Cold shower after run

K - stop overanalyzing - you're not a pro athlete.....

just do what you think is right

I've never had a cold bath/shower after any long event - I'm still here

i occassionally have a cold bath after a long run. I've heard it might help to speed the repair of the tiny muscle tears that occur through running. Equally, it could be bullshit, but seems to reduce DOMS for me, so i do it when i feel like it. I think cold first, then warm bath / shower later is the suggested order, but see my earlier note on "bullshit".

It'd be nice to try a post-run ice bath out and see what difference it would make.

Though I suspect at my level, the difference would amount to very cold testicles and not much else.

+1 for FB's comment - don't over-think it.

The theory (I think) behind it is that the cold shock reduces blood flow to the affected areas and promotes healing of the micro-tears in your muscles after training.  Hot does the opposite as your blood vessels expand to allow the cooling blood into the heated area, and therefore can lead to additional swelling of the affected areas therby delaying recovery.  So having a hot shower & then a cold shower is a bad idea.  However a hot shower after the cold treatmetn is OK as it helps to restore normal blood flow.

stutyr's right with the theory but frankly when you ARE a pro athlete of any sport, quick recovery is the order of the day so they will do anything they need to help that - one being ice baths. 

for us mortals, some post-exercise recovery drinks and maybe a cold shower will be the best, but for me, I just get a hot shower and carry on.  a bit of DOMS never hurt anyone

sometimes I will go and stand in the sea after a long run if I can be arsed - which I can't usually!!

FB - "a bit of DOMS never hurt anyone" - I have to disagree, bl**dy hurts for a couple of days. 

ha, FB, you remind me of my high school PE teacher, whose catchphrase was "pain never hurt anyone". I'm not sure if he knew he had a catchphrase or not, but he'd roll it out every week whilst standing over some prostrate boy who'd just had a football hooved into his balls.

Well I'm a total beginner but when I was training for my first half marathon (training badly) after my 8miler and 10miler I had a 10-15min cold bath and it helped so much the next day, felt like I hadn't run at all. After the run my legs had been so heavy and achy it was lovely to wake up in the morning and not suffer from DOMS.

Nothing wrong with trying to reduce the pain.

i quite like the feeling of DOMS

is that weird?

Yes. But we're all of us freaks one way or another so don't feel bad about it!

I have had a few ice baths and it does help, I was made to take them after rugby a few years back when they were the new "thing" and they are superb for easing the lumps and bumps although the psychological aspect can't be discounted "Yes, yes I feel amazing can I get out now and try to find my penis now please?"

I occasionally take one after longer runs that have taken a toll but frankly sitting in a bath of cold water with your gonads up around your tonsils reading the Sunday travel supplement isn't as much fun as it sounds.

Okay.

I tried a cold water bath after a 10 mile run tonight.

I lasted about five seconds (literally). I can't do it. I'm just too weak.

nothing appeals to me about sitting in cold water whether in a bath or shower - reminds me of camping trips and skanky showers lol 

the science bit sounds good but i'll stick with warmth and comfort  - its what i pay the gas bill for anyway 

incidentally  - should legs feel stiff etc after longer runs - when i say long - for me thats 8 miles  - my legs are fine next day , my shoulders and neck ache though ? 

next time on a long run.....keep on checking if you are running with tense arms shoulder......a good way to stop it is every half mile  just let your arms drop down  and just let them go limp and shake them a little.you will notice that your shoulders will drop as well..do a couple of shoulder rotations at the same time if you want.........all this can be done whilst still running.......

you want to get out of the habit of tensing shoulders when running if you can.........