Post IM recovery

My first two IM's had recoveries that were measured in weeks and not days.  The last few have been easier.

Expect your first IM to really kick your butt.

There is no comparison between the two for me.  For my two HIMs, I was tired and a bit sore but pretty much functioning normally.  For the IM I did, I was pretty much wrecked - puked my guts up all night after the race and didn't feel at all normal for a few days.

Ditto to others experiences.

I would add that for my first two IMs, I had to get in a car the next morning and sit for a 12-hour drive back home. We made sure to schedule stops every ~2 hours to get out and walk around (in our compression socks and flip flops - let that image sink in) - also due to us drinking a ton to re-hydrate we had to pee a lot. I remember walking a few laps around the gas station to get my blood moving.

My 3rd IM I had 5 days after the race to lounge around by the pool and it seemed to be much better. That could have been the experience or the wine talking, not sure which one

I've done 3 marathons, 3 HIMs, and 1 IM.  In my experience, it really depends how much you run, and how hard you run during the run portion that determines how wrecked you'll feel afterwards.  Blow up on the bike, and do a lot of walking...chances are you will still feel exhausted and sore the next day, but it won't linger as long because walking is lower impact.  

After my first and only IM, I felt absolutely fine after 36 hours.  It was a 6:09 marathon though...when I was hoping to go closer to 4:30.

I have puked after 2 of my 3 HIMs, but hours after the fact. Not sure why.

My 1 Ironman experience was a blast up until I crossed the finish line.  I couldn't eat a thing.  Probably dehydrated.

That night back in the hotel, took a long shower.  Layed down in bed and had leg cramps the entire night.

Next morning I finally felt like eating.  The worst part for me was going down stairs.  The quad cramps i experienced during the race were no joke.

Lunch the next day was painful.  We parked at a mall to "go shopping".  This was unbelievable.

I'd agree with another poster about the two levels of recovery the short and long term.  Long term it can be 3-4 weeks. Often second day I'm more sore than first day post IM. Depends on blisters and other odd skin issues how easy you will be able to walk and sometimes it is just random what comes up.

If you don't fully recover well before you get back training and racing, you can dig an even deeper hole that is harder to recover from.

Warning sitting for long periods after HIM or IM can be a risk for DVTs. Many athletes don't think this can happen to them but it can more so if you have an underlying clotting disorder you didn't know about. or are dehydrated.  Walk around frequently, drink a lot, don't travel and push it the day or two or three after your race.

My first IM, I spent the next day at the urgent care facility (collarbone) and the week following was driving from Idaho back to Illinois with some sightseeing in Wyoming and at Yellowstone.  I was pretty sore getting in/out of the car much of the time.  

My second IM, I went out for a 3 mile run the next day and we spent a few days at Yosimite.  I wasn't nearly as sore.  

It was several weeks before I felt "good" during workouts.