Ahhhh ... That's The Spot!!!

As a runner, do you ever get professional leg massages?  If you get the "non-professional" kind, keep those stories to yourself ... this ain't that kind of blog.

Photo from kimelkinsmassage.com

After my marathons last weekend, I decided to get my first ever leg massage.  On Michael's recommendation, I went to her Chiropratic Clinic, where they also do therapeutic massage.  I've only had like two other massages in my life.  One was a couple's massage with Michael, and the other was by myself.  Both were the REALLY "foo-foo" type ... the kind with candles, weird music, and some smelly stuff smoldering in the corner ... where I was glad no one I knew saw me go in the joint. I was afraid I might have to turn in my "Man Card" for a week just for stepping foot in those places.  But this one wasn't like that at all.

The girl (or woman ... I'm always confused about what to call a 25-30 year old female) who gave me the massage was GREAT!!!  Michael has been to her several times and she's also a runner!  Not just an average runner, but a runner who runs half-marathons and marathons all the time, so I really felt like she knew just what my legs needed.  It felt great ... when it was over!!!  It hurt like a Banshee!!!  But it was good to get a few of the knots worked out, especially in my calves.

I use my Trigger Point Performance Roller (you can read more about it HERE) before and after every run, and then in the evening before I go to bed ... along with stretching.  So it's not like my sore leg muscles never get any attention.  But it was nice to have someone who totally understands runner issues work on my legs. I was only there for a half-hour, but we talked about running and training the whole time - pretty cool.

Trigger Point Performance Roller

But here's the weird part.  In a recent post, Char of My Life's A Marathon wrote about a hospital experience that was a little surreal because of the things that seem "normal" in a hospital environment, but would be totally socially unacceptable in any other walk of life.  This was the same way.  She told me to get undressed and wait under the sheet.  So I did.  The sheet was REALLLLLY thin!!!  When she came in the room it was kind of weird.  Not at all weird in a perverted sexual way or anything - but in a "I'm in a room, naked under a sheet, with a woman who is neither a doctor or my wife ... and it appears to totally normal to her!" way.  You just don't see that in a lot of places.  At first it was tough to relax because I'm really pretty self-conscience, but before long we were just chatting and it was all good.

I think I'll try it again in the near future.  I can really see why so many runners use massage therapy for recovery ... it really helped with recovery!  And my legs felt magical the next day.  Have a good one!
... be great today!