Ask a Monican Vlog today!
Reader wants to know when should you ice bath and why?! And when you should just use a good ‘ol bag o’ peas.
I was actually icing after my run today whilst answering email all multi-tasking like. Via Instagram –
I’m finally getting into long run territory and wanted to ask for a bit more detail on after run icing. I’ve seen images on your blog showing you in the ocean, in a pool and sometimes using frozen bags of peas on the knees…
Can you give a short sum up of what we’re trying to accomplish with the “ice bath” and how we might differentiate between situations that need short term bag-o-peas and situations that need a dip in the bathtub with ice… ???
When to take an ice bath vs. when to use a ice pack Vlog
Remember – Using icing as a Band-Aid to push through uncomfortable overuse injuries is not recommended. However, icing in conjunction with rest can greatly increase healing time and athletic performance. – Via Active
My post Marine Corps Marathon ice bath…
Resources:
8 Ice Bath Dos and Don’ts via Active
Ice Baths Cold Therapy via RunnersWorld
Does an Ice Bath Speed Recovery?
And if you’re in a video watching mood…
All The Worst Things That Happen While Running
Question: Do you ice bath? Do you drink icees?
Email me your questions to RunEatRepeat at gmail dot com!
Ice baths, the only way I survived training for a marathon in kansas, in the summer. Here’s my fool proof plan icing after 14 miles or more
-leave running tights/shorts on
-cold water and at least one bag if not 2 of ice
-change out of sweaty top and sports bras and put a dry long sleeve shirt on, or sweatshirt …whatever suits you
-have a hot drink in hand
-take the plunge and deep breathe, you go numb soon so it gets to be relaxing after two minutes.
You’re right — that was a great question! I think I finally need to suck it up and try an ice bath. I hate the cold just like you! But, it sounds like people really like the effects on recovery!
Anything over half marathon length I force myself to ice bath. My tips to getting through:
Hoodie on
Hot tea in hand
Beyonce Pandora blasting
Timer set so you aren’t always watching the clock
Climb in the cold water
Then pour the ice on top of yourself and start the timer
That is the only way I can make it work.
I think living in the frozen tundra of Minnesota exempts me from ice baths for life.
http://best-exercisefor-weight-loss.blogspot.com/
I have done it a few times — and it’s never EVER something I enjoy. But damn it unfortunately they do seem to work.
I live in New Hampshire and I have gone in the ocean in Sept. and October (65-70 degrees max) as an ice bath, Lake Winnepisake (60 degrees) in early May, and all summer I use my pool after all my long training runs and after almost all tempo and speed sessions. We even left our pool open a bit later last year until I tapered for my October Marathon. I have only done the ice tub thing twice. I am way more chicken for that. I always throw a pair of Pro Compression socks on right after too. I think it really makes a difference.
Looks more painful than the running
It is.
I think living in the frozen tundra of Minnesota exempts me from ice baths for life.
Oh ice baths… what a love hate relationship! I have been battling a painful achilles tendon lately and just been putting ice on it, but I think I need to take the plunge and get it in an ice bath. At least it’s just the foot and not my back or something!
I like to drink Icees in an ice bath…no, no I don’t.
I might be weird but I actually don’t hate ice baths. My farthest race is only a 15k but when I was doing those long runs, I didn’t mind the ice bath. Running is so hard on my hips that it was actually a relief…and my son thought it was the weirdest and best thing ever.
I’ve never done an ice bath. Just regular RICE (rest, ice, compression, elevation) for this chica!
I’ve never taken an ice bath because my bathtub is old and gross but I ice with a bag of peas on the reg 🙂
Thanks for the tips. Living in cold WI I was never sore but that was running in the winter. So I guess there’s a plus to living in the cold state.
I don’t take ice baths… here in Michigan we take snow baths 😉
Brrrrr!
True statement: Ice bath = torture. Tried it once, never again.
Interesting that the vid All The Worst Things That Happen While Running
doesn’t include a dog encounter. I know mine hate runners (from the window) and if they escaped, the runner would be in trouble for daring to run in front of their territory.
Awesome post!!! I am running my second full in 3 days and have had lots to think about with icing my shins this time around! I just wrote a post this morning on tapering before a race! http://www.runningonme.blogspot.com/2014/02/tips-for-tapering.html
Good luck on the race!!
Thanks! I’m super excited but of course nervous…once you get into PR territory the stakes are so high!
In my many years of training, I’ve never done an ice bath. That said, after watching your vlog and reading some of the resources starting to think it could help me. Yikes! Here I go!
Never iced bathe….of course, I run shorter distances right now…but I can’t imagine I will ever ice bathe.
In fact, because I live in the arctic (Ohio) I usually come in from a run, stretch, drink a choco milk and take a hot bubble bath. Probably horrible for me, but I do thoroughly enjoy it…
I have never iced bath! I think I am just a scared, but one day I will try it!
haha I love that running video– too funny!
There’s just no way I’d voluntarily put my body in any body of water with a temperature below 60…
I hear that 🙂
I like it very much. Thanks for this nice blog.
Use an ice bath if your pain or inflammation is not just on the surface. The ice pack can’t chill as deeply as a bath. For my ankle, I use a small garbage can. Just following my dr’s orders.
Nope. I can’t take cold water, weather etc – I freeze easily! 😛
Plus my grandma or maybe it’s a old Chinese wife thingy that says drinking cold water is not good for the system.
I ice bath after anything over 10 miles. Sometimes between 6 and 8 miles if it was really hard miles and/or I feel like it would help. I never let taking an ice bath replace foam rolling, stretching, proper hydration/food after a run though. It’s an additional tool in the recovery tool box that I have found to be very helpful.
drinking warm chocolate milk in an ice bath is actually a pretty great way to recover!
Thanks for chiming in Jen! Agree on ice not replacing the other things!
LOL that video! My fave was when he had the chafing and put the front of his t-shirt in his mouth. I laughed out loud for real.
I’ve never done an ice bath. I know it’s great for recovery, but I just don’t want to do it. Frozen peas for me! 🙂
I’m notorious for NOT taking ice baths OR icing enough. Well, I’ve learned my lesson. Once I can start running again after getting over an injury, I’ll be sure to do BOTH.
Yes I have done quite a few ice baths after some long workouts (I have done 4 ironmans ) and I have found them to be effective in my recovery. Also I’ve noticed that the rest of my day I am able to function. In particular my mind tends to be clear and I can put two sentences together instead of feeling like mush on the couch. An effective way that I found works is to start the bathtub with a bit of warm water first, get in then turn tap to cold. I usually get it cold enough that I don’t need ice. This makes it feel alittle less torcherous. I also wear an old sweat shirt cause iam only going to hip height. I try and read a magazine and watch and aim for 15 minutes in the tub. If you want to return to regular activities quicker I recommend it! 🙂
Thanks Tanya!
The most I can handle is getting in the pool (which is usually pretty cold) to ice my feet or calves if they’re sore. It’s just too much. I do ice my dog’s leg with frozen peas when her arthritis kick up, though!
She just lays there?! Good dog!
Never taken an ice bath and I don’t wanna! It just sounds too painful to be worth it.
Just the mention of ice bath brings back horrible high school cross country memories. Is Ice Bath PTSD a thing?
Ha! Oh no.