Sports massage isn’t like the sort of massage you’d have at a beauty salon or spa – they’re like being gently nuzzled by a kitten compared to a good old sports massage. Being manhandled by a pair of strong hands that search out all your sore spots and press them repeatedly may not sound like fun, but for me it’s one of the highlights of marathon training.
Not only is there that pleasure/pain of having your muscles stretched and rubbed down, but for a sports massage is also an excuse for 45 minutes of pure unadulterated talking about running, races and PBs. Out of the confines of this blog I’m careful not to bore people in real life with too much running chat. But when it comes to paid sports professionals I let it all out. It’s not just a massage but a running counselling session.
Running two marathons just six weeks apart was an ambitious challenge to take on but to get me from Brighton Marathon to Edinburgh Marathon with two working legs I decided a sports massage or two was in order. The first, a few days after marathon number one losened up my legs and helped me get back to training within a week. Then when disaster looked like it had struck my achilles I booked in for another a week before marathon number two – and 45 minutes of taper brain rambling was worth the £25 alone.
Yesterday, I had another sports massage as part of my Edinburgh Marathon recovery and my legs feel refreshed and ready to get back to training and attack that 10K PB. If you haven’t had a sports massage before – here’s my tips:
- Ask around among other runners for recommendations.
- Look for a masseur who has an interest in running or experience treating runners.
- Don’t plan to run after a sports massage.
- Take a pair of shorts with you – some practitioners will expect you to wear them.
- Enjoy it – it really shouldn’t hurt but it might be uncomfortable. If you’re in pain tell your practitioner.
Who wouldn’t? my massage therapy oakville pal said it’s one of their more popular offsite services.
Oddly, I’m afraid of even getting a sports massage. It looks too rough to me; I’d probably just stay put with my regular spa treatment.
A sports massage sounds interesting, seems like an intense one. Though for now, I’ll enjoy a day of pampering at a local spa as we were given a free gift certificate by our boss.
The good thing about a sports massage is that it applies much-needed pressure to vital joints and muscles used in strenuous physical activity in a manner more intensive than a regular spa treatment. It’s definitely one of those top massages for people who do a lot of physical work.
I do hear sports massages are highly recommended these days. They target core muscle groups and can be a good way to cool down after some strenuous physical activities. just don’t overdo it, though; too much of it may cause extra muscle pain.
Sports massage looks exciting and it’s something that is worth the try. I think this will definitely help me in my weight loss counseling program!