Confirmed: I could have gotten frostbite staying in the icebath TOO LONG

Running Dialogue by Lauren Johnston

New York Daily News blog—August 31, 2010

Somehow, I got it into my head that I should make an effort to endure my excruciating ice baths for 30 minutes - I made it to 25 - chattering like mad.

This is not only totally wrong, I could have put myself in danger of getting frost bite toes. NOT GOOD for my marathon training.

Here's what Jennifer Solomon, M.D. of the Women's Sports Medicine Center at Hospital for Special Surgery had to say:

SOLOMON says: The maximum time for an ice bath is 20 minutes. More than that might cause frostbite. After 20 minutes, the blood vessels constrict and the body experiences decreased circulation.