So my wife just gave me a massage gift certificate. I haven’t had a massage before, but her hopes are that I would use it in connection with the 70.3IM I’m doing this Saturday. My question is for those who have had massages–would you recommend getting the massage the day before the race, or two days after? Those are my options.
Especially since you’ve never had one and it’s a therapist you’ve never been to before, I’d recommend after.
2 days after. Especially if you are not accustomed to massage, AND the therapist does not know you or how your body will react to certain manipulations and a given amount of force, a pre-race massage could have a significantly detrimental impact on your performance as well as how you feel.
Pre-race massage *can *be a great tool, if you have an RMT with whom you work regularly and both know how your body responds. For your situation however, take it after the race.
after. after. after. definitely not before.
My vote would be after as well. 24 to 48 hours for best benefit.
I also use them while training to avoid injury.