Beyond the finish line………on the road to recovery

Elated, exhausted, deflated, ecstatic … there’s a gamut of emotions a runner can experience when they finally make it to the finish line of an event like the ASICS Gold Coast Marathon.

But when you do run through that final arch, the icing on the finishers cake is the Recovery Zone where you’re met with enthusiastic volunteers and a host of goodies to help you, well, recover!

So, if you’ve not been beyond the finish line before – what can you expect on the journey through recovery at the ASICS Gold Coast Marathon?

Sweaty, perhaps a little nauseous, deliriously happy that you’ve made it to the finish you’re moved briskly along by cheery volunteers to the very welcome misting arch and entrance to recovery. Refreshed (sort of) by the gentle and cool veil of vapour and still floating on a natural high it’s off to the hydration stations where you’ll find as much FIXX Nutrition and H2O as you could possibly need to recoup the fluids your body craves after such a sterling effort on course.

But a quest to recovery is never enough without a nutritional fruit salad fix – your next stop.

The ASICS Gold Coast Marathon recovery team painstakingly quarter 2400kg of oranges and halve 2700kg bananas over race weekend for your consumption and to help replenish those post-race energy levels ahead of post-race celebrations. New partner Vege Chips will also be front and centre with packs of salty snacks for those runners craving a salt fix post event. A Vege Chip snack will help to balance the salt levels depleted during your run with all that sweat essentially just water and salt!

So, when you’re feeling a little more like yourself, fed and watered, it’s time to collect your mementos for the job well done. Onwards and upwards to the finisher’s reward tent where you’ll be directed to your size lane, be presented with your finishers t-shirt ( that you’ll wear with pride for years to come ) and your medal that will dangle around your neck for the day and then hang behind the bedroom door, to gather dust, but remind you of a super achievement and a day well spent at the ASICS Gold Coast Marathon.

One last and important stop before your journey through recovery is complete. Time to take a moment to capture the occasion… time for a selfie or a group shot at the official event wall – a pic for the family album, a bucket list item ticked, another reminder of your outstanding achievement. Smile … you’re nearly there.

Follow the cheers along the recovery exit chute, lined with excited friends and relatives, where hugs and high fives abound and where all your efforts culminate in this finale. You trained, you competed and you made it across the finish line and with a mixture of emotions navigated the recovery zone and now….. it’s time to celebrate!

Congratulations!

A word from the ASICS Gold Coast Marathon Medical Director, Dr Hayley Frieslich on the benefits of salty snacks.

Many runners crave salt after a race. Why? Well essentially sweat is water and salt. The more you sweat the more your body looks to balancing the salt or electrolytes in your system.

The amount you sweat is influenced by many factors including the temperature, humidity, and other weather factors such as wind. Drinking too little to replace your electrolytes can have significant physical effects mainly to the kidneys and over drinking can be life threatening too.

So how to balance? This will come down to your training and gauging the amount of fluid you need based on your weight pre and post runs as well as the quantity and colour of your urine. The recommendation from World Athletics is drink to thirst to avoid dehydration or over hydration.

Endurance events in colder climate offer strong stock or vegemite, however on the GC which has a much warmer environment even in winter. At GCM we are offering Vege chips as our salty snack. It has the same sodium content as other recommended replacements and does not involve trying to drink a warm beverage.