What should I do directly after the marathon?

What should I do directly after the marathon?

Pat Connelly (Running Coach for LA Roadrunners and Valencia High School) gives expert video advice on: What should I do directly after the marathon?; What are the best food and drinks for after the marathon?; How should I feel after the marathon is over? and more...

After the marathon, many times the focus is on what you do to get ready, and little thought is about after, and that is critical. You need to have a plan after the race, and obviously that goes through a step from the time that the metal goes around your neck, you cross the finish line, you go to have your chip taken off and the next thing is they put a wrap around you to keep you warm. The first thing you want to do is get to some type of energy intake - all marathons have it, oranges, bananas, electrolyte drinks, things to start replenishing, as soon as possible, your body for the depletion that you have given it. Then it would be great if you can have a massage to work those muscles out. Another thing that is great after a race is to sit in a bathtub with ice cubes, just long enough, on the lactic acid build-up that's in the muscles. It is an excellent way to get through the difficulty after a race. Then of course you have to look at the extension, the days after, when do you start running again.