We went through a very detailed story of the race. So, why not mention the details – what happened when it was over?
At the end of that week, I would have to take one last kidney test (to try to give a kidney to a stranger, if you’re new here).
Due to the nature of the test (measuring protein in the urine – which sometimes can look high, even if it’s not, if too much exercise is involved), I was not allowed to work out for 5 days before the test.
That meant no working out for me after my ultra! I still went for little walks around the local mall, and I stretched out a bit (though I probably should’ve stretched more). I would’ve loved to have worked out more, but it was what it was.
Technically, I could’ve done some recovery runs and waited longer to do that test… But the whole reason I planned the test at that time was so I could work out as hard as I could before having to take 5 whole days off (eesh – knowing a 5-day workout break would be totally lame).
Anyway, it was fine – not an ideal recovery, but with the walking every night, it wasn’t a disaster.
Wanna know what was a disaster? My deep tissue massage.
I don’t get massages often. I think it had been over a year since I had one. But I decided that since I’d worked really hard on my longest race yet, and since I had a chill week with no real working out, I’d treat myself to a deep tissue massage.
I’d only ever had one deep tissue massage in my life, and it was wonderful and rejuvenating! So, I thought this would be too. It was not.
I don’t want to make the massage therapist sound bad. I’m sure she’s a fine enough person. But from the moment I went in, I felt a little on the defensive when she was all, “Are you sure you want a deep tissue massage?” “Um, yes?”
She said deep tissue massages were more intense than normal massages, which I’d heard before. But when she started on my legs, it didn’t seem that intense at all.
I’d said I’d done an ultramarathon and that my legs needed the most work, but she told me that when she does deep tissue massages, she mainly focuses on the back, and gives normal pressure to everything else…
But my back feels fine. It’s the part of my body least in need for a deep tissue massage.
Yet, I didn’t pipe up. I figured with 16 years of experience she must know best. Did she?
This is where I’ll pick up tomorrow.