Let me begin by telling you that I hate stretching. I don't do it before I run, I occasionally do it after a long run, but I'm not a stretcher. I also don't believe in warming up. It's all a waste of time to me.
I read an article about a research study that found athletes that stretch before running were no less likely to sustain an injury than those that didn't stretch. I stopped stretching after this revelation. Other research ha suggested that athletes should warm up for 5-10 minutes, stretch, then start their activity.
But as someone that works long hours, is a single mother to a very needy Chiweenie (6 months out of the year), has a husband that I enjoy spending time with, I don't have a second more to waste at the gym if I'm going to be in bed by 9pm every night.
Stretching and warming up? No thank you!
While I despise both activities since they are a waste of time, it surprised me that I recently discovered a stretch that makes everything better. I call it the Indo Squat, named affectionately after the men in Indonesia that have perfected this pose. In order to perform the Indo Squat, place your feet flat on the ground, a little wider than shoulder width apart. Then squat down and let your butt hang down between your ankles, barely off the floor. You'll feel a stretch through every tight muscle in your legs.
It feels great after a long race and I have snuck into the ladies room at work to do it to ease some of my post half marathon soreness!
Miles logged: 3
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