I just did the USMS 25K race in Indiana last weekend and it has been hard to recover. Just curious on what it is like for others to recover from something like that? How long does it take to feel back to normal again?
I was so tired afterwards and bodily functions were messed up for a short bit. I had no desire to eat until later on that evening. Took me till the middle of the next day to come around more, but still am not fully recovered. My training wasn't the greatest some of the time (like when I had my surgery last month), but I hit the recommended amount. My taper however was probably too much, but I had a harder time fitting in time to swim once I hit the mainland.
I had a 6-hour time change to get used to and inconsistent sleep nights (some not being enough), but have been able to catch up most days since I got back last Monday. I have hardly been able to swim all week. My arms still hurt a bit, yet they want to be swimming again and so does my mind and body. However, my chest and breathing are another story. I tried swimming 15-20 minutes today and it started to hurt to breathe afterwards, some of it being sharp and it still is bothering me now. After the race, I would cough whenever I would breathe too deep, but that got better the next day.
What are the best things to do after a long swim race, especially when feeling these kinds of things? I know everyone is different, but just wondered what it was like for others that have experienced similar or have completed a long race. Hope all is well with everyone.
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Former Member
Congrats on finishing the 25K!
It takes me a while to recover from hard swims too, especially now that I am a masters swimmer. One trick that I learned back when I was running marathons is that ice baths can really work wonders. Unfortunately, taking an ice bath after a hard swim is much more painful than after a run, b/c you have to submerge your whole back and torso, not just your legs. I've only done it a few times but it really helps more than anything.
Advil, stretching, and some extra sleep help too. Also, don't be afraid to swim a few workouts in a slower lane than you normally do. I think swimming at a cool down pace can help you recover faster than total rest.
Good luck! The 25K sounds like it was a great race. I think I'd like to give it a try next year.
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Former Member
Congrats on finishing the 25K!
It takes me a while to recover from hard swims too, especially now that I am a masters swimmer. One trick that I learned back when I was running marathons is that ice baths can really work wonders. Unfortunately, taking an ice bath after a hard swim is much more painful than after a run, b/c you have to submerge your whole back and torso, not just your legs. I've only done it a few times but it really helps more than anything.
Advil, stretching, and some extra sleep help too. Also, don't be afraid to swim a few workouts in a slower lane than you normally do. I think swimming at a cool down pace can help you recover faster than total rest.
Good luck! The 25K sounds like it was a great race. I think I'd like to give it a try next year.
