Hold up! Don’t just start running… you need to stretch first. Listen, we all hate having to stretch before a run, but it’s necessary to prevent injury. Here are some basic stretches to do before a run.
Calf Stretch
Standing with your feet in a staggered stance, keep your back leg straight, your front leg slightly bent, and lean forward. Hold for 20-30 seconds, switch legs, and repeat.
Quad Stretch
Standing with one leg slightly in front of the other, grab your ankle and pull it back until you feel a stretch in the front of your thigh. Hold for 20-30 seconds, switch legs, and repeat.
Glute Stretch
Sit on the ground with both legs out in front. Bend one knee and use your opposite hand to pull it towards your chest. Hold for 20-30 seconds, switch legs, and repeat.
Hamstring Stretch
Standing with your feet in a staggered stance, keep your back leg straight and bend forward at the waist until you feel a stretch in the back of your leg. Hold for 20-30 seconds, switch legs, and repeat.
By taking a few moments to do these stretches before each run, you can help prevent injury and improve your performance. Don’t forget to stretch after your run, too!
Now that you’re all loosened up…
Put your running (and stretching) to the test at an event
