Gearing up for a marathon is nothing short of grueling and requires a great amount of commitment and focus as an athlete. As runners gear up for one of the biggest races in the United States - the Boston Marathon - they’re continuing to train harder each and every day before tapering out before the big day. At TimTam, we’re inspired by the athletes with the stamina and dedication to do what many people see as impossible -- which in this case, is running 26.2 miles in only a matter of hours. That’s why we’ve compiled a list of the best tips for recovering inspired by the runners of the Boston Marathon. From dynamic stretches after crossing the finish line to massage using TimTam round tips, we’re here with all the recovery tips to keep you moving.

Make Recovery Easier by Starting Early

Eating Properly will Help You Stay Strong & Recover Easier

All marathon runners know that their training and diet leading up to the race are vital in making sure they have the energy to cross the finish line. But the positive effects of your diet don’t end with the race. By eating a healthy diet leading up to the race, your body is more prepared for the toll that running takes on your body, allowing your muscles to be ready to heal following the race. Leading up to the race, be sure to eat 70-80% of your calories in carbohydrates alone. While your body converts this glycogen to fuel for your body to give you energy, these carbohydrates also help make your muscles stronger and therefore ready to recover.

Keep Moving & Begin Dynamic Stretching

Stopping Immediately After the Finish Line is the Worst Thing You Could Do

Marathon runners know that your race doesn’t end at the finish line. Runners put in the time to continue moving with a gentle cool-down before the celebration and relaxation begin. Other athletes would benefit greatly from taking the time to cool down after a workout too. Doing some walking, light jogging, biking, or dynamic stretches - like stretching quads or hip-flexing while walking - not only helps begin flushing out the build-up of lactic acids, but helps your heart rate decrease more gradually. Your body needs time to reach its normal levels after a long run, and stopping abruptly could result in fainting or lightheadedness. Afterward, keep your body warm with the blanket given to you to ensure that your body begins mending micro-injuries and restores blood flow naturally.

Begin Icing to Decrease Swelling and Inflammation

Compress and Cool Muscles to Boost Recovery

Shortly after the race, spend about 10 minutes in an ice bath. After overexertion, our muscles swell and become inflamed and achy. Help prevent this ache with cold therapy and compression, which can be done with compression tights or TimTam floss bands. By compressing key muscles, you’ll help restore proper blood flow and myofascial release, which will help you stay flexible and maintain a full range of motion. After icing, take time to roll your muscles with a foam roller to continue breaking up lactic acids. Taking the time to cool and compress muscles early not only helps decrease recovery times, but can make you feel less sore after the race.

The Next Day Massage

Treat Yourself to a Low-Intensity Massage in the Days After

After a marathon, it’s no surprise that athletes can be sore for several days. After 24 hours, it’s a great idea to get a massage to help release lingering tension and aches in your muscles. You can achieve the power and efficiency of a massage by hand with the TimTam Power Massager, which provides 2,000 pulses a minute to muscle groups all throughout the body. Take this massage to the next level with our round tips, which allow you to add heat to your Power Massager’s percussive massage. The addition of heat - supplied by simple microwaving the hot round tip for 15 seconds - can help soothe muscles and get you up moving faster than ever before.

Recovering from a tough workout can sometimes feel like a burden, but the added benefits that recovery provides the body with are undeniable and can help you become a stronger athlete day after day. To take your recovery to the next level - whether your a seasoned marathon runner or training for your first 5k - try out TimTam’s collection of modern recovery tools. Featuring everything from power massagers, round tips, and massage balls, TimTam is sure to have the tools that can take your performance to the next level.