On a perfect day with light winds and some of the mildest temperatures in the 40-year history of the IRONMAN World Championship, defending champions Patrick Lange and Daniela Ryf shattered their own course records in what will go down as the fastest race in race history. Ryf's win was particularly historic, as she also broke the overall IRONMAN record with an 8:26:18 finish.
Not to be overshadowed by Ryf's race for the ages, Lange's first order of business after his record-setting performance was to propose to his girlfriend, Julia. She said yes.
"This was the most intense, most beautiful, most amazing thing that I've ever experienced in my life—after just asking Julia to marry me," Lange said of a day that will be hard top.
Read more at the Ironman website.
Lange's top recovery methods include an abundance of naps, the NormaTec boots, and occasional massages. For the past three seasons, Lange has been using NormaTec recovery boots almost daily, and it's become a key component of his training regimen since making the jump to full-time athlete.
"When it comes to regenerating your muscles and joints, everyone is different in terms of what works best for them," he says. "I knew from the first time I tried the NormaTec boots that they were exactly what I needed after intense training sessions. It’s just part of my ritual now—as soon as I finish a big session, I'm putting them on so I can feel fresher, faster."
Read more about Patrick's recovery tactics.