Q: Is it bad to race the day after a massage?

Km: Good question. I've known people who have run the day after (not raced though)... some feel great and some feel sore. And, I've known people who have gotten a massage two days before a race and done well. However, when asked this question, I didn't know anyone who had raced the day after. I finally came across a post that talks about the "best" time to get a massage. It outlines Mark Cavendish's "massage routine":

• Four days out = deep tissue massage
• Two days out = glute flush out massage
• One day out = relaxation massage

The post goes on to say that each person's response is different. However, the author does point out that you want to avoid having a deep tissue massage too close to a big race (I'm guessing 1-2 days out). The body needs time to repair itself and recover... usually about 2 days. Post-recovery is when you really begin to start feeling the benefits. Prior to that, some people feel pretty awful, like they've just lifted weights or done a grueling workout. As for the best time to get a massage - the day after a block of hard training. Not only does this coincide with most people's recovery day, but it helps to flush out all of the lactic acid and other metabolic by-products that have built up in your muscles.