Be honest runners- how much do you stretch?

[thenewaveragebear1983]

As the title really- honestly, how much do you stretch after running? What do you do? I've been chastised by my massage therapist today for not stretching enough, and I agree I probably don't. But how much is really necessary? My massage was excruciating today, my calves are very tight and gradually as the the months go on and my training increases I am feeling more and more of the creeping body rot take over me (I lie in bed wondering which bit is going to creak most when I get up)

I know I am skating on thin ice with regards to injury so I really want to incorporate a decent stretching regime into my training.

I tend to do a quite cursory stretch after each run, and once a week or so I do a specific runners yoga on YouTube.

I bought a foam roller today- does anyone use these?

Foam rollers are amazing. To begin with it will really hurt, like your massage, but once you get the knots dealt with you will really feel the difference. Trouble is you do have to actually use it though and it is really very boring indeed

I am definitely going to start doing it, once I know what to do I am ok with doing it while watching tv , it's just in the early days when I need to give it my full attention!

Since September, I've got up earlier most mornings and done yoga/ pilates videos including Adrienne's. It makes a difference in how I feel early in the day as despite being the supposedly youthful side of 40, I'm very inflexible and somewhat creaky.

I try to stretch at the end of the run. If I finish at home, I do it on the doorstep before entering the house and forgetting. I am more inclined to forget if it was away from home. I do feel better for it.

I have a HM next weekend and have got through long run season quite nicely this time.

I have been running for over fifteen years and have never ever stretched and (touch wood) have never been injured. Distances vary from 10k to ultras. I am however a one speed wonder and I think that has helped. I am the same speed from start to finish. Plus I never run up hills on long distance runs. I Always walk the hills and run everything else.

I'm very much a plodder, but really, really feel it if I dont stretch out the front of my thighs, and can usually feel it if I dont do my calves and back of thighs. So, I walk the last few minutes, do maybe a minute of strtches per leg, and get in a (red hot in winter, cooler in summer!) shower.
Dad never warmed up, cooled down or stretched.

Basically never although if I’m going up a very steep road climb I use it to stretch out my calves.