You've been training for months, and the day is finally here. You're about to run a marathon! When you finish, you will be able to tell people that you are a marathon runner -- and nobody will ever be able to take that honor away from you. However, the days that follow your race may be a little uncomfortable if you are not prepared to deal with muscle soreness. Here are four things you can do after the race to help prevent your muscles from becoming quite so sore.
1. Take an ice bath.
Immersing your legs in a tub of ice water may sound like the last thing you'd want to do after running 26.2 miles. However, runners have long relied on ice baths to ease muscle soreness and speed recovery after races and hard workouts. Fill up a tub with cold water, sit in the tub, and add a few trays of ice cubes. Sit in there for 6six to eight minutes. This is long enough to enjoy the full effects. Try to distract yourself with music or by watching a television show to make the ice bath less uncomfortable.
2. Rub CBD oil on our muscles.
There are CBD muscle rubs, and you can also simply use a mixture of pure CBD oil and olive oil. Apply a few drops to each leg, and spend about five minutes rubbing the oil in. CBD oil is excellent for promoting relaxation and preventing muscle soreness. If you choose to take this step and also to take an ice bath, do the ice bath first. Rubbing your muscles with CBD oil is a good way to warm them back up after the time in the ice.
3. Eat a meal.
The sooner you eat after running a marathon, the faster your body will recover. Look for a healthy meal that features carbohydrates and protein, preferably in a 3:1 ratio. A tall glass of chocolate milk is a good choice if you're not in the mood for solid food yet. A bagel spread with some peanut butter works well, too.
4. Stay active.
You may want to do nothing more than sit on the couch all day. However, if possible, you should try to stay a little active as this will keep your muscles looser. Get up and walk around the house every hour, do some light cleaning, or just stroll around the block later that night.
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