Massage - pre or post race?

FinallyKrisB · February 2012

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 · February 2012

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

ebeth_msn · February 2012

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 · February 2012

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 · February 2012

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 · February 2012

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

FinallyKrisB · February 2012

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 · February 2012

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 · February 2012

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 · February 2012

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 · February 2012

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 · February 2012

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 · February 2012

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

Massage - pre or post race?

Re: Massage - pre or post race?

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