We asked the question earlier, “Do pampering and hard core workouts go together?” Think about it. Whether it's spending time outside in the elements or inside a gym, hard workouts can wreak havoc on your skin. Sweat, sun, wind and dirt can all impact how you feel after your workout.

With all of these activities come a lot of showers, ice baths and sunscreen. Your hard workouts and months of training also facilitate dry skin, oily skin and sensitive skin. Not to mention sore muscles. Oh… those sore muscles! So the answer is YES, athletes like you need pampering and need it often.

Race and Recover products are designed for athletes. We have three lines to meet the specific needs of those people who feel life is best lived off the couch.

How we got started

Thanks for visiting the Race and Recover web site. I would like to share with you how I got the idea for this business and why it is so important to me.

Since childhood, my husband has always been athletic. But it is more than that…he has been really good at anything he tries. Team sports, individual events – you name it and he can do it well. I remember when he trained for his first marathon. I truly did not have a clue as to the mental fortitude and strength required to run 26.2 miles. He used a training guide from a magazine and trained completely on his own. He changed his diet and his sleep habits and finished that marathon strong with a big smile on his face.

Me…I am not athletic like my husband. I like working out and I really like being outside but I never considered myself an athlete. Over the last 5 years or so I have been stepping out of my comfort zone and exploring various aspects of exercise and fitness. I am what is affectionately known as a “back of the packer.” I do give it my all, I have a lot of heart but I am typically in the bottom 20% of any race or activity. I am improving and as I said, I try really hard.

I joined a military boot camp style fitness group several years ago. Let me tell you – this was completely out of my comfort zone and one of the greatest things I have ever done for myself or my family. Be it crab crawling, bear walking, running, climbing, human chains, human towers, push ups, pull ups, sit ups, more push ups, etc…all of this was new to me, really scary and incredibly exciting. The group meets every morning before dawn and is led by an ex-Navy SEAL who is not afraid to dish out the pain. Even though he is what I would consider hard core, he also threw in some humor and was incredibly patient with the “slow” ones.

During the course of working out with this group each morning I experienced adventures I never even imagined. I also found out about new muscles I never knew I had and learned how hard it is to raise your arms to blow dry your hair after 100 push ups. I ached a lot and often. But as I said, it encouraged me to step out of my comfort zone and I saw that as an awesome opportunity.

I started doing 5k races and 10k races with other team members. Then my 7 year old daughter did a 5k with me. (I could not keep up with her but she waited for me so we could cross the finish line together) Then I did my first sprint triathlon. It was so much fun! Somewhere along the way, a bunch of us “back of the packers” decided it would be fun to train for a marathon. The ironic thing is that 3 miles was still a struggle for me but what the heck…26.2 couldn’t be that bad.

The city of Richmond, VA has an amazing training program for the Richmond SunTrust Marathon (voted the country’s most friendly marathon). I trained for 6 months with 500 other people to accomplish this audacious goal. We started with 3 miles and worked up to 20 miles. The thought was that if we could do 20, we surely could finish the race.

Let me tell you…I was a zombie most Saturday afternoons after my long runs. I would first soak in an ice bath, then a warm shower, then crawl in bed for as long as my husband and kids would allow me. Around dinner time I would be conscious enough to pop some more pain relievers and sip on a glass of wine. By Sunday, I was better mentally but I could barely walk. My husband was incredibly supportive during all of this – my training was certainly a sacrifice for the entire family.

All of this happened week after week. My other “back of the packers” were in the same boat. We all chatted about which pain reliever each other took, if someone had really dry skin from too many showers or a bad break out from sweating so much. We talked about remedies, salves, balms, bath products, skin care…we were willing to do and share what ever would make us feel better.

Then I realized something really important – it wasn’t just us “slow” folks who ached and had these concerns, the really great runners did too. We all pushed ourselves during these long runs. We were all trying to improve and see what we were capable of. It wasn’t just because I was slow…or old, or a little heavier than I would like to be.

That is when I decided to do something…I wanted to create a company where I could provide products that make athletes feel better after a really intense workout. Be it a bath oil with scents of lavender, or a muscle balm with an anti-inflammatory, or a body wash with eucalyptus or anti-aging products for those of us out in the sun and exposed to the elements. I may not be able to help you during your run, bike, climb, swim, paddle, etc...but I can make you feel better afterwards.

And yes, I did complete the Marathon and I am currently training for
another. It was a great experience and I am so excited to be training again.

That is how Race and Recover was started. I hope you enjoy the products and I would certainly appreciate your feedback.

Please reach out to me at mandy@raceandrecover.com and share your athletic story. (please include a phone number and a photo) Each month I will be highlighting one of our customers and your experiences could be just the motivation another athlete needs!