Shoot me now....

[snapdragen]

I've been training for a half marathon, today was our longest day ever. We did 12 miles, and boy do my legs and knees know it. Gah! My event is in two weeks, I wonder if I'll ever walk normally again...

Epsom salt baths are my friend, as is Gleukos sports drink, Balega sox, and Brooks running shoes.

[zoom-zoom]

Are these epsom salt baths hot? COLD bath is the recipe for soothing running-worn legs. I know it sounds counter-intuitive, but it's good stuff. It will help relieve swelling and decrease DOMS the next day--so your legs recover faster. Warm/hot baths can actually increase the time it takes your legs to heal.

[rocknrollgirl]

+1 on the ice baths. I am a firm believer. It is uncomfortable, but very effective.

[runningcyclist]

Hey snapdragen, I've got a half marathon coming up in 4 weeks. Managed to run 8 miles this morning and the legs feel ok so far.

Are you stretching down afterwards? Eating protein whatever within a certain timescale after running?

Good luck with the race.

[OakLeaf]

+1 on ice. I did a LOT of damage to a tendon once by soaking in a warm bath after I'd overused it. But no ice after the first 24 hours, IMO.

Anyway, you'll be starting your taper now, so easy, shorter runs. You'll do great! Good luck.

[runningcyclist]

Ice bath ladies: how long should one sit in a cold bath for? I'm going to give it a try after my race.

[snapdragen]

I <3 the taper!

It's bizarre, this is my third half, and it seems I have a harder time each season. Maybe it's a sign I need to stop this silliness and ride my bike...

[zoom-zoom]

I <3 the taper!

It's bizarre, this is my third half, and it seems I have a harder time each season. Maybe it's a sign I need to stop this silliness and ride my bike...

Heh, you're less of a slow-learner than I am...I ran 3 marathons before I decided that running that much is some sort of madness. Now that I have my bike I want to run less and bike more. After a 25k in May and a trail relay in June I will be scaling-back a lot on my running for a few months and working more on getting biking miles and weight workouts into my schedule. For 4 years I've been running with the hopes that weight loss would come along, but running makes me so insanely ravenous that the opposite happens. I definitely seem to be one of those people who benefit more from muscle-buildng and less cardio.

[zoom-zoom]

Ice bath ladies: how long should one sit in a cold bath for? I'm going to give it a try after my race.

Even 5 minutes seems to help, but I definitely feel the most benefit if I give it at least 10. I can't tolerate much more than that.

[rocknrollgirl]

Everything that I have read says 15-20 mins. I do 20. Brings out your inner warrior princess.....grrrhhhhhh......