Stretching before/after running - necessary?

I stretch before and after exercise, its important for your muscles. Stretching is part of the workout!

Read this: http://yourwisdom.yahoo.com/your-health/reasons-stretching-important-fitness-routine-article-acid.html

when i'm done running I lay down on the floor with my legs straight up next to a wall. example: http://chubbyu.files.wordpress.com/2010/01/feet-on-wall.jpg

It gets rid of the sore feeling

I walk briefly to warm up before running, but I only stretch when I am finished. If I don't stretch, my calves and shins and quadriceps tighten up and get very sore. I have never felt a difference stretching before I run, though, so as long as I am warmed up, I skip that.

In the grand scheme of things, stretching takes no time at all and could prevent a horrible injury. Having had an injury when I felt too self conscious to stretch, is what forms the basis of my opinion....! However, that is just my opinion. Enjoy your running though!

i walk for about 5 minutes as a warm up and then have no problem running!

I never stretch before, or after a run. I believe science does advocate a post run stretch though.

I don't stretch before, but I stretch after. I read somewhere that you can go farther if you don't stretch......I don't know, but I've never had any problems.

I used to stretch when I ran regularly years ago but this time around I haven't stretched AT ALL - and I'm running farther/faster/without pain than I have during my previous bouts of running - so is stretching really necessary? I also use the sprinter Stick massage tool maybe once or twice a week and a cheap chinese foot massage once or twice a month if I feel sore so could that be making up for my lack of stretching?

I hear you!

I got back to running in June after a 25 year absence (I guess I was really well rested!) and a lot of things have changed.

As best I can tell, stretching is passé. I read a few years back that "they" (whoever "they" are) had tracked the performance and injury levels of pro athletes and passive stretching was determined to be of no value in preventing injuries. In fact, IIRC, it caused microtears in some athletes. That struck me as strange so, one day while in the Runner's World fora, I checked it out and, sure enough, most runners do not stretch. Further, no one stretches before a run — and the rationale seems pretty sound.

The reason for not stretching prior to running is that you can injure yourself and, second, there's no need to stretch because running is a natural movement with a fairly limited range of motion. Perhaps for a sprinter but someone doing long distance running is moving at a relatively slow rate so folks don't stretch prior to a run.

What many folks report that they do is run a very slow first mile and then do some dynamic stretching. Google is your friend on that one.

My SOP? I don't stretch before. I walk about 1 minute to the fire hydrant which I use as my starting marker and my first mile is always about 30 seconds slower than my second mile.

After a run, I walk to cool down and I stretch for 30 seconds per muscle after I cool down. I use a stick or a roller if my muscles feel sore during my off days.

I'm new (my total mileage since June is only 383 miles) and I'm learning more about this hobby all the time so I'd love to hear what people are doing.

Stretching before and after exercise is not necessary, but beneficial in helping prevent injury.

Stretching before and after exercise is not necessary, but beneficial in helping prevent injury.

Stretching before does nothing to help prevent injury.

I like to do some active stretching over static stretches before a run. I do static stretches after.