cold soak/ice bath

[cryssi]

Apologies if this has been covered before, but I saw this in another thread and wanted to know more, as I am a new runner and don't know these things...

It makes sense of course. Do you really soak your whole body (like sit in a cold bath)? Or cold pool? Just your lower half?

TIA! I really don't know why I haven't thought of this before...for feet at least. LOL But then again, I have only been training for 2 weeks...

Thanks!

 

[Cindylou]

Hi Cryssi,

I generally sit with the water up to about my belly button. I'm not sure I could stand it any higher up. It definately helps after a hard workout.

Good luck.
Cindy

 

[andromedaslove]

Here is my routine for ice baths, which I usually only take on runs over 10 miles. I stop at the store on the way home from my running trail and pick up a 20 lb bag of ice. When I get home I get in a bathing suit bottom and a sweatshirt, and hop in the bath tub. I fill the tub up with cold water until it is just over my thighs, and the dump in the ice. I only sit in the ice for about 10-15 minutes, but it really helps alleviate the muscle soreness after those long runs.

Dana

 

[cryssi]

thanks!

 

[wtpclc]

OK, here's my cold tubs fro whimps methods. Must give credits to SUnny adn LIly too.

1. Put on hoodie and grab a hot drink.

2. FIll tub with luke warm water until it just covers teh bottom of the tub.

3. Roll up bottom of hoodie and get in.

4. Turn the water to cold and shiver.

5. After filling (I make sure all of legs and thigs are covered), soak another 10 to 20 min.

I don't add ice. My tap water is cold and I am a whimp. Still does wonders, though.

 

[cryssi]

Thanks for the tips and techniques! I have a pool, so I can use that, but in the middle of the summer (when I will be hitting the longer distances), when the pool temp is not cold, I may have to hit the ice... lol

 

[joan4mickey]

Here's how I do it. Remember I love hot and can look like a cooked lobster coming out of the shower.

I get in the shower, turn on the cold water, let it run over my legs turning to get front and back and then turn on the HOT!

I new to running too. I have been at it about 8 weeks.

 

[cryssi]

Remember I love hot and can look like a cooked lobster coming out of the shower.

ooh, me too...I take scalding hot baths...

 

[sunshine girl]

I swear by the cold/ice baths!! They've really helped me after long runs and marathons. The true ice baths can be hard handle (brrr) but it's worth it!

Even after short runs, since I have a pool, I go straight to it, take of my shoes and wade in up to my upper thighs. Just standing there in the cold water feels soooo good. Especially since here in Florida, running is a very hot affair. And it's a quick process to do a fast leg-soak in the pool!

 

[mkymsehi]

http://youtube.com/watch?v=Ng8X0dhDxDY
Funny ice bath after this years marathon!


BTW, I swear by ice bathing after any run 12 miles or longer, and after the half and full marathons.

I ice bathed immediately after the Donald Duck half, and again that evening before going to bed. Then one more time after the Mickey Marathon. I was able to walk comfortably that afternoon, and into the evening. No pain at all after the Goofy.

A couple of these don't hurt either...

 

[deekaypee]

http://youtube.com/watch?v=Ng8X0dhDxDY
Funny ice bath after this years marathon!


BTW, I swear by ice bathing after any run 12 miles or longer, and after the half and full marathons.

I ice bathed immediately after the Donald Duck half, and again that evening before going to bed. Then one more time after the Mickey Marathon. I was able to walk comfortably that afternoon, and into the evening. No pain at all after the Goofy.

I second Jeff's experience. I hated every minute (about 15) in the ice bath, and told DOOD through clenched teeth, "I hate you and everything you stand for." (He's the runner in the family, and I'm slowly following in his footsteps.) But I'll be darned if those baths didn't work.

They were my first ones, btw, because our apartment doesn't have a tub and so I was only able to take cold showers up to that point. I was doing a version of Carrie's routine for my training above 12 miles, though.

 

[Cruella de mom]

Wear your socks. Actually, I get in fully dressed since my clothes are nasty anyway. But the socks really help keep your toes from burning.

After a 20 mile training run, I hoped in the car and DH drove us 14 hours to Arkansas. No ice bath. I walked like a cripple for 2 days and felt positively miserable too.

 

[curiouser]

http://youtube.com/watch?v=Ng8X0dhDxDY
Funny ice bath after this years marathon!

Oh runners... what a strange and sadistic breed we are!!

 

[Mooshu]

Yes!!! ice baths do work! I used to dump the ice in the tub, sit in the tub with running clothes still on, the turn the warm water on and fill the tub up. The Mkymsehi showed me the correct way when we ran the Goofy...LOL

My post marathon ritual:

*10 min post marathon massage at the tent
*10-15 min ice bath
*lunch in UK (fish & chips & BEER)

 

[scoolover]

I got in the tub before I even started the water. I started it on cold and when it was up over my quads, I had the son and girlfriend poor in the ice. I stayed in as long as I could stand it. That was about 15 minutes.

It worked wonders!!!

 

[cryssi]

LOL cute pic! I got in the pool last night but it wasn't cold enough. I tried to ice bath the other night, but I didn't have enough ice...lol

 

[andromedaslove]

Scott - I do the same exact thing. Except I usually buy a 20lb bag of ice on the way home from my LR's and use that. Dh seems to get some insane enjoyment out of dumping the ice on me too!!

dana