Stephanie told me that I could feel the benefits within a couple of hours and that they would last between 24 and 36 hours. While I’m not a fan of needles, it was quick and painless, and it was nice to have a reason to sit on the couch for an hour with nothing to do but chat. Interestingly, you may feel a sort of cooling sensation as the vitamins enter your body and taste them in your mouth from time to time. I started to notice the effects of energy and recovery when I got up and started moving. It was noticeably less creaky than usual the day after a race. (Stephanie says the service is popular in Chicago with everyone from famous athletes to Joe Schmos; even companies are getting on board with office parties.)
I then headed to the hotel spa and enjoyed an 80-minute soak. grounded massagewhich incorporates the use of heated basalt stones. I found it to be a very balanced massage and especially enjoyed the heated table, the head massage and the focus on the areas of my body that had a lot of tension: my neck, shoulders, lower back and legs.
After the massage, the spa staff offered me juice and Prosecco and let me know I could return to my room, use the sauna, or relax in the pool. I went for carrot juice and drank it in a lounge chair by the indoor pool while I reveled in my loosened muscles and decreased hip tension.
I returned to an ice bath ready and waiting in my suite. If you’ve never done a cold plunge or ice bath before, know that it will be a quick experience, so the $100 price tag may be off-putting to some. I stuck my legs in for about 15 seconds; Then I went out and back in for 30 seconds, submerging my legs, torso and chest this time. As with previous cold dives, I felt instantly invigorated. It really wakes you up and gives you an adrenaline rush that a cold shower can’t match (you also don’t have to get your head wet or your hair wet, which is helpful for anyone just about to get on with a normal day, like me). Increasingly popular among athletes, actors, and influencers, this practice has been shown to reduce muscle soreness (more on this from our friends at Be).
The trio of services was an excellent combination. It’s hard to analyze what helped my recovery the most, but what I’m sure of is that I walked the rest of the day, and the next day, pretty normally. I’m usually limping for at least a few days. Coming home that night, my hips were bothering me a little (it was hard to get comfortable; I should have packed my foot hammock!), but my back, shoulders, and legs felt surprisingly good. The next day, I had no problem or pain walking up the stairs, a solid indicator to me of a faster recovery than usual.
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