After having almost daily long runs last week, I feel that my body needs some rest and recovery. Ever since I finished the Pasig River Marathon last 24 February up to the present, I never stopped my running workouts for rest and recovery. Moreso, I don’t follow the word “tapering” which is one of the basic principles in physical training for better performance most especially in endurance sports like running.
For this week, I started to learn how to “jump rope” and do some running “drills”. Actually, I did it only once for this week for my leg muscles to slowly adapt to such activities. I reduced the distance of my daily running workouts with a slower pace. I had also a “deep muscle massage” to the calves of my legs which are already hard as “rocks”. The “deep massage” made me shout for the pain as the massage was done on every strand or fiber of my calves. I had to endure the severe pain that was felt with the pressing and kneading through the inner parts of my muscles with the purpose of making my calves as pliable and soft as possible. The massage took for hours. It was only this week that I was informed that I have soldiers in the camp who were trained in reflexology.
I had more sleep this time to include naps in the afternoon. I did more of my stretching during the day.
I hope that by reducing my mileage for this week, having more time to rest & sleep, and having a “deep massage” will give me some positive results in my next road race.
Really? Your massage took 4 hours? Wow! And what does it mean to have a “deep” massage?
eric, the massage took so long for my calves only because my staff has to soften every part of the muscle slowly from one side to another. “deep” massage means “hard” massage. see you tomorrow.