Flexibility help

bigbeff
bigbeff Posts: 83 Member
in Fitness and Exercise
Hi all,

I'm currently training for a half marathon so am running 3- 4 times a week. I also try to do 2 bootcamp sessions in the park. I have realised I'm totally inflexible (is that a word?) I dislike yoga and don't really want to do a class as time restraints are an issue with my current training. Does anyone know of any exercises I can do after my runs for 10mins to increase my general flexibility?

Thanks in advance

Replies

  • godsgrl33
    godsgrl33 Posts: 307 Member
    There is a good book out there, and it it simply called "Stretching". I'm not sure who the author is off-hand, but it shows routines for all sorts of different athletes, including runners. It has pictures and everything. You should be able to find it at your local library. Also, ten minutes may not be enough to make a significant difference, if you want to increase flexibility. You may protect yourself from injury, but you might not get more flexibility.
  • snazzyjazzy21
    snazzyjazzy21 Posts: 1,298 Member
    If you want to seriously increase your flexibility, grab a few yoga moves. You don't have to actually 'do' yoga, just search for yoga moves for runners, pick 5-6 stretches and do them daily. Yoga, though you may dislike it, has some of the best moves to increase flexibility. This way, you just take the moves and can skip all the breathing/feel good stuff.
  • ghostrider1970
    ghostrider1970 Posts: 127 Member
    http://www.t-nation.com/free_online_article/most_recent/the_30_second_mobility_cure
  • savithny
    savithny Posts: 1,200 Member
    http://running.competitor.com/2013/06/training/want-to-improve-your-economy-stop-stretching_21094
    Flexibility is generally thought of as a good thing, and therefore the loss of flexibility that results from running has generally been thought of as a bad thing. But think about it: Why would running cause a physiological adaptation that was bad for running? We know that every other physiological adaptation to running is good for running. Increased bone density, increased muscle glycogen storage, increased muscle mitochondria density, reduced body fat stores—all good. Why would all of these helpful adaptations be accompanied by one—reduced flexibility—that is not?

    The answer, of course, is that the effect of running on flexibility is not hurtful but is in fact helpful like all of the others. The natural tightening of the lower leg joints and connective tissues that occurs in response to run training allows the muscles to function as stiffer springs that are better able to capture energy from ground impact and reuse it to propel forward motion than untrained legs. This improves running economy by allowing the runner to use less energy to sustain any given pace. Boing, boing, boing.


    http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2013/04/03/reasons-not-to-stretch/?gwh=DFD21FF774A243D8FD1B8DE251ABD00A
    http://www.nytimes.com/2008/11/02/sports/playmagazine/112pewarm.html?gwh=4A218FE4F050508B8E00CD1EE0C8926D

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