Welcome to Trail Tested, a new monthly column from entrepreneur and athlete Jack Espy as he trains for the grueling Leadville 100 ultramarathon this August. Trail Tested will follow Jack along his journey to do his first 100-miler to see what his body is capable of and what his mind can endure. Throughout his training he’ll be giving us a rundown of gear he’s been putting to the limit.
TRAINING FOR A 100-mile ultramarathon is no joke—especially when it’s the legendary Leadville 100 through the high altitude passes of Colorado with over 15,000 feet of total elevation gain. My weekly workout regimen is very consistent: I lift four days a week and run five days.
I’m about 24 weeks out from Leadville and in the middle phase of training, logging roughly 50 miles a week. I just came off a 50k race, and there are definitely days when I am extremely sore—my legs and lower back are feeling it. But that is part of the process. So recovery is crucial to what I’m going after.
The foundation of my recovery is rest. Getting eight plus hours of sleep every night is non-negotiable, especially with the training load I’m carrying. On top of that, I layer in compression boots, magnesium and epsom salt baths, saunas (game changer) when I have access, and ice baths.
I have been mixing in the Nike x Hyperice Hyperboots recently and they’ve been a great tool for post-run recovery. What I love most is that I can wear them while cooking dinner, doing chores around the house, or taking my dog out. They fit naturally into my everyday routine, which is rare because many recovery tools require a time commitment. And I don’t have much free time to spare.
What I Like
The Hyperice x Nike recovery shoes have been an awesome addition to my routine. I love the compression and overall usability because you can get meaningful recovery in while doing everyday tasks, walking around, and going about your day. The heat feature really surprised me since it gets hotter than I expected and does an incredible job loosening up the muscles in your feet before or after a tough training session.
Jack enjoying the Hyperboots while relaxing.
After big races, the area of my body that needs the most recovery is my feet. In these long-distance races, you can be on your feet for anywhere from five to thirty hours, so making sure they are properly cared for is crucial. The Hyperboots do an incredible job digging deep to relieve tension in the sides of my feet as well as my ankles, which took a beating. The heat feature helped fully relax them.
What to Watch Out for
I have used the Hyperice Normatec 3 Legs and the Therabody Jetboots Pro Plus, and these devices really build up and offer a comprehensive compression session. The Hyperboots however don’t provide the same sort of intensity, which is to be expected. Hyperice products usually ramp up compression better than competitors, and while these boots dig deep into the muscles, I did not get quite that same intensity from the shoes.
The Hyperboots allow for compression work while still doing everyday tasks.
I also wish the boots had a way to target the bottom of the feet. They do an excellent job working the ankles and sides of the feet, but with the amount of running I am doing, the area that needs the most attention is the bottom of my feet. Unfortunately, the Hyperboots do not currently address that zone, and that would be a game changer.
Verdict
The Hyperboots are a great recovery option that fits seamlessly into a busy schedule, which is exactly why I love them. I am constantly on the go running two companies, and I can easily throw them on during meetings, while making lunch, or even when I am reading. While there are some shortcomings (you’re never going to get full compression boots benefits out of these), for runners (and for those looking to target feet specifically) they make it simple to prioritize recovery without having to pause your day.
About the Author
Jack Espy is the founder of Strive Soda and Spirited Hive. He is currently in the midst of a 50-week training regimen with coach Duncan Callahan (two time Leadville 100 winner). His current run mileage is 50 miles per week (typically including one speed day, two recovery runs, one threshold session, and one long run) and his strength training (four days a week) focuses on full body movements to hit every muscle group. Nine months ago he could barely run five miles before challenging himself to tackling the Leadville 100. Now his current mile pace is 9:50 while he’s finished races like the Dead Horse 30k, the San Diego Trail Marathon, and the Black Canyon 50k. His current favorite road shoe is Saucony Endorphin 5 Speed and his current favorite trail shoe is the Hoka Speedgoat.
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