Runner's Therapy
I recently completed my first half-marathon in San Diego. The sense of accomplishment was amazing, but the training involved sure took its toll on my body. On the advice of just about every spa therapist I spoke to about it, I went in for regular massages before and after the race, and gave my feet a much-needed treat once the pavement-pounding was done.
Treatment room at Dtox Day Spa.
A month into training, I visited Dtox Day Spa in Atwater Village, California, for a Custom Sports Massage (80 min./$150). Owner Cary Mock suggested the longer duration to allow my therapist to get down and dirty with the painful lactic acid coursing through my strained muscles. The therapist, Julian, went to work, utilizing Swedish, shiatsu and hot-stone techniques to relax the knots in my neck and back (an unexpected side-effect of mostly lower-body workouts) and strengthen the muscles in my legs. The first 30 minutes were painful (as I expected they would be), the next 30 were therapeutic. That bonus 20 minutes were pure bliss.
During my next training run, I felt stronger than ever.
On race day, everything seemed to go by so quickly, despite the fact that I was up at 4 a.m., running by 7 a.m. and crossing the finish line shortly after 9 a.m.
Relaxation lounge at Spa Velia.
Immediately following the race, I felt invigorated and strong: I thought, “I ran 13.2 miles before breakfast! What else do you have for me, world?” The answer: pain. Once I showered, changed and settled into the car for the trip home, every muscle in my body seemed to be dialing 911. A stop at Spa Velia in downtown San Diego was just what the doctor ordered. The facility’s signature Aromatherapy Massage (60 min./$150) turned out to be a perfect combination of soothing strokes and therapeutic pressure to loosen up my muscles and allow for a speedier recovery.
A trip to the eucalyptus steam room and a catnap in the charming, blissfully dark-and-quiet relaxation room allowed me to recharge. When I woke, a buffet of fruit, trail mix and assorted teas gave me the energy I needed for the three-hour drive home.
Post-pedi at ROB|B Salon
A few days after the race, my feet still suffered. Not only were they sore and slightly swollen from the experience, but my toenails screamed for a makeover. The good folks at ROB|B OPI Concept Salon in Studio City, California, hooked up my hoofers with an Ultimate Spa Pedicure (60 min./$70) in one of their private pedicure suites. As soothing scenes from nature played on the flat-screen T.V., my talented pedicurist went to work sloughing calluses with pineapple foot scrub and rubbing my feet with mango butter lotion. The massage-equipped pedi-throne and complimentary herbal tea turned my relaxation levels up to 11.
Your clients needn’t be running an all-day race to benefit from regular results-oriented massage. Suggest to them a routine of body maintenance for a healthier, stronger body. The gift of well-being is better than any medal. —H.W. Rudúlph