Running and Recovery – How to Cool Down and Stretch Properly After Running

This is a guest post written by David Dack.

When it comes to proper running recovery, practicing the right strategies over the long haul is key for performance and consistency. Unfortunately, most runners shy away from proper recovery practices, thus leading them to face setbacks and performance plateaus.

Therefore, here are 2 keys to proper recovery and how to implement them.

Cool Down Right

A decent cool down is your first step toward proper running recovery. Stopping on the spot can leave you feeling dizzy, shaky and increases the likelihood of soreness and injury. However, gradually decreasing your running speed and intensity for a few minutes helps you ward off most of the trouble.

In addition, a cool down improves your running experience by granting you the time to reflect back on your workout and assess the different ways by which you can further enhance your training program.

Therefore, make sure to gradually reduce your running pace into an effortless jog. The duration of the cool down depends, for the most part, on the intensity and/or length of the run. The harder and intense you run, the more cool-down time your body will need. As long as you’re getting your heart and breathing rates back to their normal, you’re cooling down right.

Stretching for Recovery

Most runners manage to throw in a couple of stretches after a running session, but is that enough for aiding and speeding up recovery? Hell no. the repetitive high impact nature of running forces the muscles to contract constantly, thus the fibers become tight and sometime misaligned following a running session. As a result, if you don’t get the fibers back to their resting length, you run the risk of feeling tight and sore on your next workout, thus compromising training enjoyment and increasing the likelihood of discomforts and even injury.

Neglecting proper post-run stretching over the long-term causes adaptive shortening, meaning that muscle fibers can permanently lose length, thus compromising the proper functioning of the joints they attach to. Therefore, make sure to implement the right stretching routine to your running program, otherwise be ready to suffer the dire consequences.

Ideally, you ought to stretch all the major lower body muscles, especially the quads, hip flexors and hamstrings;  make sure also to stretch your lower back and any other tensed area. Hold each stretch for 20-30 seconds and breathe deeply to release any built-up tension or discomfort. If you’re looking for more, shoot for a 30-minute yoga session. Yoga will not only help get more flexible, it will also help you recover faster while still building strength and stamina.

Try these two stretches for maximum recovery:

• For the hip flexors:

1. Take a big step forward with your right foot while bending the knee;
2. Rest your left knee gently on the floor;
3. Get your torso upright, then gradually and gently press the left hip forward;
4. Release any tension in the area, then switch to the other side.

• For the hamstrings:

1. Stand in front of low chair (or any other mid shin support);
2. Put your  right foot  on the support with the leg straight;
3. Lean forward from the hips until you start feeling the stretch along the back of the thigh;
4. Repeat the stretch on the other side.

About the Author

David DACK is a runner and an established author on weight loss, motivation and fitness.  If you want more free tips from David DACK, then go to http://runnersblueprint.com/.

Image courtesy of digitalart / FreeDigitalPhotos.net