Hot ๐Ÿฅต or cold ๐Ÿฅถ ?: So Iโ€™ve been wondering as... - Couch to 5K

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Hot ๐Ÿฅต or cold ๐Ÿฅถ ?

โ€ข44 Replies

So Iโ€™ve been wondering as you do sometimes. So after a run or and exercise for that matter, do people have a hot or cold shower?

Are there any benefits for either to aid recovery?

I sometimes try having a cold shower. But it is very COLD!! brrrr.

I much prefer a hot shower.

Just wondering if anyone knew of any scientific reasoning for either which would possibly help?

Thanks all.

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44 Replies
โ€ข
Buddy34 profile image
Buddy34Graduate

Definitely a hot shower then a cold cloth on my face as I'm always like a very red tomato ๐Ÿ˜Š

โ€ข in reply toBuddy34

Got to agree with hot shower. It takes my breath away with freezing cold water!!

AlMorr profile image
AlMorrAmbassadorGraduate

Professional athletes have a 'ICE BATH' after whatever they have done, Andy Murray has a ice bath after every tennis match he plays, I usually have a warm shower ๐Ÿšฟ after a ๐Ÿƒ run or a workout at home. ๐Ÿ˜Š

โ€ข in reply toAlMorr

How do they manage that!! ๐Ÿ˜ฎ๐Ÿ˜ฎ๐Ÿ˜ฎ sounds painfully cold. So I guess there is some scientific evidence that must point towards being super cold.

AlMorr profile image
AlMorrAmbassadorGraduateโ€ข in reply to

There is, but as they say for us normal people "don't try that at home" those professionals do it very gradually as part of their athleticism, not for us normal mortals. ๐Ÿ˜Š

โ€ข in reply toAlMorr

So true! Plus I donโ€™t have time to fill a bath with ice. ๐Ÿ˜‚

Irishprincess profile image
IrishprincessGraduateโ€ข in reply toAlMorr

I read something recently that suggested ice baths aren't as effective as they thought......

AlMorr profile image
AlMorrAmbassadorGraduateโ€ข in reply toIrishprincess

It depends on the coach of the professional athlete whether his athlete should take a ice bath.

Oldfloss profile image
OldflossAdministratorGraduate

I wrote a whole post on this years ago..when we had a Snippet of the Week feature...

Tepid shower for me..except the time white van man tried to drown me..one winter's morning...then it was a hot one!

โ€ข in reply toOldfloss

๐Ÿ˜‚ thatโ€™s white van men for you!!

Oldfloss profile image
OldflossAdministratorGraduateโ€ข in reply to

He altered his driving line... came right into the gutter and whoosh.. it was a man..I saw him laughing...!!

โ€ข in reply toOldfloss

๐Ÿ˜ฎ. I bet you were on a PB too werenโ€™t you!!

Oldfloss profile image
OldflossAdministratorGraduateโ€ข in reply to

Obviously...!๐Ÿ™ƒ๐Ÿƒโ€โ™€๏ธ๐Ÿ˜‰

โ€ข in reply toOldfloss

๐Ÿ˜Ž๐Ÿ˜Š๐Ÿ˜‰

AlMorr profile image
AlMorrAmbassadorGraduateโ€ข in reply toOldfloss

Good evening Floss, just to let you know that I have completed all my reruns of C25K as part of my 'runiversary season', this morning with Laura on the app I reran run 3 of week 9, 30 minutes but at a slightly quicker pace than I ran run 2 on Wednesday, no official pace time but it was probably around 37 minutes 5K pace to the roundabout 42 minutes on Wednesday.

Next week as I have it on my new Smartphone going to try with Laura "The Stepping Stones Podcasts". ๐Ÿ˜Š

Oldfloss profile image
OldflossAdministratorGraduateโ€ข in reply toAlMorr

Uh oh...think Marmite !

AlMorr profile image
AlMorrAmbassadorGraduateโ€ข in reply toOldfloss

๐Ÿ‘

Jogunlikely profile image
JogunlikelyGraduate

The ice bath professionals have helps their muscles repair just a little quicker. Irc it can equate to 1-5% improvement which for a pro is a huge amount.

There was a counter study (isn't there always!) that said luke warm was just as effective.

So I just go with what feels nice on that day ๐Ÿ˜Š

AlMorr profile image
AlMorrAmbassadorGraduateโ€ข in reply toJogunlikely

Cold water immersion, not necessary completely ice, I suppose it depends on how the athletes feel just how cold the water should be.

Tasha99 profile image
Tasha99Graduateโ€ข in reply toAlMorr

I swear by it. Definitely helps my legs recover.

โ€ข in reply toJogunlikely

Best answer ๐Ÿ˜Š

Tasha99 profile image
Tasha99Graduate

I have a very cold water bath after a hard run. Really helps. Otherwise a regular shower.

โ€ข in reply toTasha99

Yikes. Totally cold water, I bet you have a splash of boiling water in there! ๐Ÿ˜Ž I mite try that sometime. Not sure I could get my body to jump in to a freezing bath ๐Ÿ˜‚

Tasha99 profile image
Tasha99Graduateโ€ข in reply to

No, completely cold ๐Ÿคฃ

You go numb after a few seconds. Wear a fleece and a woolly hat ๐Ÿ‘๐Ÿฝ

โ€ข in reply toTasha99

๐Ÿ˜‚ and some woolly pants! Well at least once once youโ€™ve gone numb you will stop shivering ๐Ÿ™„

Tasha99 profile image
Tasha99Graduateโ€ข in reply to

๐Ÿคฃ 5-8 minutes pain for the ability to walk better in the coming days

โ€ข in reply toTasha99

๐Ÿ˜‚

Oldfloss profile image
OldflossAdministratorGraduateโ€ข in reply toTasha99

Tash..you are completely awesome...thank goodness we don't have a bath..I'd have to try this else!

โ€ข in reply toOldfloss

๐Ÿ˜‚ itโ€™s like I know it sounds horrific but I also want to kind of try it.

Tasha99 profile image
Tasha99Graduateโ€ข in reply toOldfloss

Depends how your legs are after a hard run. When Iโ€™ve gone beyond half marathon, I can struggle to recover. Itโ€™s tremendously helped me. And not as bad as it sounds. Only the legs need immersing. ๐Ÿค”๐Ÿคฃ

โ€ข in reply toTasha99

๐Ÿ˜‚ donโ€™t think I can even run that far!! Your like a pro to me! Haha. I guess itโ€™s worth it if it speeds up recovery

Oldfloss profile image
OldflossAdministratorGraduateโ€ข in reply toTasha99

I do spray my legs with cold water regularly!๐Ÿ˜Š

Tasha99 profile image
Tasha99Graduateโ€ข in reply toTasha99

He he he I thought this post was on the marathon forum ๐Ÿคฃ

โ€ข in reply toTasha99

๐Ÿ˜‚

robew88636 profile image
robew88636Graduate

From what i have read, it should be cold shower in morning as it wakes your muscles up and hot shower in the evening so as to relax your muscles and help you sleep better.

โ€ข in reply torobew88636

Sounds pretty scientific to me!

Irishprincess profile image
IrishprincessGraduate

After a particularly hot/ long/hard run I shower with cold water on my legs. Can't say it makes any difference but it feels good ๐Ÿ™‚

In really cold weather when my bones are frozen then it's always a hot shower ๐Ÿ˜˜

โ€ข in reply toIrishprincess

I think thatโ€™s the best. Then you get best of both I guess.

Tasha99 profile image
Tasha99Graduateโ€ข in reply toIrishprincess

You need to immerse them completely from 5-8 minutes minimum for it to help ๐Ÿฅถ

โ€ข in reply toTasha99

No wonder they go numb! ๐Ÿ˜ฌ๐Ÿ˜ฌ

Irishprincess profile image
IrishprincessGraduateโ€ข in reply toTasha99

That just gives me a numb bum ๐Ÿ˜‚๐Ÿ˜‚

โ€ข in reply toIrishprincess

๐Ÿ˜‚. Brrrrrr nothing worse than a numb bum!

RunRunRun13 profile image
RunRunRun13Graduate

Luke warm for me Dave ! I need to cool down the โ€œLarry the Lobsterโ€ look ๐Ÿฆ€ ๐Ÿ˜‚ (couldnโ€™t find a lobster emoji so crabs it is !)

โ€ข in reply toRunRunRun13

๐Ÿ˜‚. Yeah I hate it when I look like Larry the crab! ๐Ÿ˜Š

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