We’ve talked a lot about what you’re supposed to do prior to running a marathon, a feat that can prove quite challenging. But there’s another aspect to a lengthy race that typically goes unmentioned, and that’s what occurs after you’ve made it to the finish line.
After the “runner’s high” subsides, a lot of people, especially first time marathoners, may ask themselves a singular question: now what? After all, you’ve just made it through one of the toughest things you’ve ever asked your body to accomplish, so you may end up feeling a little bit listless once that is complete.
With the Boston Marathon taking place today, a new report has come out from the Boston Herald that highlights some of the things a runner might do after a marathon is complete. By following its lead, you may be able to keep potential injuries at bay so that you can take the progress you’ve made in the past few months and keep it going all throughout the year or until the next marathon comes up.
One of the most important things to realize is that your body is going to need an ample amount of rest. Every time you strike the pavement, your body is being stressed. While this may not mean much when you’re only running a couple miles, it can be downright hazardous when your frame is being pummeled for upwards of 26 miles.
You shouldn’t just expect the muscles in your legs to bounce right back from the marathon. If you do and you restart intense exercise right away, you might think you’re conditioning your body for heightened levels of stress, but what you’re really doing is disabling your body’s ability to repair itself. Any damage that accumulated will go un-repaired and you could sustain a serious injury that takes you out of contention for weeks or months.
Rest! You’ve just accomplished something that not a lot of people can do, and you should reward yourself for this. Take a day off from running and lounge around the house. Binge-watch a television show while eating nutritious meals throughout the day. Go and get a massage. After more than 24 hours has elapsed, make sure to take part in some light stretching so that your muscles remain limber and don’t lock up on you.
After a few more days, if you feel like you’re absolutely craving some type of exercise, then do something that won’t prove all that taxing. A nice cool swim can get your blood flowing, as can a bike ride. Whatever you do, you’ll want to avoid the impacts that can exacerbate any damage that still remains.
For more information, be sure to click the link up above.