Andrea Berquez, Spartan Pro-Athlete and Running Coach
Welcome Andrea Berquez to the Cryojuvenate family of Ambassadors.
Andrea Berquez from Sevenoaks can often be found on the UK Elites podium. In July 2018 she set her sights on international glory at the 2018 Spartan European Championships in Morzine, France. One of a handful of athletes representing Team GB, she earned her impressive 6th place finish against the best on an incredibly steep and challenging course incorporating alpine terrain and thick forests. She also claimed the title in the women’s race in a time of 9.35 min some 19 seconds in front of second place at the gruelling Red Bull Quicksand race in Margate dubbed the world’s hardest mile-long race, 650 athletes took to the brutal, leg-burning course on the Main Sands.
It’s very rare a weekend goes by when Andrea is not racing or taking part in an event, meanwhile she has full time job as a tree surgeon, a part time job as a running coach whilst balancig a physically challenging training schedule to enable her to continually race at an elite level. As she puts it ‘ life can sometimes feel very demanding’.
Hear how Andrea uses Cryotherapy to assist with recovery
I first came into Cryojuvenate in May and to be honest was a little sceptical of Cryotherapy to begin with but was keen to give it a go for a ‘quick fix’ before a big event I had taking place at the weekend. The experience definitely helped me feel revitalised and upbeat and not being the best with the cold (I suffer with Reynolds disease) was very surprised how I actually enjoyed the experience, the team were very supportive making me wear two pairs of gloves and checking I was ok throughout the full procedure.
Heavy Leg Syndrome
Two of the biggest benefits I find throughout using the chamber with relation to running is that for me it relieves the ‘heavy leg’ syndrome which anybody who racks up the distance will know the feeling too well, I felt the bounce had been put back into my legs again. Secondly, sleep, this is everything when leading a physically demanding lifestyle, training tired can be a fine line between an unproductive workout to injury.
Work on the root of the problem
As a running coach I see many clients who have many different niggles which through rehab and the correction exercises help nurture the runner back to full strength, however working with runners (and being devoted to the sport myself) sometimes patience is not a virtue. Running is a mental sport and sometimes when that is taken away from somebody it can feel like the world has literally fallen apart so to help bridge that gap and speed up the recovery process alongside the correct exercises; I prescribe to work on the root of the problem – Cryotherapy really helps turn those months into weeks.
Reduce Stress
Once in the cryotherapy chamber the cold temperature triggers neurological, endocrine and immune systems in the body. This encourages an increase in white blood cell counts, which leads to an anti-inflammatory response and improved immune function. The endocrine system releases endorphins which gives ‘feel good’ hormones in to the blood stream, which will lead to reductions in stress and cortisol levels which I feel improving mood alone helps speed up recovery aside from the physical benefits.
Localised Cryotherapy
I would also recommend local cryotherapy which focuses on a specific area, for me this is normally my calves which I sometimes suffer tightness and the local really targets this and helps relieves it fast without hours of foam rolling and stretching!
Wikepedia: The calf (Latin: sura) is the back portion of the lower leg in human anatomy. The muscles within the calf correspond to the posterior compartment of the leg. The two largest muscles within this compartment are known together as the calf muscle and attach to the heel via the Achilles tendon
This is also more of a cost effective way if you know exactly what the issue and would just like to work on that area.
Thank you to Andrea for sharing her experiences of Cryotherapy. If you are interested in becoming an Ambassador please contact the clinic on 01732 449411 for more information.
