If you have ever run a marathon you will know how tiring they can be. It’s a lot to ask of your body and even if you prepare properly for the race itself you can still run into problems if you aren’t careful. Well over thirty thousand people run the London Marathon every year now, and it’s fair to assume they all feel their fair share of aches and pains the next day.

But one thing that not everyone realises is that it is equally important to look after yourself afterwards as well. For example, your body can lose an incredible amount of fluid during the race, and it’s important to make sure you replace it – both during and after the race.

Apart from replenishing your fluids, you should also think about getting a proper massage after you have run a marathon. Not only do your feet pound the unforgiving streets but your leg muscles will really feel the strain after getting round the twenty six mile, three hundred and eighty five yard course.

There are many benefits to getting a nice leg massage after the hard work is over. Firstly it will do wonders for getting you to relax; your muscles will be tense and aching after all the exertion and a proper massage will help to release and relax them again. This might otherwise take some time to achieve and you would feel much more pain in the meantime as well.

If you make the effort to book a massage after every marathon you run, the effects will be cumulative too. Your muscles will be kept in better condition and there will be much less chance of sustaining an injury in a future race.

The London Marathon opens up the chance to see some of the capital’s greatest sights as well, and that shouldn’t change even once the race is complete. You can book your massage in a stunning location such as a spa in Knightsbridge for example, and take advantage of the wonderful array of facilities on offer at the same time.

Of course, a massage shouldn’t just be restricted to your legs, even though they will clearly take the brunt of running a marathon. A full body massage will help your body to return to normal more quickly, and ease all the aches and pains that come with this level of activity. The experience of a massage also helps you to relax much more than simply sitting back and putting your feet up would.

We often read about the importance of training and warming up before doing any kind of exercise, and that applies particularly to marathon running. If you learn to look after your body after the race as well as before it, you will enjoy the experience on the day even more.