Ice Bath

I hate, hate, hate the cold.  Any cold.  I couldn't say exactly why I took an ice bath.   I honestly couldn't even say why I even signed up for a half marathon in January.  It seemed like a good idea back in July.  I usually defend my running by saying, "It is part of the triathlon, if I don't do it I will never finish."  Now I am doing JUST running.  Who would have thought?

Also unbelievable I sat in a tub full of cold water on Sunday and let The Coach pour in three bags of ice.  He did this out of the kindness of his heart he claims.  In no way was any part of this a sadistic desire on his part to see me uncomfortable freezing my butt off.  (Or to see my "headlights" smaller than they have been since I was 19.)  (Sorry I should have given the TMI alert.)

The day after my long run lately has been filled with whining and an inability to get up and down the stairs.  I asked The Coach for advice.  He said the football players take ice baths after pounding each other for two hours to constrict muscles and stop the production of lactic acid.  He said I had pounded my knees and hips for 90 minutes so, I should try it. He sounded incredibly scientific. I bought it. 

Shaye Baby was nice enough to keep me company while this torture ensued.  She rolled up balls of toilet paper and threw them in the tub.  I was too frozen to move to get her to quit so every few minutes I just muttered, "Bad Baby."  It didn't slow her down. From time to time she would stick her little hand in the water and say, "Ooooohhhhh."

I will say this.  It was uncomfortable.   It might have been better if Shaye had left and I could maybe distract myself with a good book or something.  I was cold for the next two hours.  On the flip side I didn't have rubber legs for the rest of the day yesterday and I was able to get up the stairs at work this morning.  My legs don't hurt at all.  Maybe I will even be able to do a weight workout this evening.  Who knows?

How about you? What is the craziest thing you have done for your sport or hobby?

 Please let me know if you are visiting from the hops so I can stop by and drop you a line.