5. Be Smart About Stretching
There’s conflicting evidence on the benefits of stretching. Researchers believe regular stretching (as in you devote time nearly every day to stretching and/or yoga) might boost force, jump height, and speed, but there’s nothing to suggest it’ll improve endurance and economy. Acute stretching (i.e. some static stretches before you run) won’t help any of those factors either, but it’s not necessarily detrimental. Instead of aimlessly doing a couple toe touches before you head outdoors, engage in a proper warmup. Make sure it includes an aerobic component, some dynamic stretches and movements that mimic what you’re about to do (hamstring sweeps, bodyweight squats, the world’s greatest stretch, hip swings, etc.), as well as some glute activation. Doing hip circles and fire hydrant drills with a mini band just above your knees will fire up the muscles you want to engage when you run.
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