Good to Go: What the Athlete in All of Us Can Learn from the Strange Science of Recovery

Athletes know in order to gain fitness, and improve performance, adequate recovery must take place between training sessions. And as the author points out, athletes are always looking for a new way to hasten recovery. The author seems to have the perfect mix of experience to write on this topic -- she has a degree in biology, has worked as a science journalist for many years, and is a long-time serious athlete.In a highly readable and witty manner, she first generally discusses the limitations on scientific studies (using as an example her own participation in a study if beer is a good recovery fluid) . This discussion is a very well done example of issues in studies she later discusses. She describe a bewildering variety of recovery modalities, devices and regimens (icing, salt baths, NSAIDS, stretching, recovery drinks, foam rolling, massage, meditation, sleep, protein supplements, etc, etc. etc.). She describes each of them, sometimes tries them herself for the first time ( e. g. sensory deprivation" floating salt bath), talks to coaches and athletes, discusses scientific studies which have evaluated the issue, and talks to leading experts in the field to get their opinion on the status of scientific knowledge. The text of the book is refreshingly almost free of scientific jargon, but her work is well-supported with almost 200 end notes of studies and her sources.I have to disagree with the one-star reviewer who seems to think that the book's only lesson is to be sure to get adequate sleep. The author's point is that sleep is of paramount importance (well documented scientifically), especially when compared to the various unproven, aggressively marketed fads. Yes, she does debunk, or at least "throw shade" on some recovery devices or rituals, but to me that is the most valuable service the book provides. Who doesn't want to stop wasting time and money on something that is unlikely to work?I think the author precisely reports the great uncertainty on many of these recovery issues. A lot is not known, and perhaps will never be known. Her honest reporting of the many uncertainties is a feature, not a bug. It provides a great education on what you should look at when considering recovery issues, and a very enlightening discussion of how marketing influences people's choices.Finally, she also discusses the psychological aspect of these issues, noting that some things seem to work for some people and not others. She discusses how and perhaps why people will not change their habits even in face of clear evidence that it does not work.In sum, this is a very valuable resource for any serious athlete. I have coached an adult marathon training program for many years now (and have run more than 50 marathons and ultras) and this is also a good resource for coaches, if nothing else, to recommend to your athletes.

Go read it, then read it again.

This book is dense, which is not a bad thing. I just think it could have been two books, or maybe fewer interviews in some chapters. I also think if I'd taken less time to read it, I'd have better tracked why she repeated some folks' input in different chapters.Aschwanden-a cyclist and runner who is a former competitive skier- was on a quest to explore the varied tools at athletes' disposal and which worked better, and/or how perceived "working" differed from science or blood work. She explored everything from Gatorade to NormaTec boots and talked to everyone from weekend warriors to former marathoner Ryan Hall. As a runner who swears by her epsom soaks and credits NormaTec sessions for better than expected marathon-recovery, I was curious to see what her research found. I also enjoyed how she explained the role in marketing in making us think we need things that science might not indicate. At the same time, she was clear to indicate that "studies" weren't always scientifically valid in their conclusions. Appreciated the mix of international coaches and scientists she spoke with.A good read.

You'd think it would be simple enough to judge a recovery modality -- does it work or doesn't it? Aha! It's not so simple, as this book explains (and makes interesting). The author has a strong grasp of the intricacies of sports science trials, which are tricky to design and to draw firm conclusions from -- her opening chapter, which describes her self-designed study of whether beer can aid recovery, provides a great example. My favorite parts of the book delved into the supplement industry's excesses and also the psychology of believing that something works, and how that alone can be helpful. And as another person who isn't naturally inclined to meditate, I am newly fascinated by float tanks as "forced meditation" and plan to float at my earliest possible convenience. Funny, informative, and entertaining to read; I am recommending this to all my sporty friends.

I heard the author being interviewed on Terry Gross's National Public Radio Show FRESH AIR and immediately ordered the book. It is a survey of a few of the recovery methods used by both professional teams and amateur athletes. The author describes personal trials of some of the more popular as well as some of the more expensive implements and modalities. The author is an accomplished runner many of the recovery methods are used by runners. There are plenty of anecdotes and interviews that make the book entertaining. Maybe not non-stop chuckles, but more than I expected.The book is not overly science-y with a lot of bio-chemical terms. My current training is at a local gym with weights and exercise bikes having destroyed my knees with running. For the science-y literature my go to text is DESIGNING RESISTANCE TRAINING PROGRAMS.

Love the information this author is shearing with with the readers. She is extremely excited

Bought this as a present for my husband. He has been working out, staying in shape, for decades but as time goes on, it can get tougher to heal when he "overdoes" on the working out or stretching. He is always interested in taking a scientific approach and also in keeping up with new health trends that seem sound. He is really enjoying reading this book. He finds her debunking of various sport recovery myths interesting and sound, and also likes the writing style, finds it an easy read.Youth can try anything, heal fast. But as you get older, you want to put your effort into methods that will actually work, both for staying in shape and for recovering from injuries, nagging issues, overuse. This book provides enlightenment.

Excelente recurso para todos aquellos que practican deporte, ya sea de manera profesional, amateur o recreativa

This book is anything but a book on how to recover from intense training. It is not even a good read.It is amazing what people will do to get you to buy their product.I want a refund

I wanted to order the HARDCOVER and mistakingly ordered the kindle. May be I be refunded since I ordered the HARDCOVER copy today.

Learn to listen and understand what your body is saying, know what to do about it — and then make sure you do it!

I loved this book: brilliantly written and science journalism at its best. I had thought I was up-to-date on sports science, but this book changed my approach to training and recovery. The author – a scientist and former elite athlete – investigates the evidence behind many of the common methods of sports recovery. Who knew this subject could be a page-turner? The author writes with honesty, humour and an engaging style. It starts with her own lab experiment to find out if beer can make you run faster and the sense of fun continues through the book.The book covers a wide range of recovery methods. Commons methods like compression clothing are covered as you'd expect, with a clear summary of how marketing claims stack up against the scientific evidence. So are more expensive methods like cryotherapy and it's interesting to know what's available to Olympic athletes. I thought I'd kept pace with sports science, but this book showed how much I'd missed and which things do more harm than good. In addition, this book gives the clearest explanation I’ve seen about how your state of mind can effect real biological changes.I've only one criticism: the book challenges the benefit of icing, because icing reduces inflammation and an inflammatory response is needed for recovery. Yet inflammation is long-recognised in sports medicine and widely studied. Sports physicians know this and know when to advise the use of ice. However, this is a minor criticism of an overall well-researched book.If you want to find out which recovery methods are snake oil, this is the book to read. You’ll finish the book with fewer recovery methods to use, but knowing these actually work. Perhaps more importantly, you’ll feel more relaxed about the whole subject of recovery – and raise a glass to thank the author. Cheers!An enjoyable read for weekend warriors and serious athletes alike. Highly recommended.