Hi there and welcome back to the Mohsin Salya blog.
If you’re a runner or you’re training for a marathon, you’ll know just how important stretching can be. Running can be very stressful on your legs, and you need a regular stretching routine to counterpart these stress effects. However, there’s so much information out there that it’s hard to know what stretch to do and for which muscle.
As a runner, you need to focus on three main areas if nothing else: hamstrings, calves and quads. The following stretches will target the muscles that runners use most. They’ll definitely boost your running performance, but they’ll also put an end to the aches and pains that you may experience afterwards.
Hamstrings
Your hamstrings are prone to injury, and this is especially the case amongst runners. They are notorious for tight hamstrings, which can lead to pulled muscles and lower back problems. Try this standing single leg hamstring stretch before your run to ensure your performance isn’t compromised:
Calves
The Calves are the most overworked muscles on your run, and losing flexibility and mobility in this area can set you up for calf strains, shin splints and plantar fasciitis. Try this runner’s calf stretch to also boost the length and cadence of your strides:
Quads
Flexible quadriceps are essential for a stronger knee lift and speed. The dreaded runners’ knee can be traced back to tight quads, but this standing quad stretch will help you become less prone to injury:
Until next time,
Mohsin Salya