Post-Marathon, Massage Away Your Aches

So you ran the NYC Marathon. Congratulations! Now it's recovery time.

In addition to re-hydrating and soaking your exhausted muscles in cold water, treating yourself to a professional massage is an excellent way of easing some of the strain that accompanies a 26.2 mile jaunt through the November chill.

, located at 45-13 Little Neck Parkway, is offering marathoners a $15 discount on hour-long massages, meaning runners will pay $65 versus the usual $80. Participants need only to tell the cashier their race number to get the discount.

Jessica Ferrara, co-owner of Keep in Touch, said that as a runner herself, she knows how to tailor a massage to specific athlete's needs. A post-event sports massage two to three days after the race can make all the difference in the healing process, she said, especially for first-timers likely experiencing a host of new sensations.

"It can be really, really key to [runner's] recovery for the next couple of weeks, so they can get back into their routine quicker," she said.

Post-marathon massages are personalized to accommodate the aches and pains of the individual, but typically involve stretching techniques, and heat or ice applications to specific pain points.

But just as there is no standard marathon experience, there's no standard way a person should feel afterward either, Ferrara said.

"Everyone comes in with something different."

Keep in Touch is open Tuesday through Thursday from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., Friday from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m., Saturday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Sunday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Call (718) 423-1812 for an appointment.