I feel I’ve been listening to fireworks for the last three weeks but Bonfire Night is finally over.  Maybe it’s a sign of how hectic life has become and how instant, we cannot wait for things to come.

Yet for some things we do wait, often too long.  We get busy working, taking care of family, keeping fit, running homes etc we forget to get busy taking care of ourselves.  We sit at desks tensing our neck and shoulder muscles, we run before work and don’t have time to stretch or relax afterwards.  If something hurts we wait to see if it gets better on its own…  with time, yet we still want instant results.  So things get more difficult and we become tired and worn down and find it difficult to do what we want to do.

Therapeutic Massage is the perfect antidote to this negative cycle.  Remedial massage helps reduce tension in tight muscles for the office worker and sports massage relieves fatigue and muscle strain for the athlete.  If you’re more in need of relaxation then aromatherapy, reflexology or muscle melting Lava Shell warming massage can provide some respite.  Whatever you chose you get ‘me time’ and are investing in your well being.

Life has much routine, it is how we get things done but it also has firework moments that we want to be fit enough to embrace and enjoy.  So be a cascading fountain or high flying rocket at time with regular periods of being a super sparkler, but balance it with an investment in well being.

GO SPARKLE!

!

Well done the training paid off and you’ve made it to the finish! I hope you have some sort of victory celebration organised as you certainly deserve it. To aid your recovery to get back to normal as soon as possible here are some post run tips.

Post event recovery.
 First aid is always RICE – REST, ICE, COMPRESSION, ELEVATION for any potential injuries or trouble spots. Do this for 20 minutes and repeat every couple of hours for the first 48 hours if necessary. If things don’t improve or get worse consult a medical practitioner.
 Food glorious food – you may feel so good now you have finished the event but don’t neglect your energy levels which will be dipping. Water is essential unless you have a preferred sports drink in which case stick with what you’re used to. Ideally refuel in the first 30 minutes when the body is most responsive but certainly within 90 minutes.
 The main running muscles of the calves, quadriceps, hamstrings and hip flexors will be aching and may be threatening to stiffen up. Remember to stretch well and regularly to help prevent this, hold each stretch for 15-30 seconds.
 Shower or bathe as soon as you can to prevent and chaffing rashes or bacteria on the skin. If you do have sort of skin irritation seek medical advice as to what to use.
 How do you know if you have an injury or are suffering from Delayed Onset Muscle Soreness (DOMS)? Generally speaking DOMS tends to be in the muscles used and less localised than an injury, it peaks around two days then begins to ease whereas injuries get worse especially when you try to use the injured area. If in doubt give it 2-3 days and if not improving seek professional help.
 Sports Massage is essential for speedy recovery and to check any potential injuries or trouble spots. I you haven’t already arranged your appointment then get yourself booked in within the first week to help remove fatigue and check for any potential injuries or problems.
 Should I use heat or ice? For discomfort and fatigue in the first 24-72 hours ice is considered best to relieve fatigue and reduce inflammation. If you’re not up to an ice bath that then ice packs on the areas for 15-20 minutes work well and can be reapplied every two hours if necessary.
 So are you keen to get out there and train again? As a guide an easy rule of thumb is one day off for every mile ran so a couple of weeks off running following a half marathon. When you can walk comfortably and pain free you can begin jogging then increase gradually but remember other training can be beneficial as active recovery. Above all be kind to yourself, you’ve just achieved something amazing!
Having completed your event can leave you with a feeling of anti-climax and nothing to aim for. Recover from this one while you plan your next adventure.

The Great North Run is a fantastic local event to be part of but running 13.1 miles is a big ask of the body!  Make sure you take good care of yourself in these next two weeks so you arrive at the start line in peak fitness and at the finish line in good shape.

1. Plan, Plan, Plan. The old saying fail to plan and you plan to fail was never more true. Set yourself a good training plan which can be found in any running magazine or on the web and tick off your achievements as you progress. A great way to stay motivated as you complete each target and also to know you are on schedule to finish the event safely.
2. Listen to your body. Increase gradually and adapt slowly, don’t beat yourself up if you have a ‘bad week’. Let it go and get back on target the following week.
3. Have regular scheduled sports massage to assess any potential injury or trouble spot, relieve fatigue and ensure good recovery and training practices.
4. The essential piece of kit – good running shoes. By good shoes I mean ones you are comfortable in whatever the science says!
5. Diet=fuel, don’t run out of steam but ensure you eat the right foods to fuel training and aid recovery. Plan your food intake for the week before and also for your recovery week, don’t leave it to chance.
6. Don’t ignore any niggles or illness. Rest if you need to and see your doctor or sports therapist and get things sorted quickly so you’re not side lined for the big event.
7. Don’t be tempted to over train. Rest is an essential part of your training plan if the most difficult to do.
8. Cross train to build all round strength and stamina and prevent overuse injuries.
9. Stretching is important and something easy to ignore! Try to stretch after each training session and if possible do a separate stretching session to see the benefits.
10. Mental preparation is important, try to schedule training around work and home commitments. Training when you know you should be somewhere else is never easy. So again plan your training and get good at time management.
11. Hot or cold? The general rule is hot for chronic conditions and cold for new injuries and swelling. If in any doubt contact your sports therapist for specific advice.
12. Tapering is always a good idea. You’ve done the mileage in training now rest your body in the days prior to the event so you don’t arrive on the start line already tired.
13. Enjoy – this is an amazing challenge you have set yourself so enjoy the ride!

S is for sleep
The UK Sleep Council state there are four stages of sleep and which last about 1½ hours each and for a good night’s rest we need all four stages and about 5 to 6 cycles. So unless you are regularly getting 7-9 hours a night you will be damaging your long term health and increasing your risk of ill health. A recent study by the University of California found that “short sleep“ was a bigger factor in your chances of catching cold than stress or smoking.
So in amongst all the partying remember to schedule some good quality sleep. For tips on getting your necessary rest take a look at www.sleepcouncil.org.uk

A is for Alcohol
We all know Santa likes a drop of sherry but he knows when to say no. I don’t want to spoil your seasonal merriment but nor do I want you suffering hangovers and getting ill from too much abuse! Drinking can be a very sociable pastime and can help boost confidence and increase conviviality. However, no one likes a drunk and excessive drinking leads to poor judgement and ill health. So please take a leaf out of Santa’s book and enjoy a tipple but go steady.

http://www.nhs.uk/change4life/Pages/alcohol-lower-risk-guidelines-units.aspx

N is for Nutrition
I know the seasonal goodies are fattening and full of sugar, I know. Yet there are healthy seasonal goodies such as nuts, cranberries or oranges and of course turkey with lots of veggies (and no I don’t like Brussel sprouts either!) Stock up on the good foods and moderate the not so good. No one wants to spoil Christmas by denying themselves a mince pie, a slice of Christmas cake or a few chocolates but moderation is the key. We should do everything in moderation and enjoy the holidays but make it safe and comfortable into the next year.

T is for Training
Keeping fit with all the Christmas partying and the excess food and drink is a must to stay healthy. Often when we are out of our normal working and living routine we can lose our fitness routine as well but let’s make this the year we don’t lose it all! High Intensity Interval Training (HIIT) has been getting lots of rave reviews since it was first studied at Loughborough University by Dr. Jamie Timmons and shown on the BBC by Dr. Michael Mosley. It proves that short bursts of flat out exercise can have health benefits and can be fitted into any lifestyle. So no excuses!

http://www.lboro.ac.uk/news-events/news/2013/january/06hit.html

http://www.michaelmosley.co.uk/tv_radio.html

A is for …. and relax
Above all else ENJOY the festive season which means keeping safe, not OVER indulging but definitely indulging on all that is on offer. So stay calm, have fun, eat, drink and be merry and I’ll see you on the other side. Merry Christmas and remember SANTA.

References
Sleep. 2015 Sep 1;38(9):1353-9. doi: 10.5665/sleep.4968. Behaviorally Assessed Sleep and Susceptibility to the Common Cold. Prather AA1, Janicki-Deverts D2, Hall MH3, Cohen S2.

Part four – review, renew, resolve

Holidays allow us time to reflect – on life and on work. Do you always get the balance right? Giving yourself some me time allows your mind to switch off and can bring clarity to your thoughts. Just allow the thoughts to come and go, maybe make a note of some insights to come back to once the holiday time comes to an end. Don’t address everything at once or you could use all your time off thinking about when you get back.
Think about any resolutions or goals you had for the new year. Have you achieved them and need new ones? Are you not there yet and need to redefine? Take this opportunity to look at the balance of your life and make sure it is just how you want it. This is the only life you have right now and no one else can make it how you want, you have to do that for yourself.
If finding your way is too difficult or you don’t know what you want try different things until you find your niche or read so called ‘self help’ books for inspiration. Here are a few suggestions.

Inspiration
 Chicken Soup for the Soul
 Jonathan Livingston Seagull, Richard Bach
 Man’s Search for Meaning, Viktor Frankl
 The Alchemist, Paulo Coelho
 Five People You Meet in Heaven, Mitch Albom
 The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry, Rachel Joyce

Self Help
 The Monk Who Sold His Ferrari, Robin Sharma
 The Road Less Travelled, M. Scott Peck
 The Chimp Paradox, Dr. Steve Peters
For more prescriptive inspiration why not read autobiographies of your hero or favourite sports person? There are some amazing stories out there from people just like you, be one of them!

Part three – And relax!

Surely one of the main aims of holiday time is to relax so how are you going to do that? Filling the diary with new experiences is great but don’t forget to allow your batteries to recharge or you will get back to your usual routine more tired than you left it.
 Why not take a look at mindfulness? Just separating yourself from the chaos around you for a few minutes can help recharge and refocus, go to www.headspace.com
 Get out and get some exercise preferably outdoors and preferably a change from your normal form of exercise. Mix things up a bit and have some fun. Maybe try a Zumba class (www.zumba.com) or go for a bike ride (www.sustrans.org.uk)
 Try Progressive Relaxation Technique (PRT) website or link
 Have a massage and get some professional relaxation into tight tense muscles
 Get out and get some fresh air to allow your lungs to enjoy some deep breathing and allow your body to absorb some much needed vitamin D (evidence).
 Don’t wear a watch; just let time pass you by for a while. Eat when you’re hungry and drink when you’re dry!
 Indulge in a digital detox, switch off all technology so you have no distractions. If you really must then check in once a day but limit how long you allow yourself and stick to it.

Part two – diet and exercise

Once you break a routine it is very hard to get it back but perhaps you don’t want to spend your entire holiday being careful what you eat and drink? Why not see your holiday as a chance to try something different, perhaps the healthy Mediterranean diet (details of the most recent studies advocating the benefits of a Mediterranean diet can be found at www.nhs.uk). Use some of your time off to source new recipes and try them out. Summer is the salad season so try as wide a variety as you can or maybe you will have the opportunity to eat out and try different foods to give you even more ideas.

Avoid excess in food and drink. No one wants a miserable holiday denying themselves the best of everything but do it all in moderation. Savour the food you eat and the refreshments you drink while you have more time on your hands. Eating slowly is better for the digestion and creates more enjoyment from food and drink.

Think about how you exercise as it is very easy to become stuck in a routine that is no longer delivering results. Use your holiday to explore other avenues, the better weather provides so many more ways to get some exercise into your daily life. Here a just a few suggestions to consider when you take that summer break.

 Hire a bike
 Learn to swim or dive
 Hire a row boat
 Walk along the beach
 Climb a hill (or a mountain)
 Go dancing
 Find an outdoor Tai Chi class
 Hire a pedalo

So many choices so little time; get going now! What are you waiting for?