An amateur athlete's opinion

Are compression garments any use to the average Joe? Luke Harrison (right) bought a pair of compression leggings to help train for the Wellington Round the Bays Fun Run. Here are some of his training notes

Running in tights

• Day 1: (Time: 27min 45sec) Pulled on a new pair of Skins and set off on my normal route up Mt Victoria (6.3km). It's a hot day ... the tights are more breathable than I suspected, but they still make me sweat more: "Man drowns on Mt Victoria".
• Day 2: (Time: 27min 20sec) It's cooler today; easier to concentrate on the "performance-enhancing" effect of compression tights. No noticeable difference - Mt Victoria feels as steep as it ever did.
• Day 3: (Rest day)

Running without tights

• Day 4: (Time: 26min 29sec) Good run. Didn't sweat nearly as much with my legs al fresco. Still, I felt remarkably limber today and yesterday (the effect of compression tights?)
• Day 5: (Time: 27min 37sec) I'm getting slower!
• Day 6: (Rest day)

Recovering in tights

• Day 7: (Time: 26min 12sec) Change of tack. The leggings are too hot to exercise in, but perhaps they'll help my recovery. I'm now sitting at the kitchen table - post run - writing my diary dressed in tights. My flatmates seem uncomfortable.
• Day 8: (Time: 25min 28sec) Extra bounce in my step with the "real" run only two days away. Legs feel good: definitely prefer the tights as a recovery tool. Should probably wash them at some point though ...
• Day 9: (Rest day)

Round the Bays

• Day 10: (Time: 24min 44sec) Noticed many different types of compression garments being worn by some of the 10,000 people backed up around the starting line (I expect they melted mid-race). Am currently wearing the tights post race - which makes me a convert to some degree. It might be psychological, but I feel more limber the next day if I wear compression tights after running.