You did it! (Now what?)

You’ve run 26.2 miles, a feat most people will never accomplish in their lives! Hopefully you had a great time, even during all of those weeks of training. But there are still a few more things to think about.

• Eat and drink: Make sure to get something to eat and drink at the finish line. Even if you’re feeling queasy or not in the mood, your body will really appreciate some sports drink, a banana or some yogurt to help aid in the recovery process.

• Walk and stretch: Keep walking for a bit and, when you’re able, do some simple stretches. If you sit down, you might be able to get back up.

• Massage: If there is free massage and stretching offered at the race site, take advantage of it. If not, try to schedule a massage within 72 hours of the race to help rid your body of waste products and generally loosen things up.

• Dry clothes: As soon as you’re able, change into dry clothing. Runners often get the chills right after running a marathon, and wet clothes don’t help.

• Ice bath: One of the best recovery methods is to take an ice bath or shower after a long, hard run. When you’re back at your hotel or home, fill a tub with cold water and toss some ice cubes in, then get in. It’ll be cold, of course, but you only have to stay in about eight or 10 minutes for the water to do its trick, which is to reduce inflammation and swelling. Getting in a shower and letting icy water pelt your legs also helps.

• Take a break from running: Do not exercise for several days afterwards, and do not run for at least a week. Some experts recommend taking a day off or having an easy exercise day for every mile you run in a race, which would mean you should rest or do some easy cross-training for the next month. It may sound excessive, but remember your body has just been through an awful lot.