Roll on, relax, recover.

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Full disclosure: I am not a runner.

More of a sprinter/jogger/fast walker/ “ambler,” depending on my mood/the day.

But no matter my stride and urge to move, I def “feel it” at the end of the day. (Thanks, older age.)

Years ago, when my workout routine was much more of a routine thing, I turned to magnesium oil – essentially Epsom salts in a spray – to alleviate any muscle cramping, soreness, and even mild bruising. A few spritzes and, after a few minutes of rubbing said oil deep into my skin, I felt…well, first, some really intense tingling. (Studies indicate that this tingling is a result of something called vasodilatation, which is your blood vessels widening and increasing blood flow upon the mineral’s application.) But usually after just a day or two, the aforementioned muscle fatigue I normally experienced was no more.

Magnesium oil, however, is not necessarily the best “to-go” product. Meaning, my go-to bottle was over 3 oz in size, and even tucking it safely away in my gym bag (or checked luggage) didn’t guarantee a free-from-messy-leaks experience.

So when I learned of the magic that is a rollerball applicator, courtesy of Summary’s vegan, magnesium-rich Cool Down Muscle Gel, I was ecstatic (as were my workout clothes).

Summary’s muscle gel ingredients also piqued my interests:

• Magnesium, Zinc, Copper – revitalize muscle
• Spearmint Leaf Oil – cools and promotes relaxation
• Menthol – eases tension and stiffness
• Aloe Leaf Juice – hydrates and comforts skin
• Butterfly Pea Flower Extract – soothes and protects
• Caffeine – stimulates micro-circulation

And its rich gray-blue hue, thanks to butterfly pea flower extract (which may fade over time, but does not mean its efficacy has been compromised), signaled visually exactly what was to come.

I first opted to test the Muscle Gel at the end of a busy Saturday – after sweeping late spring magnolia leaves, vacuuming and dusting the house top to bottom, jogging with my Pug, and trekking across the city in search of fresh farmers’ market finds. By that evening my thighs and core were already “complaining.” So, with bottle in hand, I easily glided the gel (which goes on clear) up and down my legs and along the sides of my torso. Though I missed the subtle sting I came to know using straight magnesium oil, what I felt instead was a “cooling” across my skin, accompanied by a subtly sweet menthol scent which dissipated rather quickly.

And…well, I didn’t notice too much else. Except to say that I snuggled into a great autobiography (thanks, Flea) and soon fell into a deep sleep. And when morning arose, and I with it, I stretched my legs and realized that the tenderness in my thigh was no more. It was as though I was gifted a massage by a few night sprites?

Gives my mantra of “keep on rolling” a whole new meaning.