Ode to “the Stick”

“The Stick” is a hard task master, unassuming at first with its benign appearance.

It doesn’t look like much, almost not worth a second glance,

It asks you to trust it and then it rolls over thighs creating tingles and burning and sweet pain as it locates and eases ropes, bumps and knots.

It luxuriates on calves and quads, neck and traps, pressing harder and working out spasms, twitches and tensions.

Stress is abandoned, replaced with stillness and calm, pierced only by hard breaths and gasps.

Lactic acid silenced once more until the next hard endeavor,

                                                                                                  “The Stick”, it’s job complete, waits patiently.

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“The Stick” is a wondrous invention, bringing together cylindrical, hard plastic rollers with a sturdy plastic rod and squishy handles.  The literature calls it “A Toothbrush for Muscles” but it is much more than that. 

I was first introduced to “The Stick” at the best running store on the planet – Jacksonville Running Company (JRC).  It seemed like any other hot, Saturday morning in Florida.  My dear friend, Jody and I had just finished 8 miles and I was minding my own business when all of a sudden I heard moans and groans coming from the floor near my feet.  I looked down and there was Jody – sweating all over the nice wood floor – rolling “The Stick” over her calves and making these noises.  I had to turn away…I felt like I was witnessing someting quite private until she gasped, “Katrina – you have GOT to try this!”    Then Jason told us that “The Stick” sometimes made him stop breathing…..  We stayed there for about 10 more minutes rolling the stick over our leg muscles until we regained our modesty and were finally able to tear ourselves away and go on about our day. 

I tried to put “The Stick” out of my mind but my muscles retained the memory of it and were crying out for relief.  Two days later I was at back at JRC on my lunch hour.  I needed to replenish my stash of GU and see if the pink technical socks were back in stock …oh who am I kidding, I went there to purchase my very own “Stick”!  I stood in front of the display looking at the different types and agonizing over which one would be best.  I could buy both sizes, right?  That’s not excessive!   I finally selected the smaller model after Lindsay convinced me that it was stiffer and had less give.  I barely got out of JRC before it was out of the package and on my leg.  I only had 30 more minutes before I had to go back to work.  I half heartedly questioned whether it would be appropriate to “Stick” myself in the office (it is now a verb and a noun), so I brought it upstairs.  My friend and co-worker Amber tried it out and liked it and even the head of HR, stopping by on another matter, was coaxed into trying “The Stick”. 

“The Stick” was waiting at home for me, but now I bring it in the car so it is readily available post run.  I’ve stopped worrying about what onlookers might think if they catch me, mouth open, straining in the front seat of my car, stick not visible unless you are looking directly in the window. 

If you have not tried “The Stick” you are missing out!

Katrina Papillon