To Stretch or not to stretch, that is... - Fun Beyond 10K & ...
To Stretch or not to stretch, that is the question?
I sometimes stretch after a run but often I don’t. I have to do some stuff pre run like foam rolling as guided by my osteopath but it’s not stretching per se
The only time I'd stretch around a run would be if for some reason I miss out on the 5 minute walk at the end... I do feel the need then.
But that doesn't mean I don't incorporate stretching activities in my overall programme.
I do a 30 min yoga session most days and regularly work through Kinetic Revolution 30 day challenge which involves a lot of stretching. I will stretch at the end of a long run ( hm +) if I have specific tightness, but I don't have a specific stretching routine I go through.
I stretch when I force myself or when I feel a niggle, I know my moto should be “must do better”.
If I don't stretch after a run, I suffer afterwards. It's boring, but hobbling around is even more boring.
I don't do much stretching generally, and not at all before or after running 
I stretch after if I'm good, I think static stretched before are bad for performance, but I sometimes (pre parkrun) do dynamic stretches before. If I don't stretch after (and foam roll) I eventually build up a knot somewhere, if I don't detect the knot early enough it effects my form and then I risk a popper injury.
Having read that most folk stretch incorrectly and for not sufficient time, I rely on the foam roller. But am doing other more ‘stretchy’ stuff just not after running
You can’t beat a bit of the old rolling....
I stretch on my rest days. Chewing gum style. I do daily Achilles tendon stretches though, no matter what.
The chewing gum stretch ?
I started stretching after my runs, and developed more aches and pains. I probably wasn't doing them right, but I stopped.
When I'm at the gym and I've done aaaaaages on the bike and then 30 seconds on the elliptical, I'll bring my heels up to my bum (one at a time 
) before I get on the treadmill. That's it though.
I do that sometimes just cos it feels really nice
Don’t overdo it eh...
😉
Sometimes I get carried away by the adrenaline and when I look down I've done 35 seconds 
I almost always stretch after a run and have recently started foam rolling but I've still managed to cause some damage to my left upper leg so am on the IC. Maybe I shouldn't have bothered with all that stretching in the first place. I'll bet cave men never bothered after chasing their evening meal.
But hanging from tree branches to avoid being eaten by sabre tooth tigers, probably counted as stretching
So that's what I'm doing wrong. Has anyone got a spare sabre toothed tiger I can borrow? 😉😀
Nope..sorry...just looking outside now..it is more like the Ice age :)x
I’ll put a call out to the panthering community 😻
Such resourcefulness! 😂
Simple warm up routine and dynamic stretches before a run and always after... set routine.. and rolling after too... I am old..it works for me
I never stretch before or after a run or workout, unless I am doing a specific exercise which requires greater than usual range of motion in which case I will do specific mobility drills. I do do stretching and mobility sessions on their own though. I also foam roll and do various kinesiology techniques with lacrosse balls and voodoo bands etc.
I think the purpose of stretching is greatly misunderstood but most people and this can risk doing more harm than good. I am afraid to say I think the main C25k forum dogma reinforces this, and the advice endlessly repeated is poor.
I suspect that many people misuse the foam roller too, tbh. I know I did when I first got one I did.
Dynamic stretches before, static stretches after.
I found this both interesting and surprising.
I have never had to use a foam roller.Although read about it on here.
Without proper warm up, not just the walk ,and certainly post stretching, do not think my recovery would be anywhere near as good.
I stretch after an interval session, with the PT, 'cos she tells me to. Otherwise, no.
