How often do you ice?

[libbygrl109]

I was at a seminar last night run by the owner of my LRS. He answered some questions by some of us who stayed later to talk with him more. One of the things he said to another woman was, "You're not done with your run until you ice."

I never thought of doing that before. Yes, I foam roll, and definitely ice when things flare up, but not both together after every run. So, I was just wondering if anyone has heard this before, and actually do it.

[Brit]

Skinny Runner seems to do that. She runs very high mileage without injury and is a serial marathoner. Maybe there is something to it?

I definitely don't do it. I barely have time to run, let alone sit around icing afterwards.

[gt7301b]

After my marathon, yeah, I think that is it.

[Susie]

I am lax about it, I only ice when I have something flaring up.

[sassystace]

I only ice when I have pain somewhere.

[clseale]

Add me to the "only ice an injury" team. Are they talking about icing, like, throwing a bag of frozen peas on your knees after a run? Or are they talking about taking ice baths after runs?

[shorty20]

I have PF so I try to ice my foot after every run. I only ice my legs after a really long run though.

[ebeth]

in the summer I'll sometimes do an ice bath after long runs but aside from that I pretty much never ice.

[libbygrl109]

Mar 13, 2013 7:22:15 GMT -5 clseale said:

Add me to the "only ice an injury" team. Are they talking about icing, like, throwing a bag of frozen peas on your knees after a run? Or are they talking about taking ice baths after runs?

He talked about doing things like freezing some water in Dixie cups, then peeling off the paper and rubbing your muscles down with the ice, in addition to soaking your legs (from knees down or hips down, whatever you need) for 5-10 minutes after every run.

[clseale]

Hmmm...the cup thing I could try. I just can't bring myself to do any type of ice bath. I'm sure they have a million benefits, but I'm a wimp.

[kams]

I take an ice bath after *almost* every long run. I think they really help me, and I usually hang over the side of the tub & gbcn . I also do some spot icing whenever my knees or ankles are a little cranky.

[ebeth]

Mar 13, 2013 8:19:36 GMT -5 clseale said:

Hmmm...the cup thing I could try. I just can't bring myself to do any type of ice bath. I'm sure they have a million benefits, but I'm a wimp.

not gonna lie.  I'm not in it for the benefits.  I'm in it for sitting in cold water after a long, humid, hot, sweaty run.

[clseale]

Mar 13, 2013 8:37:53 GMT -5 ebeth said:

Mar 13, 2013 8:19:36 GMT -5 clseale said:

Hmmm...the cup thing I could try. I just can't bring myself to do any type of ice bath. I'm sure they have a million benefits, but I'm a wimp.

not gonna lie.  I'm not in it for the benefits.  I'm in it for sitting in cold water after a long, humid, hot, sweaty run.

See, but I HATE cold water. Even in the midst of a FL summer, I cannot imagine sitting in ice water. If it's below 75*, good luck getting me in it. We plan a lot of our long summer runs at the beach. A quick swim in the ocean to cool off is as close as I'm getting to an ice bath. lol 

ETA: For those that do ice baths, how do you do them? Do you fill the tub up with cool water, get in, and THEN add the ice so it's not so shocking? How long do you stay in them? How much ice do you add?

[bluelikejazz]

When I ran my half, I did it for double digit runs. I ran the bath with cold water, poured in a bucket of ice, and sat (with Sweatshirt and hot tea) for about 10 minutes.

[ebeth]

Mar 13, 2013 8:44:47 GMT -5 clseale said:

Mar 13, 2013 8:37:53 GMT -5 ebeth said:

not gonna lie.  I'm not in it for the benefits.  I'm in it for sitting in cold water after a long, humid, hot, sweaty run.

See, but I HATE cold water. Even in the midst of a FL summer, I cannot imagine sitting in ice water. If it's below 75*, good luck getting me in it. We plan a lot of our long summer runs at the beach. A quick swim in the ocean to cool off is as close as I'm getting to an ice bath. lol 

ETA: For those that do ice baths, how do you do them? Do you fill the tub up with cool water, get in, and THEN add the ice so it's not so shocking? How long do you stay in them? How much ice do you add?

I fill up the tub with cold water, get in, then add a bag of ice.  I read a magazine and have a snack or something until the ice melts.  Maybe 15 min or so.  I just get in in my running shorts and a sports bra most of the time. Has the added benefit of gettting some of the stank out of my shorts.  Then after the tub drains I take a shower.  I justify this phenomenal waste of water by subbing some post work out showers for hobo showers during the week. also, I don't do this after every long run.  usually it has to be something in the 17-20 mile range. and it has to be pretty hot outside too.

[kams]

Mar 13, 2013 8:44:47 GMT -5 clseale said:

See, but I HATE cold water. Even in the midst of a FL summer, I cannot imagine sitting in ice water. If it's below 75*, good luck getting me in it. We plan a lot of our long summer runs at the beach. A quick swim in the ocean to cool off is as close as I'm getting to an ice bath. lol 

ETA: For those that do ice baths, how do you do them? Do you fill the tub up with cool water, get in, and THEN add the ice so it's not so shocking? How long do you stay in them? How much ice do you add?

It only stings for a minute

I just run cold water in the tub, and then dump my freezer bin of ice in. Sometimes my DH will grab an extra bag of ice while I'm running if he has time. I jump in in my shorts & sports bra for 12-15 minutes, drink my recovery drink, and then drain the tub and shower. It's really nbd. 

[clseale]

OK, you guys MIGHT have inspired me to suck it up and at least try one this summer for Chicago training. I still say my after long-run ritual of ocean swimming and sipping mimosas as a recovery on the beach is far superior...but I can recognize that it might not have the same benefits as this ice bath business.

[ebeth]

you can have a mimosa in the ice bath. I won't judge.

[SuziSaysDa]

I used to do it for long runs when I was training for Goofy. I wanted a quick recovery between the races, so add it in during training. I really hated it and don't do it anymore b/c it did not seem worth it.

Actually, I now take a hot bath after my run, mostly b/c its cold right now. Then I get a massage.

[gt7301b]

Oh I do go for a swim after most long runs in the summer and we don't heat our pool most of the year.