Stretch Before You Run!
Author: Shannon Miller
Running is a great sport to engage in … it gets your blood flowing, your heart pumping, and if you’ve ever experienced a “runner’s high,” you know just how great your body can feel while running!
Before you set your tennis shoes to the pavement, though, it’s important to get that stretching in.
Check out a couple of quick moves that you’ll be glad you made time for when your run is over:
*Note: You’ll want to loosen your muscles prior to stretching.
- Walking in place for a couple minutes pumping your arms or taking a walk around the block,
- then stop and stretch before you start out on your run.
Pigeon With Back Bend
- Begin in a kneeling position. Pull front leg bent in front of you at a 90 degree angle or less depending on your flexibility and pressure on your knee.
- Back leg extends straight behind you with top of foot on the floor.
- Place palms on floor by knees and lift chest upward.
TIP: Focus on lifting chest up and out. Arms are used for support not to push backward.
Kneeling Hamstring Stretch (enough said!)
- Begin on knees.
- Put your left leg forward.
- Place your hands on upper thighs or floor (NEVER on your knee)
- Keeping a straight back, lean forward until you feel the stretch.
- Hold 15-30 seconds. Repeat on opposite side.