With spring right around the corner, the number of Central Texas running events including the sprint series is really going to explode. After finishing the AT&T Austin Marathon and half-marathon many runners may be looking to shorten their races and speed up the pace.
Initially, you'll feel a high and sense of accomplishment from finishing the long distance and be energetic to take on the next race but it's important to hold back and let your body rest. It's difficult with the nice weather to hold back, but to remain injury free, you'll need to refrain from difficult workouts one day for each mile run in the race. The general rule of thumb is to rest one day for each mile run. So if you ran a marathon recently, think of taking a month off from any hard workouts after completing your big race.
Increasing the blood flow to the leg muscles will help them recover faster. Fill the bathtub with cold water and ice if you can tolerate it and then submerge your lower body in the bath for a few minutes. If a cold water bath doesn't sound too good maybe you can tolerate a dip in Barton Springs. At 68-degrees, it'll be just a tad warmer than an ice bath, but still bring relief to the leg muscles.
Massages can also help your muscles recover. The joints require deep recovery and massage is the best medicine.
Spinning on a stationary bike, or taking a good walk or hike on the greenbelt will help loosen up the muscles. It's not a bad idea to go for some relaxed runs and get your body moving, but remember, rest is key to recovery. As long as you avoid intensity and impact, you should be able to ramp up for the shorter distance race season in the next couple of weeks.
Don't forget to celebrate your victory of crossing the finish line. You've probably watched everything that went into your mouth for several months. Take this time to relax and celebrate, you've earned it.