Anytime Stretching: Just Do It

This entry was written on Nov 09, 2008 by our Running Guru Heidi Splete

I have always been bad about stretching after running. I usually spend about 7 minutes stretching before I run, but because I run in the morning before work, I get back and I'm ready to hop in the shower and be on my way. Also, I don't necessarily want to lie down on the floor when I am sweaty and gunky.

Everyone has a different theory about stretching, but I have been revisiting one of my favorite books--Stretching, by Bob Anderson. I have mentioned it in previous posts, and it helps get me motivated to do more stretching at odd times, if not immediately after a run.

Here's a simple stretch from Mr. Anderson's collection of exercises that you can do while watching TV in the evening.

Lie on the floor flat on your back. Bend your knees and place the soles of your feet together. Allow your knees to fall open, and let gravity do the work to stretch your groin. Hold for 30 seconds. Bring your knees back together. Repeat 2-3 times.

Don't worry aobut whether your knees are anywhere near the floor (mine aren't, and probably never will be). Although links between stretching and injury prevention or improvement in performance are still debated, when done right, stretching simply feels good. As a relatively inflexible runner, one of my favorite quotes from the book is:

"Don't stretch to be flexible; stretch to feel good."  In other words, you don't have to be a human pretzel to enjoy the feeling of stretching, and if you are an inflexible runner, that just leaves more room for enjoyment, right?

Happy Running (and stretching)!