Running & stretching

[Aurélien]

A question I have been asking myself recently is about the necessity to stretch after running. I know some people stretch, while others don't (some say it could do more harm than good when it comes to sore muscles). For a few months I've been using the Active Isolated Stretching method (video here) but to be honest I don't run enough to be able to say that it works for me — I run 3 km each morning from Monday to Saturday, and my legs are fine!

Any thoughts? Who streches after running? Who doesn't?

Thank you!

Edited October 4, 2019 by Aurélien

[James]

I personally don't 'stretch' after running, meaning I dont do any static intentional stretching, but I do shadow box after as I run for a warm up most of the time. Which I suppose counts as dynamic stretching.

I dont find static stretching to be of much benefit to me, I've been through months of doing it, and months of neglecting it completely and my flexibility remains pretty poor during both.

Dynamic stretching I find useful at the start of a session to loosen up and get rid of the initial stiffness from sitting as a desk all day, but I don't think it necessarily improves my long term flexibility 

 

Hope that helps somewhat!

 

[gconley]

i have not been stretching after running.  i time my runs so that i jump right into class after the run.  after wrapping my hands and changing clothes.  i don't stretch much at all, which i feel is bad.  how do you get more limber without stretching???

also, i gotta say, i have been running consistently for 35-40min before my thai class begins and i can honestly say that i have seen major improvements in my cardio during class.  i am surprised at how much it has helped.  i run at a snails pace but i run at a consistent pace for the entire time.

I've only started running to prepare for my trip to thailand in a couple weeks.  glad i did because i didnt expect it to improve me as much as it has.  

[Aurélien]

On 10/10/2019 at 6:22 PM, James said:

Hope that helps somewhat!

It does, thank you!