I avoided ice baths for a year, but I just kept hearing how helpful they can be! So I tried one last week and it made a huge difference. I've started doing them after long runs or even short runs if I'm feeling sore.
I was told by my physical therapist to get a couple 10-lb bags of ice, fill tub with cold water (only so it covers legs), put in one bag, let it melt for 5 minutes, put in the 2nd bag, and sit there 5-10 minutes more (15 minutes max.) I pretty much follow those instructions except I just use ice from our freezer--the icemaker has a pretty big capacity, probably not 20 lb but enough to do the trick. He told me that after the ice bath I can take a hot shower if I want--the 10 minutes of cold has done its job, and it's fine to get warm after that.
It sucks for 10 minutes, but it seems to help me feel so much better afterward. Between that and the new trigger point techniques I've learned from my PT, I couldn't believe how good my legs felt on day 1 and 2 after this weekend's long run. (It was far enough I would have normally been pretty sore.)
Any other ice masochists in the group? (Actually, I think ice baths just display an ability to go for delayed gratification--shiver for 10 minutes now, feel good for 2 days after. So I'm sure it means those of us who do them are enlightened and mature. 0 )
I was told by my physical therapist to get a couple 10-lb bags of ice, fill tub with cold water (only so it covers legs), put in one bag, let it melt for 5 minutes, put in the 2nd bag, and sit there 5-10 minutes more (15 minutes max.) I pretty much follow those instructions except I just use ice from our freezer--the icemaker has a pretty big capacity, probably not 20 lb but enough to do the trick. He told me that after the ice bath I can take a hot shower if I want--the 10 minutes of cold has done its job, and it's fine to get warm after that.
It sucks for 10 minutes, but it seems to help me feel so much better afterward. Between that and the new trigger point techniques I've learned from my PT, I couldn't believe how good my legs felt on day 1 and 2 after this weekend's long run. (It was far enough I would have normally been pretty sore.)
Any other ice masochists in the group? (Actually, I think ice baths just display an ability to go for delayed gratification--shiver for 10 minutes now, feel good for 2 days after. So I'm sure it means those of us who do them are enlightened and mature. 0 )