Eat healthily. Rest body & mind, and STAY POSITIVE for the London Marathon!
By early April most London Marathon runners are ‘tapering off’, and are getting ready to rest, and eat well pre London Marathon. It is normal at this stage for runners to ask themselves “have I trained enough/in the right way?”
Have I trained enough/in the right way?
In our many years of experience we’ve seen runners who have, in some cases, trained at half the marathon distance before the day of the event, and still complete the marathon on the day.
Despite such heroics, it’s important to always honour your body and it’s 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 important factors for success on London Marathon day?
In the last week or so 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, beat the time 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 important factors for success on 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 exciting event that is coming up!
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 huge boost of adrenaline and encouragement, and serves as a big shot of energy on the day!
How can sports massage help my London Marathon?
Sports massage is about maximising results, minimising chance of injury, and treating injury when it has happened. 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 City Sports Massage London team will work accordingly gently, but 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 City Sports Massage gift voucher for yourself – as a present for putting up with all those lonely evenings in, whilst your partner was out training?
Have fun on Marathon day – Good luck – and ENJOY the event!
The post How to stay injury free in the last few days pre-London Marathon, AND have the best chance of success appeared first on Sports Massage News & Articles.
