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Will massage save my marathon?
I had a massage for lunch today.
After my knee locked up at mile 5 of a 10 mile run yesterday, I’m making a last ditch effort to cure myself before Austin Marathon day, which is now two weeks away.
I must say, I’m getting less optimistic as time ticks slowly on. Perhaps, though, there is still hope.
A brief recap: I started training for the marathon in September. I tore a calf muscle in November. That healed, and I built back up and ran the RunTex 20 miler ago. At mile 18, something happened to my left leg. Turns out it was my IT band, a common injury among first-time marathon runners. We’re not used to all that pounding. I finished the race, but as my friend Marcy would say, I ran like Quasimodo.
Since that day a month ago, I haven’t been able to run more than 4 miles at a time. I’ve seen a doctor, been to physical therapy and done about 20,000 hip strengthening exercises.
I’m beginning to understand why I am a swimmer, not a runner.
Still, I want to do the marathon!
I must be honest. Today’s massage, by Jessica Ortiz-Price at AustinDeep Massage, was far from relaxing. It’s not fun to have knots and tightness worked out of your legs. But my physical therapist recommended a good deep tissue massage, and I’m following orders.
I lay on a table, covered in a sheet, and whimpered slightly while Ortiz-Price prodded and poked and pressed on my injured leg. Whoooie did it feel good when she stopped and switched to the other leg!
Many experienced runners I know swear by a regular massage. I’ve only had three or four in my life.
Perhaps I wouldn’t be in this fix if I got a massage more often. How often do you get one?
The photo, by the way, shows Ortiz-Price giving running coach Gilbert Tuhabonya a deep tissue massage.
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By Brian *****
February 4, 2009 3:43 PM | Link to this
There is a very effective treatment for problems such as IT band issues, knee pain, hamstring strains, quad strains, ect.. and also the very popular plantar fasciitis. The treatment works fast and with athletes with deadlines it is probably the most effective soft tissue treatment on the planet. We are all about putting our treatment results where our mouth is. We average 3-4 visits to fix most injuries….and that is unheard of. Check out our link at www.Airrosti.com. I am Dr. Brian ***** and I work with the UT sports medicine physicians at Texas Sports and Family Medicine.