Stephanie told me I’d be able to feel the benefits within a couple of hours, and that they’d 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 chit-chat. Interestingly, you can feel a kind of cooling sensation as the vitamins enter your body, and taste the vitamins in your mouth from time to time. I started to notice the energy and recovery effects when I got up and started moving around. I was markedly less creaky than I usually am the day after a race. (Stephanie says the service is popular in Chicago with everyone from famous athletes to Joe Schmos; even businesses are getting in on it with office parties.)
Next, I headed to the hotel’s spa and indulged in an 80-minute Grounded massage, which incorporates the use of heated basalt stones. I found it to be a very balanced massage, and particularly enjoyed the heated table, head massage, and the focus on the areas of my body that were carrying a lot of tension—my neck and shoulders, lower back, and legs.
After the massage, the spa staff offered me juice and Prosecco and let me know that I could head back to my room, make use of the sauna, or relax by the pool. I went for the carrot juice and sipped it on a lounge chair by the indoor pool as I reveled in my loosened muscles and decreased hip tension.
I came back to an ice bath ready and waiting in my suite. If you haven’t done a cold plunge or ice bath before, know that it is going to be a quick experience, so the $100 price tag may be off-putting to some. I put my legs in for around 15 seconds; then got out and in again for 30 seconds, submerging my legs, torso, and chest this time. As with previous cold plunges, I felt instantly invigorated. It really wakes you up and gives you an adrenaline rush that a cold shower doesn’t quite match (you also don’t have to dunk your head or get your hair wet, helpful for anyone who’s about to go on with a regular day, like I was). This practice, increasingly popular with athletes, actors, and influencers, has been shown to reduce muscle soreness (more on that from our friends at Self).
The trio of services was an excellent combo. It’s difficult to parse which aided my recovery most, but what I am sure of is that I was walking around the rest of the day, and the following day, fairly normally. Usually, I’m hobbling around for at least a few days. Flying back home that night, my hips were annoying me a bit (it was hard to get comfortable—I should’ve packed my foot hammock!), but my back, shoulders, and legs were feeling surprisingly fine. The next day, I had no issue or pain going up stairs, a solid indicator for me of a faster recovery than usual.
