I would love some compression shorts! I teach spin, run and cycle....I need them! :-)
THanks for the chance

Finallyfit2011 said...

It pays to wake up early ha ha! I'm the 1st to enter your giveaway :) I follow u!!!

Finallyfit2011 said...

I liked Tommy Copper on fb & told them you sent me over!

Finallyfit2011 said...

Signed up for Tommy Copper newsletter!!!

Finallyfit2011 said...

I would totally pick the compression socks because right now, as I am just starting out, my legs sure do get to crampin'!!! If these help as much as you say they do I'd be in heaven! :) :)

Beth said...

I'm having knee issues right now, I would love to try the knee compression!!

Unknown said...

I've recently been thinking about finding some compression shorts and calf sleeves. I have calf tightness which of course affects my feet so I'm trying to be real conscious now. Would love a pair!!!

Teamarcia said...

Follower of course! I'd love to try the calf sleeves as I had a major achilles prob pre-Boston last year and it still haunts me.

Teamarcia said...

I like TC on FB and left them a message

Kiley said...

I'm a follower

Kiley said...

I really want to try the calf sleeves...my soleus muscle is always tired & sore on my long runs. That's when I would try it out (on my long long runs)

Cassie said...

Love the review! Thanks for all your support!

StaceyL said...

Liked Tommie on facebook and told them you sent me!

StaceyL said...

Follow and tweeted on Twitter about you!

StaceyL said...

Signed up for the Tommie newsletter!

StaceyL said...

Following you! I would love to try the compression sleeves. Have been fighting injuries for two years and am just getting back into running. Currently have a different pair but not sure if I like them or not and would love to try these to see if I can improve this horrible leg pain! JUST WANT TO RUN!!!:)

Unknown said...

I follow you--liked TC on FB!

Paula - Running Mom of 5 said...

I like Tommie Copper on Facebook.

Paula - Running Mom of 5 said...

I visited the website and signed up for the newsletter.

Paula - Running Mom of 5 said...

I would love to try the knee compression sleeve.

CautiouslyAudacious said...

Hmm interesting concept might have to check it out!

Bob Mitera said...

Would love to try calf sleeves and shirt.

Thank you,

Coach Bob

Caroline said...

I like them on FACEBOOK and I posted the comment on their wall

Caroline said...

I am a follower

HD said...

Liked them on FB and commented :)

HD said...

Follow them on twitter and tweeted giveaway :)

HD said...

Signed up for their newsletter!

HD said...

I'd love to try out the calf sleeves! And pretty much everytime I've ran since I started running I wish I had compression gear, lol.

*~*~* Tracy said...

I'm a follower!

*~*~* Tracy said...

I like them on FB and wrote on their wall

*~*~* Tracy said...

I follow them on Twitter and tweeted (tracyrunning)

*~*~* Tracy said...

I would choose calf sleeves and they would have been wonderful to have for a very hilly half I ran in Oct

Unknown said...

I would love the calf sleeves!

Unknown said...

I'm a follower!

Unknown said...

I signed up for their newsletter.

Unknown said...

I would probably get the calf sleeves as well. They'd be great during runs and for recovery! :)

JennB said...

Like them on fb and told them you sent me.

Kristen said...

I 'like' Tommy Copper on facebook!

Kristen said...

Totally signed up for the newsletter!

Kristen said...

Now following them on Twitter!

Kristen said...

I would love the calf sleeves, though when then shorts come out, I'd like those even more!!!

ozone3 said...

Liked Tommie Cooper on FB & commented.

ozone3 said...

Signed up for the newsletter.

ozone3 said...

Would definitely pick the calf sleeves. When do I wish I had them??? 10 mile race in February...partially on concrete (which I usually run on) and partially on compressed gravel...by mile 8 my left calf had cramped up so badly I wasn't sure I would make it the rest of the way. Stopped/stretched/massaged the muscle and was able to make it, but the next day my calf muscle was EXTREMELY tight and sore!!

Penny said...

I follow

Penny said...

I like TOMMIE Copper on fb and left comment

Penny said...

I would love so compression shorts. After long runs it is my thighs that usually are killing me.

perrystrails said...

Great write up on the TommieCopper calf sleeves - loving them here too. So lite compared to other sleeves I've used. You don't even know they're there and neither is the pain!

kkells42 said...

I liked Tommie Copper on facebook and told them you sent me!! Thanks!

kkells42 said...

I would love relief from the ankle or knee compression sleeves; I bet they would help tremendously my hyperflexible joints! My muscles end up sore from my body trying to compensate for holding my joints in place, but I just can't stop running! I am very interested in what the compression shirts do! Having an uneven muscle on the upper left side of my spine (from slight scoliosis), running can sometimes tense that muscle up to the point where I can't breathe without someone rubbing the knot out; I am always looking for a fix! Thanks!

kkells42 said...

I signed up for the mailing list! Relief is on the way!

kkells42 said...

I follow you! This review is extremely helpful! I like that you put in your concerns and problems with the product as well as its benefits!

Stacie said...

I'm a follower!!!

Stacie said...

I like Tommie Copper on Facebook.

Stacie said...

I follow Tommie Copper on Twitter.

Stacie said...

I signed up for the Tommie Copper newsletter.

Stacie said...

I would LOVE to try the compression knee sleeves.

Alex said...

Calf sleeved, calf sleeves!!!!!!!

Kabekona Tri Girl said...

As a triathlete, I would totally go for the calf sleeves. in a heartbeat! :) I have some 2xus but they're not all the comfortable below my knees, so I Can't wear them that long.