Stretching For Runners – How Important Is It And Where To Start?

[mrrun]

''I sometimes think back of my age of innocence when I began to run. I had nearly no knowledge of anything associated with beginners running, all I thought was ‘put some shoes on and run’. No idea of the gear, food, training plans, hydration, types of running, let alone something called stretching.

I stretched in the morning when I yawned in bed, would that be the same thing? I saw a cat stretch, should I copy her? I stretch to reach a book from the top shelf, does that qualify?

Actually, what is stretching for runners or athletes in general? Is it important, is it really necessary, what do we need to do?

Let’s first assume you stretch properly. If you do, then the immediate benefit will be an improved and increased motion in your joints. That itself is worth an effort but there’s more. Your blood flow will increase and you will move better because the feeling of stiffness will decrease.

All that put together will help deliver better performance, you will run with more ease, faster and in less discomfort.

The more flexible your muscles, joints and tendons become you will be more likely to diminish the risk of injuries. In other words, your running body needs some tender loving care and a good stretching routine provides it.''

That's the extract from my latest blog where I muse about stretching, something that I do daily, religiously and thoroughly.

Please find the rest here:

runmrrun.com/stretching-for...

Enjoy!

[Newbie59 Graduate]

You reminded me that I ran briefly in my 30s, with no research or preparation, in bog standard cheap trainers. I ran twice a week for a couple of months, always got shin splints and gave up.

This year in April at the grand age of 65 I started C25k, just listened to Laura for the first 3 weeks, then in week 4 I found this wonderful website, read the advice, realised I should be doing dynamic stretches before and static stretches afterwards, and must be adequately hydrated to avoid the dreaded heavy legs.

So it took another 30 years for me to realise that I could be a runner and actually enjoy going out for a run (or in my case a slow jog)

Thank you C25k!

[acountrycabbage Graduate]

Brilliant, thanks for sharing, I’ll have a read 🙂

[mrrun Graduate in reply to acountrycabbage]

Thank you! 👍