ATHLETE TESTIMONIALS

ALASTAIR HIGGINS, Scottish Athletics Team Member

"I first became aware of Qilta when I was given them as a prize after finishing 2nd in the 2018 Wexford Marathon. At the time I was not fully aware of how to use them but I can happily report that they aided my recovery from the 153 mile Spartathlon Ultra Marathon in September later in the year. In early 2019 I sat down with Jim from Qilta and got the full story and a few more pairs to try out. After hearing how to use them ahead of races and after races I was keen give them a proper try. With the Irish 50km Championships coming up in Donadea I used the socks and calf sleeves before of the event to cool, relax and soften my feet. Race day came and I was feeling fresh and ready to go. As expected I achieved a PB time (despite messing up my pacing a bit!). I was also fortunate to finish in 3rd place. I then put on my third pair of Qilta socks right after the race to hasten my recovery. Usually after an event like this I would be hobbling around for a few days but after 24 hours I was feeling great- I could have run that day but decided to be extra cautious and hold off a bit. Two days after Donadea I was raring to go and despite some tender quads and hamstrings I was back into full training again. As for my calves? No pain or tenderness whatsoever. I am a high volume/high mileage runner and my main concern is getting injured and having to take time out of training. Qilta socks have already helped me bounce back from races and I look forward to helping them achieve my goals in 2019."

ALEX O'SHEA, Irish International Ultra-Runner

In September ‘18, Qilta were honoured in sponsoring and supporting Alex O’Shea in his record-breaking challenge of 32 Marathons in 15 days. “My experience is based on personal use during my successful completion running 32 marathons in 32 counties in 15 & 1/2 Days. My schedule was very precise and as you can imagine a plan was put in place and we had a very tight schedule. Qilta was part of this plan. After running two marathons in a day I would eat, wash, prep for the next day. Then just before bed I would put on the Qilta sleeve & socks. This controlled any possible swelling added a compression, antibacterial and cooling. This helped cool, control inflammation and help relax the body to capitalize on the few hours rest. After a few days and multiple marathons on different surfaces the inevitable happened and I encountered a blister or two. This could have been a worrying factor if I had time to worry, instead it was dress them and get on with things. Then that night after the application of Qilta socks overnight I would get up the next morning and witness a 90% improvement the feet had benefited hugely. This was a cycle I would repeat day after day with Qilta going on every night returning my feet to very good condition so, considering the miles ran it was remarkable to end with my feet in such good condition!

ANDY HARRINGTON, Irish Triathalete

I was initially sent x2 sets of the socks & calf sleeves for use during a normal weeks triathlon training (usually 10-14hrs). I waited until my longer workouts at the weekend before using the first set, Day 1 was a long run on the Saturday, I got home after the run threw them on and pottered around the house before sitting and throwing my legs up on the chair beside me. My legs definitely felt fresher than normal when I was going about my normal day to day stuff afterwards but I wasn't fully convinced that it was down to the Qilta garments and just put it down to maybe not pushing hard during my run. Day 2 was a long cycle followed by an off the bike short brick run, Again I finished training got home and threw them on. Today's workout was much longer. I knew that there definitely was something to these garments, my calves and feet felt fresh unlike my quads which were stiff and aching from the accumulated lactate." So bottom line they definitely make a difference and with a lot of sport coming down to marginal gains nowadays, recovery is number 1. We all know about the expensive air pump leg/body massage systems that are available but apart from the price they involve you having to plug in the machine & lay down until the cycle is complete, whereas with the Qilta you can slip them on and still move around and do what you need to do while still receiving recovery benefits.

ANGELO MARROCCO, Marathon / Ultra Runner

Angelo Marrocco is an avid marathon/ ultra-runner who takes on many challenges throughout the year. A resident near Monza, on the foothills of the Italian Alps he competes regularly in Ultra events. “Trofeo Dario e Willy” a 23K Sky Race with 2,000 m climb. After I ran a successful Milan City Marathon on the 7th of April and beating my PR, I felt ready for a new challenge and signed up for the “Trofeo Dario e Willy” a 23K Sky Race with 2,000 m climb.The day was going to be tough, very tough, the biggest challenge was the lack of specific training. The cut off times were particularly challenging, the first was just after 1 hour and 45 minutes to climb more than 1km in around 6km. To my surprise I reach the top of the first ascent in just 1 hour and 17 minutes. During the first descent I tried to run as fast as possible at this stage my legs were still in good shape and I really enjoyed this part. I managed to catch up with a lot of runners and this improved my confidence. I ran comfortably for the first 20k and after the last big climb I was mentally expecting an easy descent but I was wrong, very wrong, the steepest descent ever within rocks and loose gravel. My poor feet and legs were screaming to stop but I had to endure the pain and finish the race. This is the moment when I thought: “Why do I do it !! ? At the end of the descent we arrive to the lake and we run along the lake for 200m before crossing the finish line. Great race, very challenging and happy to have managed to successfully finish it, now I remember why I do it. We even had the opportunity to take a shower and when I looked at my feet and they were in such a poor state! I had a set of Qilta socks and calf sleeves that I immediately put on after the shower. I kept Qilta on as I drove home and after a few hours my feet and lower legs were as good as new, absolutely amazing sensation !.”

AOIFE O'DONNELL, Ran The Length Of Irleand

"I began running ultra distance races in 2012 and had developed quite a debilitating injury in both Achilles. It flared up when I would push myself hard and I feared I would never be able to return to running 100 milers without suffering the aftermath. After a long break from ultra running I had the urge to challenge myself and came up with the idea to run from Mizen Head to Malin Head. Two days prior to the run I was to wear the socks and sleeves which I put on before bed, and then I wore a pair every night for the duration of the event for two days after. The result of wearing the socks was waking up with little to no swelling. This was significant because it meant I could wear the same sized running shoes for the full duration of the run (essential because half of the run was self I could comfortably put on my normal running socks and go. I also chose to do this run in the depths of winter and ran for many days in rain and snow which by the end of each day left my feet feeling waterlogged and soggy. After washing and thoroughly drying them I would put on the recovery socks and by the morning the skin was intact and smooth. Wearing the sock two days before the run primed my feet so that on day 1 I was not feeling the effects of my Achilles injury and then playing catch up that evening. This was a wise decision and ultimately meant the injury that had plagued me for so many years and cost a lot of money in rehabilitation, virtually went unnoticed in an even more extreme version of the running I used to do. The socks with their special formula inside cool everything down and will have your feet fighting fit by the next morning. I deem my run from the bottom to the top of Ireland a success because I was able to control the factors which often lead to DNFs- nutrition, hydration, and injuries, and Qilta recovery socks were instrumental in controlling the latter.

AVRIL CHALLONER, Ultra Runner

My scientific background reminds me it's impossible to tell from one trial if it was good luck or the Qilta socks that kept my feet in good condition during and after the Raw Ultra Wicklow Way 50. What I can say is that 1. I got no blisters/hot spots. 2. They felt great on my tired feet after the race. 3. My feet are looking better than they have in a while, if only it was summer, and I could wear sandals. I had seen a lucky few other ultra-runners trialling the Qilta socks over the past year and they piqued my interest. I started the 50 miler on Saturday morning. They felt great putting them on, the menthol in them gave a cooling tingling sensation. Instructions state that an hour is enough but after emailing Qilta I decided to leave them on until bed-time (I hate sleeping in socks!). On removing them my feet/calves felt lovely and soft. I thought even if the socks do nothing at least my feet are looking a little less like a ultra-runners! I used my normal socks/trail shoes for the race, I don’t suffer badly from blisters but usually have a few hot spots or sore toes after a race. In particular, one where my feet are wet for the whole race and there are long fire road/road sections like the Raw Ultra Wicklow Way 50. While other parts of my body were complaining about working hard my feet and calves were pretty quiet throughout the race. As instructed, I got the recovery pair of socks and dry shoes on within a few minutes of crossing the finish line after 9 hours 33 minutes on my feet. However, as I couldn’t get my running tights above my calves, the calf sleeves had to wait until later. The socks felt great on my tired feet. I decided to leave checking my feet for any issues until after I got home and washed. The socks stayed on for about 3 hours before I got home and was able to properly wash. After washing off the layers of mud, I was pleasantly surprised that I had no blisters, hot spots or sore toe nails."

BARRY MIDDLETON, Extreme Triathalon

Barry Middleton from Scotland has a passion for extreme triathlons many of which are part of the XTri World Tour series, set in the most inhospitable environments on earth. http://xtriworldtour.com/
Barry first used Qilta last August at Swedeman Extreme Triathlon where Qilta were a Key Sponsor https://www.swextri.com/
In December '18 Barry competed in the 1st hosting of Patagonman which is set in one of the last wildernesses in Ansen, Patagonia, Chile. http://www.patagonman.com/
This covered a swim 3.8 kilometres in 13 degrees toward Puerto Chacabuco, a ride of 180 kilometres into the windy, winding and hilly road of the famous Carretera Austral to Cerro Castillo and a run of 42.2 kilometres of dirt trail and rubble road following the Ibánez River through forest, next to beautiful lakes and waterfalls all the way to the General Carrera Lake. Using Qilta as part of his kit, Barry used 2 sets of Qilta the preceding 2 days before the event in preparation and 1 set for recovery. Here is Barry's Testimonial of his experience of Qilta.
" I have used Qilta for both Swedeman and Patagonman for recovery and I can say in both races afterwards, my legs were good within days which compared to the previous 7 Xtri style races I’ve done and is a major improvement in my recovery. I can put some of that down to fitness and race/post-race nutrition, but I would definitely try Qilta at my next set of races this year. If you’re doing fairly back to back brutal races recovering is everything, not least overall wellness. Qilta feels therapeutic and that in itself must be part of any efficacy."

CEES VAN DER LAND, Dutch 100 km National Champion

Cees Van der Land moved from Marathon to Ultra running and had difficulty recovering after multi day events. Qilta worked in partnership with ISPO, the Worlds Sports and Outdoor Recreation Trade fair in devising a significant trial across Europe using ISPO's vetted athletes and this is where Cees trialled Qilta. Here is Cees’s experience of using Qilta. "I have been running marathons for the last 10 years and over the last 2 years dipped my toes (socks?) into running ultra distances on the road and on the trail. With increased distance in racing and thereby training I was looking for better ways to recover between training runs and before big races. I came across the Qilta socks and signed up as a product tester last year. I had signed up for a short-ish (25km, 763m of climbing) trail race and was planning to wear the socks as part of my preparation. To really test the socks I decided to put in about 30km of running with 1230m of climbing across trails and fells the night before. My legs were pretty tired after that! After wearing the socks overnight I was surprised how fresh my legs were the next day and to my even bigger surprise I won the trail race the next day! The next trial of the socks was the night before the Hardwolds 80, an 80 mile trail race from Hessle to Filey across the Yorkshire moors. I had a similar result for that race, so sofar the Qilta socks are two for two for me! I’m looking forward to using Qilta for my upcoming races and during high volume training weeks. I think they can be really useful in multi-day ultra events (e.g. the Spine)."

CHRIS KNIGHT, QGM, Elite Athlete

Chris Knight, co-founder of ikonix coaching & is a British elite age-group athlete and a well travelled, experienced triathlon coach. www.ikonixcoaching.com. Chris is a member of the Norseman Xtri black t-shirt finisher club. In 2018 alone, he successfully completed Xtri World Tour events, including Celtman, Swissman, Swedeman and the ICON. Chris also enjoys undertaking ultra-running events. "It's the first time I've tried anything like this and I'll admit I was a little sceptical at first. The Qilta socks and calf guards feel great when you put them on; they give a nice cooling effect with a lovely menthol aroma. I am a triathlon coach specialising in extreme triathlons and I see a lot of products that make various claims, but the Qilta socks and calf guards really do have a positive effect on recovery.They just feel really comfortable after a big training session or race, especially something like the Swedeman Extreme Tri, it said to leave them on for at least an hour; I had them on all day. I've taken on a big challenge this year completing 4 extreme triathlons; Celtman 16 June, Swissman 23 June, Swedeman 11 August and the ICON 31 August. With Swedeman being my third in such a short space of time the Qilta socks and calf guards were a big help with my leg recovery. They would be of great benefit when travelling home from a race also; especially if flying. I noticed that my Qilta socks / calf sleeves started working Immediately! They just felt so comfortable that I left them on all day; very soothing to sore muscles."

DARREN PHELAN, Ultra Runner

It was while watching his brother compete in a race in Dingle that sparked Darrens interest and started his running journey. Darren is now an accomplished ultra runner seen across numerous events in Ireland with ambitions of UTMB. His last run was the the RawUltra Wicklow 50 mile race that started in Shielstown at 7 am in the morning and then trail ran in the worst of weather all the way back to Dublin. Darren used 1 set of Qilta in recovery after his event. This is Darren's experience of using Qilta. " On the 8th December I completed the Wicklow Way 50 mile trail race which included over 10,500ft of elevation. Immediately after the event I had a quick shower and put the Qilta calf sleeves and socks on. Immediately I felt coolness working it’s way into my calf’s and shins. I left the socks on for around 3 hours. Following morning I awoke to a body that was broken with the exception of my lower legs, absolutely amazing as it’s normally my calves that are shredded after such events. Qilta you need to make something for my quads or better still a full body stocking. Will definitely be using them again."

DAVE GOWAN, Partner in Kayathlon Events

I spoke to Qilta and said I was taking on the Art O’Neill Challenge on 11th January. I put a fresh pair going to bed the two nights before the event and a pair for afterwards. Race night arrives. Stage one passes fairly uneventfully as we leave solid ground and head for open mountain. We cross the last of the boggy sections having fallen into more holes than I care to count. I’m feeling ok and our group starts to spread out a bit but I’m feeling good and comfortably cross the finish line. Having very comfortably knocked circa 45mins off our time from last year we’re delighted and most importantly feeling fairly fresh. I’m not in the same discomfort I was last year, my feet are absolutely fine, my calves aren’t screaming at me. I’m determined to add a few more kms this year. I set off on foot I’m moving well and cover the last 5k reasonably comfortably. We head home, grab a shower and on go a fresh set of Qilta socks and sleeves. It’s Sunday and I’m feeling surprisingly ok. I jump on the turbo trainer and see how the legs are, I’ve a race planned for March. Monday morning and while the tenderness is certainly there it’s nowhere near what it should be. Stairs are still fine. Qilta really is on to a winner in terms of recovery. It really is ground breaking.

DEE BOLAND, Marathon Runner

The wonderful Dee Boland first came in contact with Qilta as she crewed Don Hannons epic 1038 kms Ireland Way in April '18 and witnessed at first hand what this product could do. Dee is heavily involved in running in Ireland and is the Race Director with Wexford Marathon http://www.wexfordmarathon.com/
Throughout 2018, Dee trialled Qilta for long distance events and became a key person in supporting us deliver this product to market.
We asked Dee if she would give us her testimonial on Qilta. "Just love these socks. A couple of days before the Kerry 100KM I was having trouble with my left calf. Darren Browne worked his magic and Jim from Qilta recommended I wear the socks for a couple of nights before the race, which I had never tried before. It made sense. My legs felt great on the day as a result. I put another pair on straight after the race. There is such a feeling of instant relief. But even more its no stiffness the following day. I will be wearing them before and after my next run in Italy in a couple of weeks. I can't recommend these enough! "

DEREK MAHON, Adventurer & High Altitude Climber

I had used the Qilta RSS during the triathlon and adventure race 2018 season. I was astonished with the results when used as advised – wear before and after event – and how my feet and calves were absent from any stress, strains, cramping or soreness. I am an adventurer and high altitude climber having summitted many mountains worldwide including Mount Everest in 2014 and most recently Aconcagua in Argentina South America. My most recent trip was a real test of the Qilta RSS and how they would react to both a different discipline, the use of different muscle sets at different speeds and of course at altitude. My strategy in using the Qilta RSS was to identify the most stressful days and the immediate required recovery day as the ascents and decents are steep, quick and very testing and stressful on your feet, calves and quads. I slept in Qilta RSS at Confluencia and recovered in Plaza De Mulas that evening. On both occasions I wore the RSS as another source of additional insulation within my sleeping bag as night temperature can reached easily below minus 5 degrees Celsius under clear star light skies. Initially Qilta does, I find leave your feet and calves cold but as the lining solutions absorb into the muscles both heat up and recover. Next morning, no aches pains or strains and another very positive recovery result. The next test was the climb to Nido de Condores which was a gain of approx. 700 meters. Again the RSS worked very well but I found with the additional altitude the absorption took a little longer which I put against the altitude and the decrease of O2 saturation levels. I gauged this from the time I put them on to the time taken for my feet and calves to warm up to normal. I then expected similar reaction at higher altitude and which proved correct again. However, as said previously, summit day was a very tough and an enduring 16 hour day, but getting back to Colera and having some energy to take crampons and boots off and put on the socks and sleeves, was a motivating factor.

DON HANNON, Long Distance Runner

Taking on the Ireland Way for Organ Donor Week, August 6, 2018 .
When we heard about Don Hannon’s goal to run from the Giant’s Causeway in Co Antrim to Castletownbere, Co Cork during Organ Donor Awareness week, we knew we had to get involved. As a startup, we were looking not only to make our mark in terms of brand awareness but also to get market validation and the best way to do that was by having athletes facing serious challenges trial our product. Don not only ticked the boxes above, but he was running with a lot of heart for a very special reason that we wanted to help him commemorate. Barely 2 years earlier, Don had donated half of his liver to his sister, Therese. She had a rare disease called primary biliary cirrhosis which is a type of liver disease caused by damage to the bile ducts in the liver. Much like other forms of liver disease, PBC permanently damages the liver as tissue is replaced with scar tissue (fibrosis). As more scar tissue develops, the structure and function of the liver are affected. The exact cause of PBC is unknown. But it may be related to a problem with the immune system, which is the body's natural defense system. Don recalls when asked “it took me a millisecond to decide!” He undertook the run through woodland, farmland, bog land and seven mountain ranges along The Ireland Way to raise organ donor awareness. Don is believed to be the first man to run the full distance of The Ireland Way. The toll that this type of challenge brings to maintaining healthy skin and muscle is obvious and when it came to feedback, the results were clear “I found that using Qilta helped a lot on the road to recovery to help me face another day on the trail,” says Don, “I was lucky to avoid the usual blistering this time around and even a physio that I visited mid way through the race commented on the great condition of my feet and legs, considering!”

DOUG STEWART, Ultra-Marathon Runner

"At the inaugural Swedeman Xtreme Triathlon in August 2018 I had the pleasure of using the Qilta calf sleeves and socks post-race. I was immediately impressed by the cooling sensation and how good my lower legs and feet felt the day after the race. This was a real relief as I had a mountainous ultra-marathon two weeks after the Swedeman, so fast recovery was essential. I was so impressed by the results that as I have begun ramping up my training for Ultra Trail Du Mont Blanc this year, I had the pleasure of using Qilta for 3 consecutive weeks and put them through a variety of different tests to see how the product worked for me. Test 1: I used them for a 5hr training run. I wore Qilta on Friday and Saturday evening, completed my long run on Sunday and wore another pair after this run. The Monday morning my lower legs and feet felt 100% and I was able to go into another hard week of training. Test 2: The second test involved me running back to back long runs on consecutive days. I wore the Qiltas on the night before Day 1 and then after each day. As with the first test I was extremely impressed by Qilta and their effect on my feet and lower limbs. Once again I was able to go straight into another hard training week. Test 3: This involved cycling and running. Day 1 involved running, the second day involved cycling up the mountain. I used Qilta that evening and immediately felt the cooling sensation. The next day I went to climb the mountain on the bike and my quadriceps were hurting. I found myself having to stand out of the saddle a lot more than I normally do when cycling and make use of my calf muscles a lot more, which were feeling fresh. On return home used my final pair of Qiltas to aid my recovery. Overall, I have been extremely impressed by Qilta and they will become a crucial part of my recovery strategy for hard training and racing going forward.

ELLEN VITTING, Triathalon & Adventure Racer

Qilta have supported me in the run up to the 2019 season and I have started to use their socks and calf sleeves for a number of events. I used the socks and calf sleeves before of the event and after. I kept them on overnight the two days preceding the event. I find them comfortable to sleep in and I woke with my feet feeling soft and relaxed. Legs were feeling refreshed and rearing to go the morning of the event, which started on the bike so immediately the pace was pretty fast and furious. It was an extremely tough day given the weather conditions as competitors were battered by winds and driving rain throughout the race. Very happy to come away with a win and 8th overall in the expert category. Immediately after the event I changed into dry clothes and put on a pair of the Qilta socks and sleeves to help with the recovery. I love the immediate cooling effect they have and despite having picked up some fairly bad cuts and bruises the product did not sting or burn in any way.I woke the next day feeling physically tired but with surprisingly fresh legs. I decided to go for a short easy run and my legs felt good, a bit tired and the hamstrings felt tight but no pain or tightness in the calves. I cannot praise the product enough for their help in preparing and in the post race recovery. I am so grateful for Qilta’s support, I have found their product an immense help in the preparation and recovery for events.

EOIN KEITH, Ultra Runner

I've used the Qilta system as a significant component in my pre-race perparation, particularly on the night before big multi-day ultra races, getting my muscles in optimal condition for the major task ahead! The system also provides noticeable relief for thrashed muscles in post-race recovery. I compete in Ireland and around the world in the sports of Ultra Running and Adventure Racing.My first ultra run was a ~50km race over the hills of Wicklow back in the late 90s. Since then I have steadily pushed out the distances I race. I currently hold, or have held, the Irish records for 24 hour running (248.4km), 48 hour road running (343km) and 6 day running (815km), along with many course records for Irish ultras. I held the world record for the fastest crossing of Ireland on Foot, running from Mizen Head to Malin Head in 3 days, 3 hours, 47 minutes in May 2017. My best race results were finishing 5th at the 24 hour world championships in Bergamo in 2009, finishing as second place 40+ veteran in the 2013 UTMB and 2nd place 50+ veteran in 2021, finishing 2nd in the 6-day World Trophy in Hungary in 2015, and winning the Spine Race in 2016 (Setting a new course record) and 2022, along with the Summer Spine Race in 2021 (setting a new course record). In 2019 I won the 170km UTMB Oman race. I am a multiple winner of the Irish 24 hour Running Championships, and have been awarded the Athletics Ireland Ultrarunner of the year on 4 occasions (the only person to win this award more than once).

EOIN MACELHINNEY, Marathon Runner

As a 4 hour marathon runner I’d usually be averaging 160KM monthly training early in the year. On 17th January I suffered a bad fall running and severely sprained ankle ligaments. At same time Qilta products were made available to me. Once I was up to approx. 3 x 3 km daily, I targeted doing a 3KM set and then wear the sock and sleeve for rest of day and that evening do a 7KM in a set, with a day’s recovery where I’d use both the sock and sleeve set, then the next day repeat 3 and 7KM day. I initially noticed ankle swelling down more noticeably than nightly rest and particularly the thick Achilles I’d been carrying was also reduced. I then put on fresh Qilta sleeves and socks and wore all day through to next morning. The same warm on lower leg and cool on feet feelings occurred. The following day having worn them in bed my legs felt very loose and relaxed so I walked and after showering got into last set of Qilta sleeves and socks and again the same feelings occurred. In summary for a marked increase in mileage in a short period ie 4 days, I found the Qilta products negated any potential tiredness, fatigue symptoms that would have arisen. I was at physio and she noticed my movement, calf softness and subtlety was much improved on 2 week previous visit, and Achilles swelling was substantially reduced. She gave me the OK to start light grass work 3 weeks ahead of hospital’s estimate. I hope to try Qilta products again. I feel they aided my recovery substantially in a key week post injury and immediately pre a physio review on recommencing running.