In our many years of experience, we’ve seen runners who, in some cases, have trained at half the marathon distance before the event day and still complete the marathon on the same day.
Despite such heroics, it’s essential always to honour your body and its limitations. Remember, you can always ‘live to fight another day’ – there are marathons worldwide, and in some beautiful places too!
Crucially, success on the day of the marathon is not just about how long and hard you’ve hit the streets for during training.
What are other essential factors for success on the London Marathon day?
Before the London Marathon, it is tempting to try to squeeze in more hard training. If you do, you are in a danger zone. This is the time we see the most injuries, as runners can be tempted to panic and run too hard. Or worse still, at the beginning of their longest run so far. If you are a professional runner, and/or receiving running coaching, then listen to your coach, but otherwise accept what training you have done so far, and concentrate on the other essential factors for success on the London Marathon day:
- Nutrition
- Energy levels
- Mental wellbeing
So in the last few days before the event, the most important things to do are;
- Eat healthily
- Rest – Body & Mind
- Stay positive and get ready to enjoy the upcoming exciting event!
On the day of the event, many first-timers are pleasantly surprised by how truly supportive the London Marathon crowds really are – it provides a massive boost of adrenaline and encouragement, serving as a big shot of energy.
How can sports massage help me prepare for the London Marathon?
Sports massage is about maximising results, minimising the risk of injury, and treating injuries when they occur. It forms a healthy and helpful part of a pre-London Marathon training regime, easing muscles that have been pounding London’s streets and parks.
Many London Marathon runners visit us in the days before the event (whether or not they have been coming for regular treatments) for a last-minute sports massage, and we’re sure that pretty much all London Marathon runners are looking forward to getting their muscles flushed out post-event!
Don’t worry about coming in for a sports massage too soon afterwards. If you are still sore after the London Marathon, the Massaggi team will work with you gently accordingly. However, it will still be very effective in restoring your legs to their former glowing happiness!
Oh yes – and if you are a temporary marathon ‘widow’, or ‘widower’, (i.e. you have temporarily ‘lost’ your partner to marathon training), perhaps you might like to buy a Massaggi gift voucher for yourself – as a present for putting up with all those lonely evenings in, whilst your partner was out training?
Enhance Your Marathon Training with Sports Remedial Massage
Although marathoners widely use massage techniques to help them avoid injury and overcome problems arising from shin and knee pain during training, Ben Pianese’s combination of techniques also helps enhance performance.
Many athletes swear by the power of massage to keep their muscles in perfect condition so that they are ready to face the prospect of a race with confidence.
Whatever your motives for taking part in a marathon, sports remedial massage can help you to achieve your goal.
A healthy circulatory system for maximum potential
You run around a track, park, or maybe your garden, but how do you improve circulation? How can you improve circulation within the body to enhance your performance, avoid sports injuries, and give you stamina? You would be surprised to learn that many essential elements require constant movement. A healthy circulatory system ensures that blood, hormones, water (lymph), and gases are efficiently passed through the body, providing essential nutrients.
So you are running a marathon and for some reason, you feel like you are carrying more than your body weight, what can possibly cause this feeling? Well, you are not the only one who needs to feel like you are running with ease.
The internal fluids of the body such as blood and water need to run fluently in order for the engine that is your body to reach its maximum potential.
The feeling of lethargy and fatigue that you experience is due to the Lymphatic system being blocked. This obstacle can be removed with a gentle nudge in the right direction. Massage should be part of any runner’s fitness program. It sounds painful, I hear you ask, but actually, this massage treatment is a way to stay on the right track and will work wonders for you.
How massage helps flush out toxins and aid detoxification
So, does massage work? The aim is to move lymph (fluid) through the Lymph nodes (glands) to release a build-up of toxins. These toxins can also cause bacterial infections and weaken your immune system. It’s a great way to loosen and dispose of fatty deposits… this could be the reason for the fatigue you are experiencing.
Marathon runners, as well as anyone participating in physical activity, need to stay ahead. As the winter months draw in, we are more susceptible to colds and flu, which can, of course, hinder our progress. Massage helps marathoners strengthen their inner body and immune system, enabling them to run and work out in all weather conditions.
Most of us will experience swollen glands, particularly the glands connected to the ear and throat. This is when you should consult your doctor. However, there are glands within the body that are not visible to us, so you may be unaware that a problem exists. Marathon runners can feel physical pain and injury if they have pulled or torn a muscle. The pain indicates that something isn’t quite right.
It isn’t easy to work out the inner feelings that can cause mental pain and confusion. This suggests that the body’s circulatory system is not functioning correctly.
Secrets to running a marathon faster
Sports remedial massage is a treatment we at our Massaggi sports clinic have found to be the most effective. It drains the body of excess fluids and waste, making you feel light and comfortable. Coupled with Lymphatic Drainage, you will run rings around anyone and any place, no matter the distance.
