This time last week I was lying in bed, on a post-marathon high, failing utterly to sleep and wishing I had my own personal masseur on speed dial. I bet Mo Farah doesn’t have to get out a little hand-luggage-friendly spiky massage ball and try to help twitching calves and quads.
Actually as it turns out, we pretty much can have our own masseurs on speed dial, at least in London. And I do believe that sports massage, properly done, can make a huge difference. Just before I went to New York, I really needed one of those hideously painful massages that leave you feeling like a piece of meat tendered for the grill, but which work wonders on sore spots. Having left it too late to get an appointment at my local place, I decided to try Urban Massage. You book appointment at a handy time, and a torturer – sorry, I mean masseur – turns up with his or her own portable torture table at your door. It’s £65 an hour, which although hardly bargain basement, is actually the same price as many of my local spots. And, it turns out (sorry non-Londoners, but it might well spread to other cities soon, and besides, bet you pay less, right?) to be brilliant.
I’m pretty sure my masseur got rid of a knot in my shoulders that’s been there since about 2008 (I sort of miss it), and definitely helped get my legs ready for marathon running. Of course, it’s supremely painful – if it isn’t, surely it’s not doing much? – though I’m not sure any will ever be as hideous as the one I had a few months ago. That one left me practically sobbing and telling the masseur that the last time I’d been in that much pain, I got a baby at the end. And presents. And I didn’t have to pay for it.
So, do you consider sports massage an essential part of preparation and recovery, or do you save the cash and just trust in a foam roller?
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