Is it ok, to get a deep tissue/sports massage 2 weeks before an ironman? Should it be farther out? Closer?
amyfit
heck yeah i get one a week now and I will get the massage they have in ironman village, can someone help me with the name. Anyways it was the trigger massage tent. AWESOME I trained for and raced IM CDA with a stress Fx and they helped me sooooo much!
It was ART here is the site , they rock!!
So two weeks before is ok then? I don’t get them weekly…
oh yes do yourself a favor check the ART too! i just made my appt for next wekk, ahhhhhhhhhhh feels good just thinking about it!!
Yes, you should be fine for sure 2 weeks out. Be sure to talk to the therapist about what you are after - want to promote circulation, aid recovery, and loosen up. Don’t let him / her just beat on you without a purpose. Enjoy it and have a great race.
Thanks. I’m really looking forward to it. I’ll also look into ART.
for a deep tissue massage, 2 weeks out should be OK. It depends upon how fast you recover from the soft tissue trauma that normally occurs with your deep tissue massage.
You may also contemplate an easy swedish/sports massage probably 2 days prior to the race. Something relaxing will really help you sleep THAT night, as many people don’t sleep so well the night prior to a race 
(although I have given a massage to people the day before the race, and they loved how relaxed they were that evening).
ART is also a great idea. I’d try and hit their booth early when you get to the event, in case they need to work on you a couple of times. At IM Cali 2001 (the last full length IM in Oceanside), a guy I know had some real shoulder range of motion issues that they almost completely resolved within the 4 days prior to the race.
As the ole saying goes…don’t do ANYTHING 2 weeks prior to Ironman that you haven’t done in training.
Does anyone have a price range for ART? Any recommendations for Burbank, CA area?
I gotta agree w/ Diesel - Don’t do anything 2 weeks before an Ironman that you have not done in training. So, first question is: have you ever had a deep tissue massage before? If so, how often do you get them?
During the race season, I get ART about once per week and a deep tissue/myofascial release about every 2-3 weeks. I do a deep tissue 3 weeks prior to my Ironman events. I continue getting ART done on anything that is a problem right up until the day before the race. I do a full body myofascial release about 3-4 days before the race.
yes i believe in the 2 week theory as well, but massage i think everyone benifits. And ART they are trained to cate rto the athelete and thier needs.
First visit 120 bucks usually and 80 bucks a visit thereafter. well worth it i go next week and then at least two more times before IMAZ, I need it its been a tough year so far!
You’re going to have to try it before another race if you aren’t sure.
Personally I have a problem with massages where I will be really sore for several days afterwards. I’m probably in the minority though.
jaretj
Ok, massages are a luxury for me. I’ve only had 2 in my lifetime. My mom, surprised me with a gift certificate for one, and I thought, “Hey, I’ll bet one just a couple of weeks before the race will help promote recovery during the taper period!” I take it I was wrong. LOL!
So here’s my 2008 lineup. Tell me where to insert sports massage, and I’ll reschedule.
4-27 sprint DU
5-24 sprint DU
6-15 sprint TRI
6-29 HIM
7-20 OLY TRI or OW swim
8-31 IMKY
I knew a horse masseur about 10 years ago. He primarely worked on barrel racing horses in rodeo’s around the southwest. From what I had seen the horses that we worked on did show improvement in their times after he worked on them. Made me a beliver…
I got one two weeks out. Also got a relaxing light massage a couple of days before my IM as well. Found that to be relaxing, very nice with a bit of stretching involved. Got another one with deeper work after my IM too…very very nice!!
It is fine to get a deep Massage 2 weeks out as long as the massage therapist knows and understands what you are doing…and what they are doing… ART is fine… massages are great… As for the 2 days before rule I would not … I normally do 3-4 days out
on my Ironman clients including my- self. Massages should be part of our training…
Mike outside Chicago
www.sohmar.com
In addition to the other posts:
There is the slight possibility that you can fall ill after the massage. Just one thing to consider… not to scare you though. I would guess that you have been doing a ton of volume/training and you may be run down. So, a deep tissue massage could stir up a lot of waste that could possibly make you sick. I have experienced this a few times with long-course endurance athletes. They claim to feel fine… they’re are tapering… but never receive regular massage treatments… then two weeks out, they fall ill after a deep tissue massage.
Just keep in mind that your body “has not been trained by receiving massages on a regular basis”. So, it could be a total shock to your body at first. It might be safer to have more of a Circulatory Massage to help flush/relax.
Hope you have a great race. Good Luck!!