Do you have a habit of skipping stretches? Do you regularly hit the track without warming up first? Look, we get it. When you’re in a rush, it’s easy to convince yourself that stretching isn’t important. But if you’re a health-conscious runner, pre-run stretches really should be a regular part of your routine. Here’s why.
“You need the right preparation to be a safe runner and avoid injuries,” Dr. Elizabeth Gardner, a Yale Medicine orthopedic surgeon specializing in sports medicine, explains. “Cross-training and stretching go a long way toward avoiding running injuries.”
So, what kind of pre-run stretches do experts recommend? Find out with this round-up of three running warm-ups.