IV therapy as part of an athletic recovery routine has moved out of the pro-team locker room and into regular use among serious amateurs. The reasoning is straightforward: training depletes fluid, electrolytes, and certain amino acids on a known timeline, and the IV route restores them faster than oral intake can. Here is the practical breakdown of what athletes use, when, and why.
Where IV therapy fits in a recovery stack
Recovery from training is a stack: sleep, food, hydration, mobility, and time. IV therapy sits in the hydration-and-micronutrient layer of that stack. It does not replace sleep, food, or training periodization. It accelerates the rehydration step and the micronutrient-replacement step, both of which limit how quickly you can productively train again.
The clearest use cases are around volume spikes (a long run, a brick session, a peak-week training block, or an event), and around the recovery window in the 24 to 48 hours after.
What athletes actually book at Dripology
The most common services for athletic recovery clients at our Beverly Hills and Flatiron locations:
- Hydration with electrolytes: the simplest and most-used. One liter of saline plus electrolytes, post-long-run or post-race. Runs in 20 to 30 minutes.
- Myers Cocktail: hydration plus B-complex, B12, vitamin C, magnesium, and calcium. The default mid-week recovery drip during a heavy block.
- Magnesium-forward bag: for clients dealing with consistent muscle tightness, cramping, or post-race calf issues.
- Amino acid blends: certain amino acids are involved in muscle protein synthesis and recovery signaling. Amino blends are often added to a Myers Cocktail or hydration bag.
- Glutathione push: for antioxidant support around higher-volume periods or environmental stretches with poor air quality.
- NAD+ infusion: some endurance clients build NAD+ into a longevity-and-performance protocol, often before a big training block rather than after a single session.
Timing around training and racing
The most useful timing windows we see:
- Three to seven days before a goal race or event: a hydration plus B-complex session can support taper week without disrupting it.
- Within 24 hours after a long run, race, or hard session: hydration is the primary value. Amino acids and glutathione can be added based on your goals.
- Mid-week in a peak training block: a Myers Cocktail once or twice a week is a common cadence for clients running 40 to 70 mile weeks or training for a major event.
- Post-race or post-event recovery: a hydration plus glutathione session within a day or two of a marathon, triathlon, or long-course event compresses how long the depleted feeling lasts.
What we generally do not recommend is an IV session immediately before a hard workout or race. The fluid load can shift comfort and timing in unpredictable ways. Build the session into recovery, not into the warmup.
What IV therapy will not do
It will not replace lost sleep. It will not undo undertraining or overtraining. It will not offset chronic underfueling. It will not substitute for a real rest day. The clients who get the most out of IV therapy as part of athletic recovery are the ones who already have the rest of the recovery stack in place and are using IV to fill the gaps the body cannot close fast enough on its own.
How a session runs at Dripology
You arrive, complete intake with your RN, and settle into a private suite. Hydration alone runs 20 to 30 minutes. A Myers Cocktail or hydration with multiple add-ons runs 30 to 45 minutes. Most athletic recovery clients come in compressed in time and book accordingly. We have charging cables, quiet seating, and protein and electrolyte options on hand.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I do an IV the day after a marathon?
Yes. The day after is one of the most common booking windows for athletic recovery clients. Hydration plus magnesium, plus optional glutathione and amino acids, is the typical combination.
Will IV therapy improve my race performance?
It will not directly improve race-day output. What it can support is recovery between hard sessions in training, which over time allows for higher-quality work. Race performance is downstream of training quality.
How often should an athlete in heavy training book IV therapy?
Once a week during peak blocks is a common cadence. Once every two to four weeks during base or maintenance phases is typical. Your RN can suggest a schedule based on your training calendar.
Athletic recovery IV services are available at both Dripology locations, in Beverly Hills (Los Angeles) and Flatiron (New York City). Contact the concierge team to plan a session around your training calendar.