Article Marathon Recovery Massage

Marathon Leg Recovery-Michael Gillan Ultra Marathon Recovery Specialist

Copyright 2008 Michael Gillan http://www.aching-legs-relief.com/marathon_runner.html

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Fatigued Legs Recovery

Leg recovery using an environmentally friendly recovery system

Marathon or ultra marathon-the problems are similar and recovery is the same!

There are magazines and websites about marathon runners and running that cover techniques, equipment, events, and clubs, so I can’t add anything new here and am not going to try to do it

What I am going to cover is an area that should interest everyone who does it but which not too may people know anything about-recovery after pushing yourself too far

Recovery

Recovery after marathon training and running in an event is important-simply because you have a normal working, domestic, study or any other life after it and if you are like most people who run you probably push the limits too far occasionally and finish up sore and stiff as well

Marathon is initially an individual sport where people train by themselves or with a number of friends, or club and then join in with 30,000 people or so where anyone they entered with may be lost somewhere along the way

Because of its collective individual nature, and the many people involved, both as officials, and helpers on the route, and in the first aid and recovery area after the event, it is difficult to know anyone who is there dealing with any problems you may have developed during the run

Some runners are lucky because they have their support crew they know to look after them and help them recover and help fix their problems after they have finished-the rest, have to find their way home and get over it the best way they can, and the best of luck

Others who finished up in the field may be lucky to find themselves a place in the recovery area where they can get a recovery massage by a massage therapist waiting there for them

To place your self in the hands of someone you do not know, no matter how trained or well intentioned or qualified they may be, could be inviting disaster for your recovery, your muscles, your training and your future in marathon running

All masseurs and massage systems are not the same

http://www.aching-legs.org/powerwalker_legs_recovery.html



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Massage and recovery Massage is one of the most commonly used (and cheapest) forms of recovery from stiffness and soreness after an event-and it is one of the least understood-if considering this as part of a recovery program and considering getting someone to work with you, there are 2 basic rules in deciding the best person for it

• The body recovers itself-the recoverer is just there to assist or facilitate that • No matter how good the therapist-the last man who could heal with his hands using touch

died 2000 years ago If your therapist can’t accept this then find another one because they have a belief that they know what is best for your recovery and will probably not listen to what you want and by not listening, accidents may happen that causes muscle damage and extending your recovery time

To illustrate my point-I recently officiated as the recovery person at a 24 hour 100 mile event, I have my own area slightly away from the track where people come in when they have pushed their boundaries too far, and I am usually kept busy from about the 12 hour mark

I did not know there was a massage therapist pulling the walkers off the track for work until one of the first aiders on a walk around caught him digging into one of the walker’s muscles and reported what he saw to the official in charge

It was too late, the damage had been done, she had a bad injury to her buttock muscles which made it impossible to continue-her event came to an abrupt finish and she went home devastated-will she recover from the damage caused to do any walking again in the sport she loves? She may, she may not

It turns out he was a qualified massage therapist, but had only worked with huge football players, and while he may have been good in that area, did not have the slightest idea and could not adapt to recovery of slightly built runners and walkers who had just pushed things too far If someone is considering massage, they should be aware of what is happening; using the example from Sandra Brown to stress how important the correct approach to muscles is.

“The second tear (at least I have matching legs with old tears on both sides) was caused, to my great annoyance at the time, by an overenthusiastic physio who was supposed to be helping me to warm up gently before a 24 hour race and got carried away. I am now more wary of having physio at any time, and make sure that I stay in control, by saying at the outset what I want and don’t want to be done to me. Having never had a persistent injury (my varied training pattern means that any niggles have the chance to heal quickly, rather than get hammered and go critical,) I have never had regular physio or a steady relationship of trust with any physiotherapist who knew me and my needs. The closest I have come to this was receiving massage from Michael Gillan during the Nanango (Queensland) 1000-mile race in 1996. I had no hesitation in having a massage from Michael again at the end of the Melbourne 100 miles walk in 1999. Michael’s approach is very gentle at all times, and always works with the athlete and puts the athlete in control, thus minimizing the risk of harm and maximizing the benefit.’(Source:http://www.surreywalkingclub.org.uk/Training?Advice/Articles/training_for_ultras_by_sandra_br.htm#Training/forUltras_SB) SANDRA BROWN 1996 Ladies 1000 Mile World Record Holder




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What do I do differently and how can the marathoner runner benefit from my experience? From this

After being on the track for 3 days

To this

To this-In easy steps-without injury By understanding that the body is recovering itself, and using the muscles by working with and not

working on them to facilitate this, a faster injury free recovery can be achieved




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Conventional recovery systems These work on the muscles so for obvious reasons they need massage oils, towels, massage tables and associated equipment-all this takes up time, and room, washing and cleaning so is not very practical to use for someone who only wants a fast recovery

For the same reasons they are difficult to use in ultra marathon where time and space are limited, they are difficult for the average person to use easily

These are the same reasons why it is not very practical to use at ultra marathon events where there is just me to work for days straight, even just at a 24 hour run and looking after 40 odd competitors using conventional methods means I would not last too long before I died of exhaustion

My working area at the Montreal 2007 24 hour World Championships where I looked after the Danish national team event consisted of the chair next to the bottles-I looked after the team and worked and slept on it-the airline had lost all my clothes and other stuff-if I used conventional

methods that would have been impossible to do

Here I am giving a demonstration of leg recovery in Denmark using

Light Manual Muscle Relaxation

My working area at Antibes 6 Jour Event




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The difference in approach to recovery is illustrated below

Results from 1995 Coburg 6 day footrace

Name Day 1 Day 2 Day 3 Day 4 Day 5 Day 6A Krouglikov 237.2 113.6 130 106 126 108 Kilometers

539 284 325 365 315 270 Laps

T Rusek 215.2 98.8 98 139.6 138.4 122.4 Kilometers538 247 245 349 346 306 Laps

M Taylor 174.4 128.8 143.6 123.6 138.4 122.4 Kilometers436 322 359 309 302 223 Laps

B Beauchamp 180.4 133.2 124 117.6 110 93.2 Kilometers451 333 310 294 275 233 Laps

P Gray 150 134 105.2 94.8 111.6 106 Kilometers375 335 263 237 279 265 Laps

D Parris 138.4 108.4 106.8 116.4 106 107.2 Kilometers346 271 267 274 265 268 Laps

I Davis 168 119.2 90 116.4 106 107.2 Kilometers420 298 225 291 180 247 Laps

G Watts 132.2 96.4 99.2 104.4 92.8 133.6 Kilometers328 241 248 261 232 334 Laps

C Young 142 91.2 90 97.6 88 92 Kilometers355 228 225 244 220 230 Laps

D Kettle 138.2 86.8 90.8 95.2 94.4 84.4 Kilometers332 217 227 238 236 212 Laps

R Hill 128 80.8 99.2 70 95.6 96.6 Kilometers320 202 248 175 239 241 Laps

K Fisher 164 91.6 50 115.2 49.6 81.2 Kilometers410 229 125 288 124 203 Laps

G Pollard 120 74.8 73.6 68.4 69.6 61.2 Kilometers300 187 184 171 174 153 Laps

The above group came in for Light Manual Muscle Relaxation The below group did not or had their own recovery people

T Rafferty 141.6 112.8 104.8 101.6 98 96.4 Kilometers354 282 262 254 245 241 Laps

G McConnel 145.6 110.8 126.4 113.6 108.4 106 kilometers363 277 287 284 271 265 Laps

G Audley 152.8 110.8 126.4 113.6 114.8 95.2 kilometers

S Scanlon 140.8 82 84 34 0 0 Kilometers352 205 210 85 pulled out-blisters Laps

J Timms 127.2 98.4 74.8 0 0 0 kilometers




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What makes Light Manual Muscle Relaxation so different from other recovery

systems?

Light Manual Muscle Relaxation combines a sound medical physiological based theory with simple movement to offer a practical ongoing system for self recovery

Dr Guyton offers the theoretical solution to the problem of aching legs and Light Manual Muscle Relaxation offers the practical, tested, simple, oil free, environmentally friendly version 'Pumping caused by external Compression of the Lymphatics' Guyton-Textbook of Medical Physiology eighth edition-1991 W.B. Saunders Company-ISBN 0-726-3994-0 (p. 182)

It is an alternative stripped down basic tool which uses the muscles to work with themselves rather than relying on the skills of someone who works on them

This model has many benefits for someone who has to take the place of a skilled therapist in a remote area where there is a shortage of them or there is not the financial ability to afford the real thing

You can use aimless guesswork and prod and poke and just move the legs in an aimless fashion and hope what you are doing is working and to some extent any movement is better than none

Or you can use planned and structured movement that is based on medical physiology and been tested on many ultra marathon runs and walks around the world that takes into account the problems of the client and makes the most of any movement restrictions placed on them

Light Manual Muscle Relaxation-the massage-lite recovery system

Using an environmentally friendly pro-active leg recovery system is easier than you think when you learn how to use the muscles to work on themselves

Look at the photo of my work area at a 24 hour run-how many towels and bottles of oil do you see?

None because the latest in non-polluting, non-technical method of leg recovery techniques is being used

Quickly-easily and in an environmentally friendly way! If you want more details go to my website at http://www.aching-legs-relief.com/marathon_runner.html


http://www.aching-legs-relief.com/marathon_runner.html



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Some references for Light Manual Muscle Relaxation Michael’s methods of massage and blister care helped me to stay mobile throughout the race and to recover quickly afterwards. His techniques are safe and gentle. Unlike some treatments, which put the runners and walkers at risk of muscle tears or infection, Michael’s techniques are light, safe, reassuring, and highly effective. They enhance comfort and flexibility, build confidence, and promote success.

This booklet will help others to learn and practice Michael’s methods. It is recommended reading for everyone who walks and runs and who wants to go further, go faster, or just to enjoy life more!!'

SANDRA BROWN 1996 Ladies 1000 Mile World Record Holder 1999 Ladies 100 mile Race walking World Record Holder

“I know that your massage kept a number of competitors in the event. The cold weather of Saturday afternoon and night certainly got to many of the walkers and your prompt action had them back in the race after a short stop. In years past, that would have ended up as a non-finish; a number of walkers were able to keep going for the full 24 hours on the basis of your expert help.” Tim Ericson Secretary Australian Centurions Club

'I have known Michael Gillan for many years and have always got quick relief for my aches and pains from the stretching he performs'.

CLIFF YOUNG-Ultra Marathon Runner

Light Manual Muscle Relaxation-massage-lite-any other way is just a luxury- or not necessary


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