We all know that running makes us strong. Not only can it build and tone our muscles, but it can also slim down a waistline.
As much as I love the mental release I get while running, there is a second part of it I wish I consistently kept up with after every single run: stretching.
When talking to athletes and active adults older than me, the biggest piece of advice I have gotten from them is to make stretching a priority. I have heard “if there’s one thing I wish I did more of when I was younger, it would be stretching,” more than a time or two and finally got around to sharing this little nugget of knowledge with you today.
Stretching may seem like an inconvenience or pain to do after an intense run or workout, but taking even a few short minutes to cool down and stretch will do wonders for your body and overall health. Without it, our bodies may not recover from the impact of running, our muscles will probably stiffen, then possibly cramp and tighten up. In turn, this leaves more room for injury and soreness.
Stretching After Running
While putting this post together, I realized how many exercises I have stored up to share. I tried to condense it down to a handful, to avoid overwhelming you with an entire stretch class. <- which, by the way… those are incredible.
(If you ever get an opportunity to take one, take advantage of it. You will walk away with ideas for stretches you can use for years to come!)
Today will focus on recovering from a run, or even an intense workout. Below are the static (or stationary) exercises to help your body stay healthy and on top of it’s game.
While training for my half marathon a few months ago, I became sorer than ever. I relied on stretching and foam rolling to soften my aching muscles, which was the only thing enabling me to get out there and train again the next day.
Since I made a video going through all of the stretches I practice, I am not going to go into details, but instead will point on the main areas you need to target:
Quadriceps
Calves
Hamstrings
Hips
Glutes
Step-by-step Stretching Video
First thing’s first… please ignore my hair in this video! It’s what I like to call the “ice cream swirl” where I scrunched it, threw it up in a bun and topped it off with a head band. It likes to make some kind of cone-like shape, which is where I got the name from. I was just about to go for a run, after all… 😉
Stretch It Out!
And there you have it, my go-to stretching moves I am making a goal of mine to complete after every single run.
Stay tuned for another video coming up about a few simple warm-up exercises you can do before a run or workout.
Have a great weekend and Happy Stretching!
Questions of the Day
• How often do you stretch? Every day? Once a week? … Never (gulp!)?
• Did I miss one of your favorite stretches? If so, what is it?
Kim | At Home With Kim
I am HORRIBLE about stretching after my runs… and am committed to getting better as I train for my first Half. Just pinned this to refer back to. Great post!
Heather
Hi Kim, it seems this was the perfect post for you! So glad you found it helpful. Congrats on training for your first half! You can find the training program I used and related posts of mine about mine under the Fitness Page! https://lifeinleggings.com/fitness/
Good Luck! 🙂
Eva
Yes! I needed this to keep reminding myself to stretch… Especially when I can’t go to barre class! Thanks heather !!
Heather
Great! Let me know how the exercises go… so glad you have been enjoying class! 🙂
Vicky
I don’t get used to doing this after running. Thank for your sharing! ^^ After running back, my legs are to strength, so I think that this one is not necessary.
Vicky recently posted…How to Improve Your Running Speed in an Effective Way