The Most Important Running Stretches

There is quite a bit of debate between runners about running stretches and strengthening exercises.


Is it good for you or not?

Do you stretch before and / or after your run?

Which stretches do you do, if any?

To start of with answering the first question : yes, stretches, if performed properly, are good for you. This leaves the last two questions as topics for this page:

Do you stretch before and / or after your run?

Which running stretches are good for you?

Stretching and strengthening before and / or after the run ?

As said, there is quite some debate on the issue of stretching and strenghtening.

Some of us do not stretch at all. Some do so only before a run. Some only after. And not many of us know what is what, and why we should do which stretches. So, let's try and clear things up a little bit...

Let's go through the bad, the ok, the good and the great of running stretches.

What's Bad When It Comes to Running Stretches?

The bad approach to running stretches is to do none at all. In addition to that you do not really think that a warm-up or a cool-down are all that important. When you need to run, you run and you are quite happy to go hell for leather right out of the gate.

What's OK When It Comes to Running Stretches?

The OK approach is to continue to ignore running stretches. I'd say the "What's Bad" and "What's OK" group cover about 98% of the running population.... What set's apart the OK approach from the Bad approach is that you understand that your muscles need some warming up and cooling down.

However, because you are not interested in anything but running, or do not think you have enough time to do anything else, or don't appreciate the value of stretching, your running routine consists of just running. However, big difference with the previous group, you take it easy the first 10-20 minutes of your run through an easy jog or slow run. And you also ensure that your run finishes with an easy run or walk for about 10-20 minutes.

In between, you can go hard, but you ensure that you have a warming-up and cool-down of some kind.

What's Good When It Comes to Running Stretches

So, what does good look like when we are talking about running stretches? In my mind, something like this: you start off with a slow jog. When you are doing an easy run, you maintain your slow jog or slowly increase the pace (maintaining easy pace at all time).

Doing a workout such as a tempo or interval run? Then, after the initial 15-20 minutes of easy running, you do a few strides. Then you do your workout. You finish with an easy 10-20 minutes of easy running as a cool down.

In addition to that, you do strength work. These exercises focus on improving your leg strength and your core, predominantly.

Why? Many reasons.

Strengthening work means you help prevent injuries.

Your legs become stronger, meaning each stride is just that little bit more powerful... Your running will become more economical, you will be able to keep the same high speed for longer, etc., etc.

So, what are some of the strengthening exercises you should consider? There are many options. Many websites will tell you to do squats and lunges. I fully agree. They are very important and I do them regularly.

In addition to those, I'll share some key strengthening exercises here that are focused on the lower legs:

Heel Drops

This stretch is so important to prevent achilles tendinitis.

Stand on a curb with your front foot.

Drop your heels.

Slowly count to five and lift again.

Repeat five to ten times.


Calf raises

This one is very important for preventing achilles tendinitis as well.

And for preventing and/or battling shin splints.

Stand on the floor and lift your heels.

Slowly count to five and drop again.

Repeat five to ten times.

Whatever you do, wherever you are, do me a favour and add these heel drops and calf raises to your strengthening routine. Your lower legs will thank you for it!

Check out my strength training for runners page for more information on strength training routines.

What's Great When It Comes to Running Stretches

Now, what does great look like? It includes all of the above, i.e. the warm-up, the cool-down and the strengthening work. Then in addition, you do what is called a dynamic warm-up.

Before we get into that, let's first cover off on what not to do: static stretching.

What's Static Stretching?
When you are doing a static stretch, you are stretching a muscle to its furthest point. Then you hold that for a certain amount of time (10-20 seconds). Now, why am I not a fan of static stretching? You focus on one muscle at a time.

Put simply, there is very little evidence to suggest it helps. And it can do more harm than good. If you are not careful, you can hurt yourself by starting to aggressively stretch cold muscles.

A much better alternative is dynamic stretching.

So, how is dynamic stretching different? Key differences are....

A dynamic stretch would include more than one muscle at a time

You focus on gentle movements

You don't hold the stretch, there is movement.

So, what is a dynamic warm-up and why is it important?
A dynamic warm-up gets you ready to start running. So many of us do office jobs. We sit for hours and hours on end. Just getting up and getting out of the door is not enough to get ready for a run. Throw some tough static stretches of cold muscles into it and you (iin my view) increase your injury risk, rather than decrease it. A dynamic warm-up however, helps your body prepare for a run. You start moving, losening the legs, increasing the heart rate and blood flow gradually...

Dynamic Warm-up Example

A good example of a starting routine is: 1) do a lunge matrix (see video below)
2) do leg swings back and forth
3) do leg swings laterally (left to right in front of the body)
4) do some squats
5) do a few butt-kicks and high knees



When you are not used to lunges and you want to implement a lunge matrix in your routine, then make sure you build up gradually. Don't immediately do 10 per exercise, maybe start with 4 and build up from there.

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