Are you looking for a way to get faster without running more? Are you looking to prevent injuries? Would you like your current aches and pains to subside sooner? Would you like to feel fresher and faster after that long training run? Then an ice bath is your answer.
Taking a 10-20 minute ice bath after a challenging workout (i.e long marathon training run, killer interval workout,challenging race efforts), is one of the best ways to recover faster and to keep your training buzzing along without interruption.
Why does it work?
The temperature of the ice bath (AKA "Cryotherapy), constricts blood vessels and reduces swelling, inflammation, and tissue breakdown. This in itself will help you recover faster. However, when you get out of the ice bath, the vessels will now open up (from the warmth), and the flow of blood will help flush out all that nasty oxidative, free radical, mumbo jumbo that has accumulated in your system for the past couple of hours.
Will an ice pack do the same thing?
It is better then doing nothing. But the ice bath is a lot colder and can cover your entire lower body.
Here is a video with some tips on how to take an ice bath. Ignore the fact that the editor of the video mentions that the marathon is 26.5. Just found this on youtube.
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