Massage - pre or post race?

FinallyKrisB

I have a massage GC from Christmas and would like to use it soon.  Are sports massages more beneficial prerace (and how soon before the race) or post race as recovery?

Starryfish

I go post-race for recovery. Its more painful that way (for me), but it helps in recovery.

ebeth_msn

I"m sure it can be beneficial pre-race if you have some kind of injury or something.  

but I'd stick to post race.  even if it's beneficial pre-race I don't want to waste my massage on muscles that are going to be sore and stiff soon anyway.  

gumiberg

i always get a pre-race massage - they make you race faster!  4 days is before the race is ideal.  3 days is OK.  any sooner than that and you wont heal.

if a race makes me sore, i rather do ART for a faster recovery.

DallasBride4/05

Post-race massage is my recovery secret.  I notice such a difference in muscle stiffness on Monday if I don't get my post-race massage.  My theory is it helps to push the lactic acid out of the muscles, but I have no scientific basis for this.

Seriously, if I have a good massage after the race, come Monday it feels like I did not even run on Sunday.

abvernon

I would reward myself post race! I have something to look forward to!

FinallyKrisB

gumiberg:

i always get a pre-race massage - they make you race faster!  4 days is before the race is ideal.  3 days is OK.  any sooner than that and you wont heal.

This is what I wanted to hear!

robinsokj

If you've never done a pre race massage, I would do it post.  It has beneficial qualities either way, but doing it pre could potentially loosen your muscles more than you're used to which could cause injury. 

FinallyKrisB

robinsokj:

If you've never done a pre race massage, I would do it post.  It has beneficial qualities either way, but doing it pre could potentially loosen your muscles more than you're used to which could cause injury. 

I understand what you're saying, but then would you NEVER get a prerace massage.  I'm not sure how you would logically ease into it?  Either you do it or not, right?

Help me think it through.

 

jerseygirl81

My mom is an LMT, and she said either to do it more than 4 days pre-race or immediately following. FWIW, I once got a massage on a Thursday and I felt really weird on my Saturday long run 2 days later. I couldn't really put my finger on it at the time, but my muscles just didn't feel as responsive. Of course, it could have been all mental.

robinsokj

FinallyKrisB:

robinsokj:

If you've never done a pre race massage, I would do it post.  It has beneficial qualities either way, but doing it pre could potentially loosen your muscles more than you're used to which could cause injury. 

I understand what you're saying, but then would you NEVER get a prerace massage.  I'm not sure how you would logically ease into it?  Either you do it or not, right?

Help me think it through.

 

If I wanted to start getting pre race massages I would try it a few days before long runs a few times just to get accustomed to it

shorty20

I would do it post, personally. 

However, I think the main point if you want to do it beforehand is to do it several days out, not like the day before.

rogerskevin

I would reward myself with massage post race. It helps in recovery.