Using Compex on the road to Ironman Kona

The world’s hardest endurance test, the Ironman World Championship, starts this month in Kailua-Kona, Hawaii. On October 11, more than 2,000 high-performance athletes will test their limits during the 140.6-mile journey under the scorching sun and among the beauty that is Kona. We’re happy to announce that four Compex sponsored athletes will be racing in the Ironman: Mirinda Carfrae, Timothy O’Donnell, TJ Tollakson and Dr. Amanda Stevens.

We had some time to chat with 2006 Ironman World Champion, Michellie Jones, about her racing history and how Compex has helped her along the way to Ironman victory. As a professional athlete for more than 25 years, Michellie has found longevity and strength in career because she’s a firm believer in investing in yourself and spending ample time in rest and recovery.

Taking Rest and Recovery Seriously

Michellie has been a Compex believer and user since 1995 and says the electro muscle stimulation doesn’t take away from training, but rather enhances it. “It’s not all about taking care of yourself in terms of diet and training for an Ironman,” she says. “But you always have to take rest and recovery very seriously.”

Using Compex is simple and easy and you can do it while watching TV or sitting at a desk, “The strength program is brilliant because the machine is producing energy, not your body,” she says. Michellie uses Compex before, during and after training. For instance, she’ll start her mornings with the pre-warm up setting to get her blood circulating before a workout. After an interval training workout, she’ll use Compex again to speed up recovery and flush lactic acid.

Benefits of using Compex as an Endurance Athlete

If you’re using Compex because you’re a professional sports player, endurance athlete, or just the average person, you already know how much Compex has changed the way you perform and recover. Michellie believes endurance athletes can benefit from Compex because it enhances your recovery at all levels.

“After using Compex during recovery, you’ll be able to reach a consistent, high level of training on your next workout,” she says. “The removal of lactic acid speeds up recovery and the increase of blood flow enhances recovery. Compex is an amazing, cool, portable device and it should always be in your training bag.”

Training for a demanding athlete feat can leave you feeling uneasy or anxious and Compex helps to enhance your mood by stimulating your endorphins. Michellie uses the Recovery Plus mode often to flush muscles and feels much better after use. “It’s amazing how good you feel.”

Using Compex during Training

When Michellie was using Compex while training for Ironman, she would start her regimen six weeks before the race. One day she would use the Compex strength program on her abs, or her quads, or any other areas of her body that needed extra stimulation.

“The majority of athletes have used a TENS unit during rehab or a chiropractor appointment for pain relief,” she says. “Compex is so much more complex than a TENS device. Muscles are contracted and depending on the Compex mode, the muscle is held for varying amounts of time depending on the program purpose. The Strength mode feels completely different from the Recovery Plus mode. For the Strength modes you are not restricted by range of motion so your Compex device can activate the entire length of the muscle.”

Michellie also says that one of the hardest parts of training for an Ironman is actually getting to the start line injury-free. Training can be grueling and you want to be in the best possible shape. “It doesn’t matter if you’re a pro or what age group you’re in,” she says. “Recovery is part of your training for an Ironman and is part of the whole picture.” While everyone has a slightly different journey to Ironman, the finish line is everyone’s goal.

Using Compex Daily

Like most endurance athletes, Michellie works out frequently at about six to seven times a week. She recommends using the device as often as every day to keep blood flowing and circulating.

“I’m getting on a long flight tonight and plan on using Compex on the plane to keep my blood circulating,” she says. “There are so many things you can do with it and it’s not just for use with an injury. It will benefit you even if you don’t work out.”

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Good luck to our Compex Ironman athletes and to all of the Ironman Kona participants!