Runner’s Massage

Specialized Treatments

Targeted therapeutic massage for runners in Pacific Grove, designed to support endurance, recovery, and performance. Ideal for long-distance runners and recreational athletes seeking expert bodywork to prevent injuries and optimize movement.

Ever crushed miles in the morning light only to have fiery pain seize your calves and steal your momentum? Let a runner’s massage unlock your muscles—and your spirit—so you can chase every horizon with unwavering stride.

A runner's massage is a specialized form of massage therapy designed to target the muscles and soft tissues that are most affected by running. It focuses on relieving tension, improving flexibility, and enhancing circulation in areas like the calves, quads, hamstrings, and IT bands. The massage helps prevent injuries by addressing muscle tightness and stiffness, speeds up recovery after intense runs, and boosts overall performance. Whether you're training for a marathon or simply enjoy running, a runner's massage helps keep your body in optimal condition, allowing you to run longer, faster, and injury-free.

What is Runner’s Massage?

Key Benefits of A Runner’s Massage

Specialized Treatments

Clinical runner’s massage improving flexibility and range of motion. Helps reduce stiffness in hips, hamstrings, calves, and feet—enhancing stride efficiency and athletic performance through specialized fascia-based techniques.

Improved Flexibility

Increases range of motion and reduces stiffness.

Therapeutic massage focused on injury prevention for runners by addressing muscle imbalances and overuse. Expert hands target high-strain areas to support joint health, prevent IT band syndrome, plantar fasciitis, and stress injuries.

Injury Prevention

Targets overused areas & corrects imbalances before it become injuries

Runner’s massage for faster post-run recovery—expert therapeutic techniques reduce soreness, flush metabolic waste, and promote circulation to help you bounce back quickly after training, races, or long-distance runs in Pacific Grove.

Faster Recovery

Reduces muscle soreness and helps speed up post-run recovery.

Performance-enhancing massage for runners—improves muscle coordination, stride efficiency, and range of motion. Ideal for athletes seeking to optimize function and endurance through expert, fascia-aware massage techniques.

Better Performance

Optimizes muscle function for smoother, more efficient runs.

Specialized runner’s massage to reduce inflammation and calm overworked tissues. Supports healing of joints, tendons, and muscles after high-impact running while promoting long-term mobility and injury resistance.

Reduced Inflammation

Helps calm inflamed tissues after intense or long-distance running.

What to Expect

Your Runner’s Massage begins with a quick check-in to discuss your training routine and any sore spots. Selina then employs warming strokes and targeted techniques—compression, myofascial release, and gliding strokes—on your calves, quads, hamstrings, and IT bands to ease tension and boost circulation. You may feel firm pressure in tight areas, but it shouldn’t be painful—just let Selina know if you need any adjustments. The session finishes with dynamic stretches and personalized self-care tips to help you maintain mobility and speed up recovery. Expect to leave with lighter, more responsive legs and renewed readiness for your next run.

Silhouette of a runner at sunrise symbolizing essential pre-run preparation—hydration, fascia warmups, and movement awareness techniques for optimal performance.

Pre-Run Do’s

  • Drink at least 16 oz of water 1–2 hours before you head out

  • Warm up with dynamic stretches (leg swings, lunges) to prepare your muscles

  • Have a light, carb-rich snack 30 minutes before running

Pre-Run Don’ts

  • Don’t skip your warm-up—cold muscles are more prone to injury

  • Avoid heavy meals right before you start

Post-Run Do’s

  • Rehydrate with water or an electrolyte drink within 30 minutes

  • Spend 5–10 minutes on static stretches (hamstrings, calves, quads)

  • Use foam rolling or self-massage on tight areas

Post-Run Don’ts

  • Don’t go straight from run to rest—give your body time to cool down

  • Avoid intense stretching on ice-cold muscles

These simple habits between sessions will keep you feeling strong and ready for your next run.

Pre- & Post-Run Tips

Silhouette of a runner at sunrise symbolizing essential pre-run preparation—hydration, fascia warmups, and movement awareness techniques for optimal performance.
Selina Sahba providing therapeutic massage in a clinical setting. Her personal experience as a lifelong runner and athlete informs her elite-level care for runners in Pacific Grove.

Selina’s Approach

Selina blends clinical skill with lived experience as an active individual, allowing her to tailor sports massage treatments that truly understand the demands of an athletic lifestyle. Each session is focused, intentional, and built to support recovery and performance.

Designed to help your body bounce back faster after training or competition.

Icon representing performance recovery — Reduces fatigue and accelerates healing after training or competition with targeted massage therapy

Performance Recovery

Targets tightness and soreness to ease tension and prevent overuse injuries.

Illustration of muscle fiber — Focused massage work targets tightness and soreness to ease tension, reduce overuse strain, and support muscle health.

Muscle Relief

Supports better range of motion and alignment, keeping your body ready to move.

Multi-directional arrow icon — Improves flexibility and alignment, supporting full range of motion to keep your body strong, mobile, and injury-resistant

Flexibility & Mobility

Runner crossing the finish line—symbolizing peak performance and the power of sports massage to help you finish strong, reduce injury risk, and improve recovery.

Ready to crush your next run?

Therapist applying deep massage to runner’s lower leg—representing focused muscle relief for overused calves and shins, helping runners stay limber, pain-free, and race-ready.

When your therapist shares your miles, she knows exactly where to knead to keep you running strong

Explore Our Other Services

Close-up of back massage at Selina’s Therapy Center in Pacific Grove

Massage Styles

Massages to relax, heal, and restore your body. Each style is designed to meet your specific needs for relaxation and recovery.

Leg mobilization technique representing body rehabilitation and movement therapy—used sitewide to symbolize Selina Sahba's integrative approach combining massage, stretching, and corrective movement for long-term recovery.

Body Rehabilitation

Posture correction and movement therapy designed to support recovery and keep you moving well beyond physical therapy.