On January 30th, 2011, Miami will once again host the ING Marathon and Half Marathon. Both running events can be quite taxing on your body and integrating massage into your training schedule will make it easier for your body.
There are two aspects of Marathon Massage: the Pre-Marathon Massage, and the Post-Marathon Massage. Both have their different benefits and when combined help you compete better during your marathon and recover faster after your marathon. Our certified massage therapists are familiar with working on runners and know the difference between a pre-race massage, which is done lightly to get your blood flowing, and a post-race massage, which is much deeper.
Pre-Marathon Massage: Massage is an important part of serious training and can do wonders for overly active muscles a week before a big race such as a marathon. A pre-race massage should be done five to six days before the race.
Intense training builds your endurance and muscle tissue. At the same time, this dedication, if not balanced, is counterproductive to great performance.
If you really want to get the absolute most out of your marathon, then here is an excellent tip from an expert runner:
In the last days before your marathon you should aim to relax your muscles as much as possible. Tension and activity causes toxins and acids to store in your muscle fibers and it is these toxins and acids that can cause you to tense up during your marathon and therefore not perform to your potential.
A Swedish massage coupled with stretching is ideal for this. The massage actively helps to release the toxins from your body. Stay fully hydrated by drinking at least 8 glasses of water spread throughout the day to continue to remove the toxins from your body and you will leave yourself in top physical condition for race day.
Post-Marathon Massage: The day after a marathon experts recommend that you walk for a few minutes, then jog very easily for one or two miles. Gently stretch after your jog and try to have your post-race massage right after your run when muscles are warm and blood is flowing. Our talented massage therapists will help you jump start your Marathon recovery with our post marathon massage.
If you've expended the energy to complete a marathon, your body definitely deserves a massage! Not only will you feel better afterward, it will help those overworked muscles relax & recover that faster. Generally, it takes a minimum of two to three weeks for the body to recover from the strain of running a Marathon. If you return to running too quickly you may increase your likelihood of injury. Integrating a massage routine into your marathon training schedule will help you recover faster and run farther. While getting a quick rubdown at the finish-line massage tent may have felt good, a full massage 24 to 48 hours after the marathon works much more effectively in speeding your healing process.
Since you have likely just pushed your body to its limits, it's very important that you receive the correct kind of massage, tailored just for you and the particular state of your muscles. Running long distances causes small strains &/or tears in the muscle tissue, and the goal of post-race massage is to speed recovery, not break it down further.
You will likely want a medium pressure massage that incorporates a lot of Swedish-type strokes and stretching to boost your circulation, bring fresh oxygen and nutrient rich blood to your muscle fibers. A massage will also help push out painful lactic acid. A warm bath, plenty of water, good massage, vitamin-rich foods including protein, and sleep will all help you recover faster and feel better sooner.
Love Life Massage has been proud to work with many of the Miami Marathon’s best runners for the last 5 years. We have designed customized pre and post marathon massages to help you heal faster and feel better sooner. Please visit our website for more information www.lovelifemassage.com or call (305) 975-2213.
Comments