After the race, "on a cellular level, your muscles are really beat up," Rodgers said. Skip running for a few days afterward, get a massage, and swim instead to loosen your muscles.
(Sean Dougherty for the Boston Globe)

More running features
- Everything you need to know to get you started running on the right foot
- Photos Proper warm-up and cool-down stretches
- Photos Runners' nutrition and hydration guide
- Tips for beginners
- Proper fit is key to a good running shoe
- Photos Run in style with fashionable gear
- Runners can chart a new course for spring
- Photos Marathon tips from a former winner
- Photos Bill Rodgers' favorite runs around New England
- Tunes for an uptempo workout

