After any hard workout, a few minutes of walking will help your body cool down and flush some of the metabolic waste products from your muscles. To cool way down, try a cold-water treatment:

“Immediately after a long run, fill your bathtub with cold water and soak your feet for 10 to 15 minutes,” advises Gurjeet Chadha, clinical director at New York’s Vitaris Rehabilitation. "For even better results, add a five-pound bag of ice, and soak your knees and hips, too - it can reduce your risk of common running injuries." These include: plantar fasciitis, peroneal tendinitis, achilles tendinitis, patellar tendinitis, irritated meniscus (cartilage of the knee or hip), or bursitis of the knee or hip.

As a physical therapist who treats athletes of all abilities, Chadha believes this simple, low-tech cooling routine can help to ward off many of these running woes. he says. Many top runners agree: Marathon world record-holder Paula Radcliffe takes an ice bath after every run. To take your mind off the cold, try naming all 50 state capitals or all 44 U.S. presidents!