Why recovery is essential

Endurance sports place a heavy strain on muscles and joints, session after session. It is during rest periods, rather than during exertion, that the body consolidates the work put in. Without these times, fatigue piles up without reaping the benefits.

• Consolidate progress the fibres worked during training repair and strengthen during rest.
• Reduce the risk of injury accumulated fatigue in the muscles and joints creates ideal conditions for injuries.
• Maintain hormonal balance over-training without adequate rest disrupts this balance, particularly regarding cortisol.
• To go the distance mental freshness matters just as much as physical fitness over a whole season.

How to recover properly

Sleep first

It is the cornerstone, and by far. Aim for 7 to 9 hours a night, at consistent times. It is during sleep that the body dedicates the most resources to its recovery.

The power supply next

After a session, combine proteins for the muscles, carbohydrates to replenish glycogen stores and good fats. And drink regularly throughout the day, not just during exercise.

Active recovery

Easy days are not wasted days. Walking, gentle cycling, quiet swimming: the idea is to get things moving without aggression, keeping the intensity low.

Listen to one's body

Poor sleep, flagging motivation, heavy legs that drag: these are indicators to be taken seriously. If you are tracking your heart rate variability (HRV), look at the trend over several days rather than an isolated value.

The place of IAKOTA products

IAKOTA mattress toppers and sleep masks are designed to accompany the night, that time when the body rests for the longest period. Minoxis technology combines two passive physical mechanisms: the reflection of infrared rays naturally emitted by the body and earthing. Without electronics, without an energy source, and without any active substance.

In endurance sports, gains are not only made in training but also in the hours that follow. Eating well, hydrating properly, taking it easy when necessary and above all sleeping well: this is the foundation. IAKOTA products fit right in, discreetly, night after night.