How does Olympian and World Champion Triathlete, Andy Potts, keep his competitive edge? A strict training regimen that just won’t quit.
Learn just what it takes to become a champion from the Ironman legend himself. It certainly isn’t easy, but his training and recovery schedule has helped him to achieve over 28 Ironman 70.3 first place titles since he took home his first Ironman 70.3 World Champion title in 2007.
Learn more about Andy Potts, and how Human Touch products help him to bring his best each and every day, in this press release.
One of the questions that I get asked pretty constantly is how I am able to keep surfing most everyday at my semi mature station in life. In other words, “How does a geezer like you stay out there all the time?” I should preface this to say that it is normally other geezers who are asking this question. When you are young you don’t even think about it, you just do it and there are little or no physical consequences. Geeze, I remember being able to surf all day, like 10 hours, and then woof down a half gallon of ice cream before heading to the dance. Hahaha, ok I just realized that sounded just like the “and I walked ten miles through the snow to get to school and didn’t even have a pair of shoes to wear,” kinda thing. But, you get the idea. When you are 20 your body just keeps going and you don’t think about it. When you get a bit older you start to get sore, your body aches, you get tired and you start feeling like it might be a good idea to “take a recovery break today.” I see guys missing really good days because they are sore and their body just hurts too much to give it another go. This is something I try to avoid as I hate missing good days. At my age you don’t want to miss anything, I mean ya just never know.
So, here is my little guide on how to keep an older surfing body in tune so that you can surf as much as possible without pain. First off, don’t let yourself get fat like I am because it makes it that much harder on yourself. I must like it to be hard because I stay fat, but I really do not recommend it. One key to staying in the water is to pace yourself time wise in the water within what you feel good with. Sometimes it is not so much how long you surf but more how hard you surf while you are out there. If you go out and sit there for 2 hours and only ride a few waves, socializing and trying to pick up babes, it’s not as much of a workout as if you surf hard for one hour, riding a ton of waves and going for it. Know your threshold as far as endurance. It is when you push past it that your body really gets angry and you pay the price afterwards. When you start getting noodle armed it’s time to go in.
Secondly, it is super important to stay hydrated. Make sure you drink some water before you surf and have some on hand after you get out. Even though you are in the water your body needs fluids. This is especially true when surfing in the tropics or warm climates. Coffee, cokes, beer and all that stuff does not hydrate you, just the opposite. Drink a lot of water or some sort of hydrating drink like Gatorade etc. This is very important to muscle recovery. If you get a lot of cramps it never hurts to take a pinch of salt here and there too.
I am a firm believer in massage and I think the older you get the more important it is to help your body come back from strenuous activity, like surfing. It also helps get your body ready for it, much like stretching and yoga. A massage a day can work wonders on keeping you surfing. Of course for most people getting a massage everyday is impossible, either for the expense or just the time it takes out of your day or night. Years ago I got one of those great massage chairs that you sometimes see in stores and like to sit in and wish you had one at home. It is a HUMAN TOUCH massage chair that is made by a company called; you guessed it, Human Touch, out of Long Beach. It feels like a real person and it is fabulous. A few minutes in the morning just before I paddle out to loosen me up a bit, a short sesson after surfing and 15 or 20 minutes in the evening is a perfect massage chair daily regime. I can’t even come close to telling you how great this is for my old geezer body and I strongly recommend one.
If you want to stay in the water as much as possible and you are middle aged or older you might want to consider my little suggestions here. If you feel good you keep the stoke. And if you have the stoke then you paddle out. Simple deal.
Human Touch®, the U.S. market leader of innovative massage chairs, Perfect Chair® recliners, and other wellness solutions, is pleased to announce that it has formed a partnership with three-time U.S. Olympic Gold Medalist beach volleyball player, Misty May-Treanor.
Misty May-Treanor is considered to be the one of the greatest beach volleyball players in the history of the sport, with Olympic Gold Medals in the 2004 Athens games, 2008 Beijing games, and the 2012 London games, and a total of 109 career tournament victories.
Above and beyond Misty’s achievements in her sport, she takes great personal pride in being an outstanding role model. She spreads goodwill through her work with Special Olympics, Make-A-Wish Foundation, and her own educational/clinic curriculum, as well as many other causes and initiatives important to her.
“I’m excited to bring the knowledge I’ve gained throughout my career to the Human Touch Wellness Council,” said Misty May-Treanor. “I have always been passionate about physical fitness, and my extensive training – in addition to my formal education in Kinesiology, Coaching, and Athletic Administration – have given me with a lot of information on improving physical health. The Wellness Council serves as a great platform for me to be able to share that information with people who are seeking to feel and perform their best.”
Misty May-Treanor has long demonstrated the importance of recovery for athletic performance. After a serious injury from her appearance on TV’s Dancing with the Stars in late 2008, many feared that her professional career was over. However, she pushed herself through to recovery, and her performance in the 2012 Olympics in London captured the hearts of the fans from all around the world. It is this same resolve, work ethic, and commitment that Misty brings to the Human Touch Wellness Council, where she will provide insight into the importance of recovery and self-care using massage and relaxation techniques.
“We’re thrilled to have Misty May-Treanor join our Wellness Council,” said Peter Theran, Vice President of Sales and Marketing for Human Touch. “Our wellness solutions provide a means of recovery for active people, including professional and amateur athletes, and Misty’s training and education will assist us in providing the best solutions for them. We’re excited to have her to join our team, and eager to share her wisdom with anyone who is looking to use massage and wellness to improve their game both on and off the court.”
About Human Touch
Human Touch is the leading provider of high-quality, innovative lifestyle products, massage chairs, and experiences that have been delivering indispensable, life-changing benefits to an ever-growing number of consumers for more than 35 years. Human Touch has been making people feel better by developing state-of-the-art massage products containing patented massage systems that replicate the hands and techniques used by massage professionals, thereby helping to reduce pain and stress caused by today’s hectic lifestyle. Products are available at fine furniture stores, back care specialty stores, and mass-market retailers across the U.S., through international retailers and distributors in more than 40 countries, and online at www.humantouch.com.
Media Contact:
Megan Harvey
Direct Ph: 562-733-7317
Direct Fax: 562-424-7846
Corp. Ph: 562-426-8700
mharvey@humantouch.com
www.humantouch.com
Potts to enrich the Human Touch Wellness Council with expertise from an extensive Olympic and Ironman triathlete career
Long Beach, CA – May 10, 2017 – Human Touch®, the U.S. market leader of innovative massage chairs, Perfect Chair Recliners, and other wellness solutions, is pleased to announce that it has formed a partnership with U.S. Olympian and world-champion triathlete, Andy Potts. Potts, who recently won the Ironman 70.3 competition in Peru, will join the Human Touch Wellness Council in order to provide insight into the importance of wellness and recovery in high-performance sports.
The Human Touch Wellness Council is a recognized and universally respected team of experts with insight into a variety of wellness practices, from professional athletes to medical practitioners and natural healers. The Wellness Council helps to shape and guide the development of Human Touch products, with a mission to create solutions that inform and benefit professionals, sports-enthusiasts, back pain sufferers, and consumers alike.
“I’m thrilled to join the Human Touch Wellness Council,” said Andy Potts. “As a professional triathlete, one of the pillars of my racing and training success comes from proper recovery. I train for over 35 hours a week, which takes a tremendous toll on the body. By adding the Human Touch Novo XT to my daily routine, I’m able to unwind and recover in a way I never thought possible. My goal as a member of the Wellness Council is to share my expertise on both athletic recovery and training, so that others can benefit from my knowledge in these areas.”
Andy Potts began his career as a swimmer at the University of Michigan, where he was a six-time NCAA All-American champion as well as a member of the university track team. He began competing as a professional athlete in 2003, and competed at the second Olympic triathlon at the 2004 Summer Olympics in Greece. He then went on to win the 2007 Ironman 70.3 World Championship in Clearwater, Florida, with a time of 3:42:33. Since then he has completed over 200 races with more than 55 first-place finishes. In 2007 he won the Pan Am Games Champion title, and was selected as the 2007 USAT Triathlete of the Year; a title he has since earned 3 more times. His 2017 Ironman 70.3 Peru win brings his grand total of Ironman 70.3 first place titles up to 28, with 125+ podium appearances throughout his career.
Andy Potts is a fierce competitor whose passion extends beyond the finish line. He is known for spending hours after his races, handing out medals and talking to fans. His mission for the sport that has given him so much, is to leave it better than he found it, starting with his racing team and camps. These week-long training sessions allow members to get professional-level instruction and experience with Andy and his team of coaches. The location for these camps vary, coming in summer 2017 to the Olympic Training Center in Olympic City, USA (Colorado Springs). Other options for hands-on training with Andy include a PottsHead Club Team, AP Private Coaching, and 1 on 1 coaching with Andy and his coach, Mike Doane.
“We’re very excited to have Andy join our Wellness Council,” said Peter Theran, Vice President of Sales and Marketing for Human Touch. “Our customers use their wellness solutions for a variety of reasons, including to recover from and to prepare for high-performance sports. Andy brings a unique voice to our team as an expert in how to incorporate wellness and massage into a fitness and training routine, no matter what your sport, in order to bring your best game each and every day.”
About Human Touch
Human Touch is the leading provider of high-quality, innovative lifestyle products, massage chairs, and experiences that have been delivering indispensable, life-changing benefits to an ever-growing number of consumers for more than 35 years. Human Touch has been making people feel better by developing state-of-the-art massage products containing patented massage systems that replicate the hands and techniques used by massage professionals, thereby helping to reduce pain and stress caused by today’s hectic lifestyle. Products are available at fine furniture stores, back care specialty stores, and mass-market retailers across the U.S., through international retailers and distributors in more than 40 countries, and online at www.humantouch.com.
Media Contact:
Megan Harvey
Direct Ph: 562-733-7317
Direct Fax: 562-424-7846
Corp. Ph: 562-426-8700
mharvey@humantouch.com
www.humantouch.com
Human Touch recently connected with Hiram Eugene, a former NFL free safety for the Oakland Raiders. He was signed in 2006, and played for six seasons before a dislocated hip forced him to retire early from his NFL career.
Though he was able to have surgery on his hip, his pain continued to resonate from that - as well as many other - injuries resulting from playing professional football. After an intensive regimen of both physical therapy and pain management medication, he finally found a more manageable form of relief in the Human Touch Ascent Series Novo massage chair. He has been kind enough to invite us along for his journey to recovery. Here, you can read Hiram’s first-hand account of how he’s using his Novo to feel his best:
My NFL career started in 2006 as an undrafted free agent with the Oakland Raiders, where I played Free Safety during my tenure. My career lasted until 2012 with a career - ending injury, due to a left hip dislocation.
As most players in the NFL I have had numerous injuries. I suffered from hamstring pulls, both ankle sprains, a torn Medial Collateral Ligament (MCL) on the left knee, left calf muscle pull, a torn Pectoral muscle on right arm, a hyperextended left elbow, jammed right hip, stingers (which resulted in me having the thoracic outlet syndrome), an L5 and S1 disassociation in my lower back, and lastly what ended my career which is a dislocated left hip.
Enduring these numerous injuries, I am mostly affected by tightness/stiffness/soreness in my lower back, joint tightness/soreness in left hip, and stiffness/tingling/inflammation/numbness in my neck.
My attraction to the Novo massage chair was that it really does have the touch of human hands giving you a firm massage, and it also has a recliner mode that helps you relax while you receive that massage.
I have been able to use my Novo massage chair 3-5 times a week, depending on my daily schedule. I usually try to get into the chair in the early afternoon, and if possible at night before bed. One particularly helpful way I’ve begun to use the chair is after a hot tub bath, since it helps me to find a more peaceful sleep. I mostly sit down, and put the auto-massage program to the cloud touch/manual knead with percussion and heat, and I love the foot and calf massage.
I have been seeing a doctor for pain medicine, muscle relaxers, and anti-inflammatory medicines. I was also attending physical therapy two times the week and seeing a massage therapist and acupuncturist once a week. However, using my Novo regularly has decreased my pain levels and given me a little better mobility. With better mobility I don't have to take my medications as often, and the combined heat with low back massage generates blood flow which allows me to get a little more done throughout the day.
Hopefully this progress continues, so that I can cut even further back on my pain medication and decrease my need for physical therapy. I will continue to use my Novo massage chair regularly, and update you on my progress!
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