April’s Story: An Ultramarathon Runner’s Recovery Ritual
April Garland is an avid athlete, to say the least. She has completed 11 ultramarathons, races of anywhere from 35 to 100 miles. One year, her goal was to run back-to-back ultramarathons in the Sangre de Cristo Mountains, and she did it: one race on Saturday and another on Sunday, with more than 15,000 feet of elevation gain between them. When she’s not running, you’ll find her hiking or rock climbing in the Rockies.
To top it off, April spends 10-hour shifts on her feet as a respiratory therapist, working in both intensive care and outpatient diagnostics at a children’s hospital. She’s pretty much always on the go.
A post-run ritual
All that running and standing adds up, and April’s calves and knees feel it. So she turned to our CBD Muscle Balm, created by our founder, herbalist Jessica Bates, with warming and cooling botanicals. She massages it into her calves and the front and back of her knees.
“It made me feel so much better. Now I put it on regularly, especially after a long run.”
April
What does April consider a long run? “If I’m actively training, I run 80 to 100 miles a week. If I’m not training as hard, I run 45 to 50 miles a week.” That’s 5 to 13 miles a day, before strength training, barre and cross-training. Yes, April might need our Muscle Balm in bulk.
She also massages it into her neck and shoulders when they’re tight, and into her feet at night.
Massage after the big races
After a recent 50K, April massaged our CBD Massage Oil into her legs. “It felt so nice,” she says. The oil is a clean, plant-based formula of whole plant hemp extract, lavender essential oil, jojoba oil and vitamin E.
Rest is a requirement
With all of April’s activity, rest matters. She added our Dream Balm, with relaxing herbs, whole plant hemp extract and soothing essential oils, to her bedtime routine.
“I put it on my temples and the back of my neck. It relaxes me, and it’s become part of how I wind down.”
April
Choosing a CBD company
“I start by looking at smaller, local stores, ones that are environmentally friendly. I’ll purchase an organic product over a non-organic product.”
April
That’s us: a local, woman-owned business that uses organic, responsibly sourced ingredients wherever possible, with USDA certified organic hemp grown in Colorado using sustainable, soil-friendly farming practices.
Needless to say, Moon Mother products don’t last long in April’s house. She’s tried other CBD brands, but as long as she keeps up her busy, active life, she says she’ll be reaching for ours.