Soaking the Soreness out

Disclaimer: I received Epsoak Epsom Salts as part of being a BibRave Pro. Learn more about becoming a BibRave Pro (ambassador), and check out BibRave.com to review find and write race reviews!

I've seen and heard a lot from other runners and athletes that Epsom salt soaks work wonders on your feet and muscles.  Of course I had never tried it because I just don't have time for everything.  I do what I can to balance my family, work and running but there's not always time to look into new running related items.  Which is why being a part of Bibrave is so great for me because there are always new products to try without me having to go do research or spend time figuring what to get, they just send it to me.

So in this case I was send a HUGE tub of Energizing Epsoak Sport which is a mix of Epsom salt with eucalyptus and peppermint essential oils.  I was intrigued because I just assumed all Epsom salt was the same however I quickly learned from the materials sent by San Francisco Salt Co (makers of Epsoak salts) that this is not true.  I also did not know why soaking in Epsom salt was helpful for a runner like myself.

As it turns out magnesium sulfate (salt) is a mineral that minimizes muscle cramps, increases recovery rates and decreases post workout slumps.  I didn't realize that it actually did stuff, I just thought it felt good and that's why people did it.  Look at that, learnin knew stuff!  In fact, the salt reduces swelling, gets rid of toxins that buildup during hard workouts or races and can even help prevent injuries by helping your body to recover better in between the torture sessions we inflict on it.  The Epsoak sports line is actually made of pure magnesium sulfate to ensure it has maximum effectiveness. 

There are 3 types of Sport salts offered by San Francisco Salt Company: Energizing (kind I got), Soothing and Pure Unscented.  As I mentioned Energizing has the addition of Eucalyptus and peppermint essential oils which not only smells lovely especially in a warm, soothing bath but also helps with deep muscle recovery.  The Soothing Salt is infused with lavender which helps with restoration and relaxation soaking.  I did not have the pleasure of smelling this one but I'm sure the Lavendar is wonderful to smell as well.  As you might assume the pure unscented is exactly what it sounds like just pure, plain salt which is perfect for those who are sensitive to different smells or perhaps too manly to soak in a scented salt ;-) 

Alright now that we all know why we should soak, does it really work?  Granted I only received this product a few weeks ago and therefore have only soaked a handful of times, I still do believe that it's helpful to muscle recovery.  I am currently working on becoming a faster marathon runner which let me tell you is absolute hell after only ultra training for over a year.  I haven't done any kind of serious speed workouts in probably 1.5 years and it really hurts to do them right now.  I feel like I'm just sore all the time lately.

This training cycle is kicking my ass!

The soak feels good while I'm in the tub but then it lasts.  My muscles definitely feel more relaxed and less sore for a day or two after the soak, I can tell it helps them to recover better from the trauma of the workouts I'm doing.  Of course, Emir wanted to check the salt out as well so I was nice and shared.  He agreed he felt better and more recovered after the soak as well.  We both also loved the smell of the eucalyptus and peppermint. 

If you are interested in trying it out for yourself, San Francisco Salt Co is currently having a sale on their website on the 5lb bags of salt.  You can also use the code RAVE10 to save an additional $10 on the 5lb bag, great deal!