Stretching and Exercise

I know a lot of people stretch PRIOR to running or walking.  Based on advice I found at Nikerunning.com and a couple of other running sites, I warm up instead by walking at a fast pace for about 2 - 3 minutes, then starting to jog and run.  I stretch at the end of my run, when my muscles are fully warmed up, which is the time when stretching is most effective and less likely to lead to injury.

I just got this article (and video) with more stretching tips that I thought might be of interest to some of you:

www.everwell.com/fitness/motion_zone/stretching_tips.php

Enjoy!

Karen

awesome - Thanks Karen - am so excited - just got a treadmill and am starting to do the walk / jog routine to change things up a bit.. I really find that i break a sweat and I'm loving it (the treadmill is my birthday present from Mark that we never got around to picking out.. labor day sale at Dicks - yeah!!)

Yea...I tend to warm up by walking briskly etc..then go into my work out...and ALWAYS stretch afterwards.  It's definately important.

You can stretch before as well - but MUST warm up for at least a good 3-5 mins from what my trainer tells me.  Stretching cold muscles is definately not the way to go.

Thanks Karen!!