As a runner, sooner-or-later you are going to incur an injury, whether it’s a bad sunburn, shin splints or a twisted ankle. I’ve found having the following on hand minimizes the liklihood of pain.
Sunscreen: This is really, really important. I never, ever wore it in my younger days and now I pay for it in the form of brown spots and freckles. I keep sunscreen in my car, my gym bag, my purse and my diaper bag. I buy small tubes of sweatproof 30 +. Don’t forget about your back!!! I buy spray-on sunscreen so I can get my backside, which is where I’ve accumulated most of my sun damage.
Ibuprofen: This is a key drug in reducing inflammation and soreness should you pull a muscle or feel the wrath or a difficult workout. I have no brand allegiance.
Peas: I’ve found these little green veggies to be the best ice pack around. It’s cheap, easy and you can eat them later. They are also malleable, so you can scrunch a bag under your knee to kill pain or roll a bag across your shins if you’ve got shin splints.
Epsom Salt: This is my go-to when my muscles ache. Epsom Salt comes in a crystalized form that you can pore into a bath. It soothes sore muscles.
Heat packs: I usually stock various sizes of icy/hot peel and stick strips. These therapeutic strips stick to the skin and deliver heat to tired muscles. They come in different shapes and sizes depending on the body part you are trying to heal. DO NOT PUT THESE ON AT NIGHT AND SLEEP WITH THEM!!! I did this once and my skin was on fire the next day. They are meant for short (4 hour) compressions.
