Dear Athlete

The IRONMAN UK Race Office is now taking bookings for pre-race sports massage at Leigh Sports Village, Saturday 31st July.

£10.00 – 10 minutes

£20.00 – 20 minutes

The sports massage will take place on site at Leigh Sports Village from 10.00am – 15:00pm.

If you would like to book a massage please telephone the Race Office on 01935 478478, we have found in the past pre-race massage fills very quickly so recommend you booking in advance.

Payment is taken by the massage staff so please bring the correct amount in cash on arrival.

Below is a brief statement from Ralph Hydes regarding the benefits of sports massage.

The importance of Sports Massage

Why have a sports massage before you race? 

By definition you have pushed your body hard in order to prepare for a half Ironman or an Ironman.  Your muscles need looking after and your flexibility routine is probably not enough to get the most out of your muscles. 

When you train or compete you consume energy.  Body cells are starved of fuel and nutrients such as glucose and catalyst nutrients like B vitamins which help drive the enzymes that release the energy from your muscles.  The nutrients necessary to make messenger molecules like neurotransmitters, or carrier molecules like insulin, are also depleted.  So every moment your body is in a stressful state or tense you are using up valuable nutrients. 

Every single muscle cell that you hold in tension, even when asleep, is consuming energy, B vitamins, C Vitamins, Calcium and Magnesium just to stay in that state of tension.  This will lead to an increased risk of cramping and a loss in performance.  Athletes who are looking to improve performance and increase their competitive edge do so by adopting a training schedule increasing the level of training and thereby subjecting the body to gradual and controlled overuse.  It is this overuse that may often create problems and imbalances in the soft tissues. If these are ignored and allowed to become chronic, they will not only hinder the athlete's rate of improvement, but also in many cases their performance may well suffer and ultimately the athlete may be susceptible to developing more conditions that are serious. Certainly if they are unable to perform at their best, they may be more at risk from other more traumatic forms of injury.

How does sports massage differ from normal massage?

Sports massage is a deeper form of soft tissue massage which uses specific techniques to treat physically active individuals, who may be more vulnerable to injury because of the stresses placed on the body by their sport.  The sports massage therapist may also advise on stretching or strengthening exercises as appropriate to work in conjunction with treatment.

How can sports massage help you? 

Sports massage is particularly effective in treating minor soft tissue problems, relieving niggling aches and pains before they develop into more serious overuse injuries.  It is also great in the pre-event situation, whether your needs are for relaxation or stimulation, and in post-event relaxation and recovery.  Finally, it is good for the general relief of stress and tension and for fatigue, whether this is occupational, recreational or sporting.

So in order to get the most out of your race have a pre sports massage.  If you have never had a sports massage you need to give your body the best opportunity for the race you have been preparing for.                  

Good Luck                                                                              

Ralph Hydes Sports Massage