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......

[limewave]

Ice baths are amazing for helping with recovery after those long runs.

I do 15 minutes or so. I also sit in the tub and let the cold water fill in, as opposed to jumping into an ice cold bath. That seems to be easier for me to deal with.

[Tri Girl]

the longest I ever made it in an ice bath was 9 minutes... but 5-6 is usually my normal time to soak. Get in the bath ASAP after the run. I've read that within30 min. of finishing, if possible.

I'm doing a half next weekend (DH is doing the full). Since I'll finish about 2.5 hours before him and need to wait on him to leave for home- I'm planning on bringing an ice chest filled with ice water. I'll have some towels soaking in there. I plan on going back to the car, and wrapping my legs in the ice towels. I don't know if it will help, but I have to try. I can't wait 3 hours after to do it- and I know this half is gonna hurt!

[zoom-zoom]

I also sit in the tub and let the cold water fill in, as opposed to jumping into an ice cold bath. That seems to be easier for me to deal with.

Yep! We have well water that is REALLY cold. Works like a charm. I let it fill around me, then sit for 10 minutes. So I'm probably getting 15 minutes from the time I start filling.

[OakLeaf]

And I leave a nice wool top on and only run enough water to cover my hips, then kind of run ice over my quads if I don't have enough ice to chill enough water to cover my thighs completely. So far no hypothermia using this method...

[redrhodie]

Ice baths?! Man, you runners are made of different stuff than me.