Bring your running routine into the conversation
Tell the therapist what your recent running has looked like: changes in distance, hills, speed work, a return after time off or an event on the horizon. You do not need a complicated training log. A simple account of what has changed and what feels tight helps set a useful brief for the appointment.
Choose what you want to focus on
Sports massage is the main option to compare for activity-specific work. If you mainly want attention to tired feet and calves, the shorter foot and lower-leg treatment offers a focused alternative. Deep tissue can suit someone who enjoys a firm massage more generally. Explain your preference rather than choosing the longest or strongest treatment by default.
Think about timing before an event
Leave room to understand how you respond to a treatment. Trying unfamiliar intensive work immediately before a race may not be the experience you want. Discuss your plans with the therapist and follow any advice from a clinician managing an injury. Massage does not replace an appropriate training progression or rehabilitation plan.
When to get assessed
A pain that changes your stride, keeps returning or comes with swelling deserves appropriate assessment. Use the appointment to discuss comfort preferences, not to push through a suspected injury. Our muscle-recovery page also explains why post-exercise soreness should not automatically be treated as an injury, or vice versa.