Think you know Professional Triathlete Richie Cunningham?

If serving in the military, a young love for tennis and working on an ostrich farm doesn't ring a bell, read on.





What other sports did you play when you were younger? Did you ever think you'd be a Professional athlete?

RC  "I played lots of sports when I was younger, but the first sports I got interested in were tennis and running. My dad started off running and I used to chase him to try and keep up. I also did a lot of waterskiing and Australian football. Early on I wanted to be a pro tennis player. I was a little brat as a kid and I ran away from home once. The police picked me up in the middle of the night on my bike. The officer asked me what I was going to do with my life and I told him I wanted to be a pro tennis player. He laughed at me. I don't think I ever played tennis after that."

Early in your career, how hard was it to start out as a new pro?

RC  "Starting out as a pro was probably about the hardest thing I've had to do. I was in the military for 4-5 years. After leaving a secure job and chasing the dream of being a pro triathlete, the first couple of years was a really big struggle. I spent the first years, like all triathletes in Australia, on unemployment. Even my first couple of trips to Europe were extremely hard. I just managed enough money to get a return ticket for the next year each time. Just as I was about to give up and quit the sport, a friend lent me enough money to get a plane ticket to race ITU cup in Portugal. I managed to podium there, which gave me enough money to do the rest of the series and that pretty much kicked off my career." 

Why were the first few years so hard in triathlon?

RC  "Two reasons. One is that I was a very bad swimmer. It took me a long time to learn how to swim open water. I was fortunate enough to find a swim coach who was willing to help and teach me to swim open water as opposed to pool swimming. The other reason I struggled so much was early in my career I had a broken rib that was rubbing on the nerves at the back of my rib cage. Every time I ran hard, I would get a stitch. This got worse over 3-4 years until I found a doctor in Germany who figured out what it was and removed the rib."

If you could tell a new pro anything, what would it be?

RC  "I'd tell them not to be such spoiled brats. Everyone seems to want a handout these days and expects sponsors to come flowing in as soon as they get a pro card. You have to earn them first."

Other than being a professional triathlete, what is the coolest job you've held?

RC "Shortly after leaving the army I went and worked on a farm and raised ostriches."

What's your secret to longevity in this sport?

RC  "I've been extremely lucky. In 20 years, I've had very few injuries. Other than bike crashes, I don't think I've missed more than a few days due to injuries. RecoveryPump has made a huge difference in helping me recover, especially as I get older.   Also, I think there's two parts to staying healthy and having a long career in triathlon that a lot of athletes don't realize.

1. You have to love the sport and competing 

2. You have to love the lifestyle. A lot of people train hard, but see it as an inconvenience. I see so many people in Boulder who just seem miserable training sometimes. They just want to get training done for the day rather than enjoying the triathlete lifestyle. 

"Also, I'm Benjamin Button. I get younger every year. "

It's no wonder Richie's a legend in the sport of Triathlon.  His hard work and honesty have made him who he is today. We're looking forward to seeing him rack up Kona points at the innagural Ironman Boulder in August and then watch him race in the lava fields for the very first time in his career this October.

A Sports Medicine Perspective:
Sporting Kansas City (MLS), Client Review

RecoveryPump has had the pleasure of working with some of the top Sports Medicine professionals and teams in virtually every professional sport throughout the United States. 

With no exception, meet Chet North of Sporting Kansas City (MLS).  After 18 seasons as the Head Athletic Trainer with Kansas City's Major League Soccer franchise ( Wiz, Wizards and now Sporting KC), Chet recently became the Director of Sports Medicine, taking part in the development of one of the world's best training facilities and home to Sporting KC and The United States National Team. 

Here's what Chet had to say when we asked him to share his feedback and experience working with RecoveryPump.

"All businesses are continually approached by merchants with products or services  “That claim they will fulfil all your needs”.  It is our staffs responsibility to discern this information and determine what products or service our organization will choose to use. Does it fit our set criteria ?  First, Does the product or service adhere to the research our staff believe in ?  Second, does the product or service actually do what it claims to do ? And finally, Does the company providing the product or service stand behind it and give excellent customer service. With RECOVERY PUMP the answer is YES on all three accounts.  We believe in the RECOVERY PUMP system and know that wherever we are or the situation they will take care of us in a quick and professional manner. We are extremely pleased and satisfied with our relationship with RECOVERY PUMP."

-  Chet North, Director of Sports Medicine - Sporting Kansas City (MLS)

Our goal as a company is to help athletes optimize training and performance. Working with veterans in the sport such as Chet, RecoveryPump strives to be the leader in the industry, backed by medical research, experience in the field and unparalleled customer service and support.

If you're looking to optimize your athlete's training and performance be sure to visit www.recoverypump.com or call us at 855-732 7867.  

recoverypump accessories, pneumatic arm sleeve, arm muscle recovery

For many decades, medical doctors and physical therapists have understood the health benefits of compression therapy. In a medical setting, sequential compression devices are used to treat a variety of circulatory disorders such as edema (swelling) and CVI (Chronic Venous Insufficiency). It was not until January 2011 that sequential compression therapy in the form of the RecoveryPump first became available for non-medical personnel in general and athletes in particular.

Today, the RecoveryPump sequential compression system provides rapid recovery to serious athletes in a non-medical setting. The portable device can be used with any of the RecoveryPump Active Compression Gear products including the RecoveryBoots, RecoveryArms, or RecoveryCore. Available to anyone who has a need for a medically-proven, post-workout muscle recovery system, RecoveryPump can target the area of your body that most requires attention from the legs to the arms and shoulder or the lower back and hips. RecoveryPump expedites recovery time and can be used anywhere there's an electrical outlet.

The RecoveryArm Pneumatic Arm Sleeve

RecoveryArms provide unique full arm and shoulder compression in one ambidextrous piece that can be used on both the right or left arm. Whether you need to speed the recovery of your throwing arm or both arms, RecoveryArms deliver the same quality sequential compression therapy that you have come to expect from our products. As with the RecoveryBoots, each cycle completely offloads the limb, and a 20 minute session delivers active compression applied to the entire arm (including hand), shoulder pectoral and upper back. Do you experience tenderness in your shoulder or pectorals? The RecoveryArms have you covered. Get back to the climbing wall, back on the field or back to the gym in record time with the industry’s best.

5 Super Foods for Workout Recovery

After your workout, you need to re-hydrate, but you also shouldn’t overlook the importance of refueling. A workout puts stress on your body, and any energy you’ve consumed in the form of food may have been stripped away as you burned off calories. Resist the urge to gorge on overly fatty or heavy foods, no matter how hungry you are post-workout. The following five foods are often called “super foods” due to their antioxidant and nutritive properties, and they make for an ideal way to refuel during your workout recovery.


1. Blueberries


This super fruit boasts one of the highest levels of antioxidants in the fruit kingdom and also contains high levels of beneficial phytonutrients. Keep them easily on hand by buying them pre-frozen or storing fresh berries in your freezer; frozen blueberries retain all their antioxidant properties, and they’re equally delicious straight out of the freezer or added to a protein shake or smoothie.


2. Lowfat yogurt


Yogurt is a great grab-and-go protein source after your workout, as well as being full of potassium and healthy bacteria. Plus, the calcium in yogurt makes for optimal bone health. Make sure you choose yogurt that’s made only from milk, fruit and active yogurt cultures – skip the brands with added gelatin.


3. Quinoa

An ancient grain that’s recently gained popularity, quinoa is considered a “complete protein” source. It’s also a nutrient powerhouse, containing large amounts of potassium, fiber, magnesium and iron. Versatile and delicious, a refreshing quinoa salad can be made and chilled prior to your workout, or you can make quinoa a part of your evening meal.


4. Kiwi


These little fruits are low in calories but contain an amazing amount of Vitamin C in their compact size. A single kiwi gives you your entire daily allowance of the rejuvenating vitamin and may reduce your blood pressure when consumed regularly.


5. Avocado


Nutrient-dense avocados are delicious, and they really pack a punch. The versatile fruit is full of folate, Vitamin E and potassium, and it’s high in fiber. Don’t be put off by the buttery avocado’s high fat content: It contains a large amount of “good” monounsaturated fat that may lower your cholesterol and give you a much needed energy boost after an intense workout.
What other foods do you find help you refuel? Let us know in the comments below.

Back in baseball’s golden age, there was little to no focus on a player’s fitness or diet. Consider Babe Ruth, a player whose exploits eating hot drinks and drinking copious amounts of soda surely hurt his already incredible potential. However, decades ago athletes and trainers started realizing how integral strength training was to a player’s success and the importance of nutrition is now starting to gain momentum.

In major league clubhouses throughout Arizona and Florida, fatty foods and similar items used to dominate the spread. However, that has changed in dramatic ways as foods such as shrimp, baked potatoes, nuts, yogurt and tenderloin are getting more table space. There is a distinct lack of fried foods, and the use of soda is discouraged.

 Players are starting to realize just how much of an impact what they eat and drink has on their performances between the lines as the strength that is shown on the field changes for the better when the diet is improved. The ability to keep playing at high levels during the dog days of summer and through the playoffs in October is improved as well when nutritional eating habits are cultivated during spring training.

This spring, keep your appetite and blood sugar well regulated by eating small meals and snacks throughout the day, and always keep protein rich snacks on hand post-workout. When choosing fruits and vegetables for your training diet, a good rule of thumb is to pick a wide variety of colors in order to insure that you are getting a diversity of vitamins and minerals. Avoid processed foods as much as possible and only choose carb options that do not have added sugar.

What players put into their body has a direct impact on the mental and emotional aspects of their games as well. This is incredibly important in a sport where success and failure can be determined in a matter of seconds, whether it comes in the form of a pitch or a screaming line drive. Responsible eating means more than just giving your body fuel, it means cultivating the strength and mental preparedness that can give you the edge you need, as well as the confidence that goes with it.

The Complete RecoveryPump System

Only one thing can flush away the waste and water that accumulates in your muscles after strenuous exercise: movement. Thankfully, this painfully slow process can be expedited through pneumatic compression therapy, which massages the muscles and creates a sequential movement that is far more efficient than passive recovery.

The RecoveryPump System includes a set of portable compression RecoveryBoots, the RecoveryPump and convenient travel bag. High levels of active sequential compression are applied to increase circulation and significantly decrease recovery time.

Athletes needed a simple and effective recovery tool that could be used outside of the Physical Therapy office, at home. RecoveryPump delivered with this medical grade, active compression system that can be used anywhere. The RecoveryBoots are zipped onto the legs, and the snap adapter is easily connected to the pump. The entire system is portable, so it can be used at a sporting competition or in the hotel after travel. This product is specially designed to provide compression to the entire leg and includes a unique bottom of the foot compression chamber found nowhere else. Unlike similar units, it is possible to choose among 5 different boot sizes to assure the best fit and optimal results.

Users rave about the impact that the RecoveryPump system has had on their training routine, including reduced soreness and maintaining high training volume with regular use. Research and scientific studies related to the effects of sequential compression therapy in sports performance are available on the RecoveryPump website. RecoveryPump is confident in their product and it is backed by a 30 day money back guarantee and 2 year warranty.
Invest in aggressive muscle recovery to optimize your training and performance with RecoveryPump.

Tips for Overtraining Recovery

Muscular micro-tears and pain are always part of an active exercise lifestyle, but becoming accustomed to those pains often tempts us to push even harder and strive for better and better results. Unfortunately, there comes a time when we have pushed ourselves too far, and that means more drastic injuries with more drastic recovery time. Shorting yourself on your recovery time could mean making your injury take even longer to heal, and several athletes have found themselves in a vicious cycle of injury, trying to push through, and further injury.

Getting back in the game more quickly means slowing down for a time and letting your recovery find its footing. Three common ways of encouraging your own recovery are:

• Get plenty of rest
• Keep well fed with a protein-rich diet
• When you do start training again, start slow

The often repeated trinity of exercise recovery is repeated for a reason: no overtraining recovery will be successful without them. However, there are methods available for speeding the process along without risking further damage to your body.

Muscle compression systems use sequential pneumatic pressure to increase blood circulation, which helps to clear metabolic waste and increases the delivery of oxygen and plasma to muscle tissues. Some brands, like RecoveryPump, use medical grade technology to get rid of muscle soreness, inflammation and fatigue. What was once a prescription only device, reserved for a Doctor’s use, is now available over-the-counter, in the comfort of your own home.

Athletes who are in the habit of using the RecoveryPump after every training session find that their muscles recover quickly, helping them to achieve a superior level of fitness. They find that spending just an hour or two with the active compression system is more convenient and effective than conventional recovery methods. Serious athletes rely on RecoveryPump to reduce the amount of post-competition recovery time required for them perform at their peak levels. The faster you recover from your workout, the more effectively you are able to train. Rather than letting that fact tempt you towards dangerous shortcuts, rely on tested medical technology and use active compression therapy to enhance your body’s natural recovery process.