You’ve run your first marathon and now you’re itching to start training again.
It’s understandable. Many of us worry that taking too much time off will result in losing all those fitness gains, but the opposite is actually true. Pushing your body to get back into the game sooner than it’s ready could have unhealthy consequences and make it harder to get back to your previous fitness levels.
So the most important question you need to ask yourself is how long should I rest and recover after running a marathon?
Here are some tips from us on the right way to get back to training, as well as what science has to say about what you should expect after a long race.
Things To Know About Recovering After A Marathon
Coaches Amanda Brooks and Laura Norris recently did a podcast about what running a marathon does to your body, which highlights just how important that recovery period is.
If you want a deep dive, we have a complete post marathon recovery guide. There we will go more in-depth on a few of these key tips, the biggest reminder is that just because you may not feel sore does NOT mean your body isn’t still recovering. Rushing the process can create a lot of inflammation and injury.
- The first three to seven days post-race should focus on rest, hydration, and good…
