Yes, you did it—you finally completed a marathon!
After weeks of training and preparation, you crossed the finish line and ticked another listed item on your bucket list. But while the rush of success may tempt you to go straight ahead to joining another one, there are a couple of things that you should know.
Firstly, you must understand that it is essential to go through proper marathon recovery before training for the next! To help you in that effort, here are some tips that you need to know to make a great marathon recovery.
Recovering From a Marathon—An Expert’s Opinion
Tip 1: Eat, Sleep, and Heal
After a long day, you need to hit the showers, enjoy a nice protein-rich victory meal, and go to bed to get proper rest. When you wake up, take things easy. This period is the time to heal your muscles from the grueling training and preparations that you’ve put it through for these past few months.
Unfortunately, going right back into the running routine isn’t going to help you and may actually hurt you. As such, most professional coaches recommend resting for three days to a week depending on the distance you’ve completed.
If this wasn’t your first time and you want to stay active, then do some light walking and enjoy the scenery. Morning yoga is also a great way to stretch those muscles and keep your mind and body active. But if you’re absolutely spent, then not exercising for a while is just as fine!
Tip 2: Regain Your Strength Before Running
Achieving your first marathon completion doesn’t mean that you should just forget about healthy living. While you’re on your road to recovery, eat lots of protein-rich food with vitamins and minerals that can help you regain your strength. Getting proper sleep is also essential in keeping the body healthy and happy.
Tip 3: Do Some Cross-Training
Consistency is key if you want to keep running marathons or keep it as a regular habit. To keep up an active lifestyle, put some variety into your routine. Instead of going into running right away, start with a walk, jog, or hike. You can even go to the gym and do some other types of cardio exercises.
Make sure to pace yourself. For better results, try to get a trainer with you that can plan a recovery workout routine for you and gradually increase the intensity when your body is ready.
If you want to take on another marathon, then you better start planning your training soon! Experts recommend that you only complete two marathons a year because of its intense training. Ask your trainer to help you make necessary preparations for the next one by making running your main focus. Whether you’re running to win or just to finish, it is still essential to implore the aid of people who know how to guide your fitness journey.
Conclusion
Completing a marathon is a great lifetime achievement, but you’re going to have to rest after accomplishing such a great feat. Even champions need to rest their bodies to prepare for the next step ahead. These tips allow you to recover and still encourages you to continuously live a healthy and active lifestyle.
Have you recently finished one grueling marathon? While the taste of success is sweet, the morning after may feel a little sore. It’s great to have a marathon recovery plan to help you feel better after achieving such a feat. Meg Parker is a skilled intentional health coach with resources and programs that can help you get the gold. Get in touch with us today to find out more!
