You're understandably exhausted; after all, you just completed the single most intense activity you'll likely do all year. Even so, you -- and many others in your running shoes -- may have had trouble sleeping last night. Sleep experts such as Dr. Sat Sharma, a respirologist at St. Boniface General Hospital, note that although it's hard to calm down after a race, sleep is essential.

You may be tempted to ease your pain with ibuprofen or acetaminophen and then get on with your day. While popping an over-the-counter pain reliever can help reduce pain and swelling, medical experts say it's better to deal with your pain rather than mask it. This usually involves treating sore muscles with ice and heat. One school of thought says to place a wrapped ice pack on sore muscles for 10 minutes, four times daily in the first two to three days after your race. After that, place heat on the area to increase the flexibility of your muscles. One caveat: do not place heat packs on bruised areas. Doing so could cause blood vessels to dilate, making the bruise worse.

You chugged enough water yesterday to fill a couple of aquariums. But experts say that you likely will need to keep on drinking steadily after the marathon to avoid dehydration. How much water you need depends on how hard you've exercised, the duration of your race and how much you've perspired. One guideline to follow: Consume sports drinks during and immediately after your run. (The electrolytes in these drinks help your body retain fluid more effectively than water alone.) Later, switch to water -- which will help eliminate toxins from your system and ward off dehydration-induced post-race headaches. Keep in mind that some runners drink too much water, which can lead to a rare but dangerous condition that dilutes the electrolytes in the blood.