Overview
- Following Sunday's London Marathon, clinicians called the first 48–72 hours the critical window for recovery.
- Nearly 60,000 finishers face widespread muscle microtears and depleted glycogen that make legs feel heavy and sore.
- Early recovery focuses on refueling with carbs and fluids and on light movement, with some clinicians also using red light therapy or electrical muscle stimulation.
- Experts say soreness peaks after one to three days, while fuller tissue repair can stretch to roughly 26 days.
- Clinicians warn that worsening pain after 48 hours or marked swelling, bruising, numbness or inability to bear weight should prompt medical assessment.