Ice baths

I have no idea if there is any benefit to short vs. long times.  The way I do it is I take an ice bath once I go over 10 miles running.  I stay in there 1 minute for each mile (i.e. 12 miles = 12 minutes).  I start the clock from the point I stop filling the water and dump the ice in.  Who knows if I'm getting any extra benefit this way, but it works for me. 

Plus it gives me time to read the sports page in peace. 

Suffered through them when I was training for a marathon.  I stayed in as long as I could which usually ended up to be between 10-15 minutes.

My PT claims 10 minutes to be adequate. She laughed, looked and my legs, and says, "Well, for you, 8 minutes. You're skinny enough that it won't even take that long."

I time for 10 minutes after I turn the water off. It seems to work for me.

I try to stay in for 15 minutes, or until my hands get tired from clutching the family jewels (for insulation), whichever comes first.

JC

haha, i've wondered about that...that's probably the biggest reason i haven't done one...

I usually shoot for 10-15 minutes.  I don't have anything scientific to say that they help but I do know that my legs feel better after doing this.   Some people dread them but I actually like them.

It depends mostly on how cold the water is. Just like icing a knee it can take ~10 minutes with a bare ice pack or 20+ with a cloth between the ice pack.

Try this:  run hot water over a wash cloth and use it to insulate junior and the twins...