For people who want to try not stretching, here is the good news: not stretching is easier than stretching. For people who don’t want to do much stretching, more good news: in our training group we do very little. In fact, here’s the routine we have established: and I blame myself for this. Warm up. A token stretch. A bit more warm up. Another token stretch. A run-through or two if necessary. Speed work. Cool down. Perhaps another token stretch. Then go home.
We do little stretching because (a) little is needed, (b) what’s the point of lying around after a warm up just to cool down again, (c) It’s too cold in winter at night to lie around. (d) I never used to stretch in all those years of good running.
After a warm up and before speed work it is better to stay warm and not stretch than it is to stretch and have to warm up again afterwards.
Q: “But I need to stretch, when should I do it”?
A1: After training or racing as part of the recovery, before cooling down too much.
A2: At the gym after warming up as part of the gym routine.
Take your pick.
WITH THAT IN MIND, our routine is going to change: here’s what I plan to do. Stretching IS important, and we are going to stretch AFTER we have done our training, and before the cool down jog.
All this because I sat down and thought about it. Sorry!
AMG GEESE
How we went at the Australasian Masters Games in Adelaide.
M45 800 Meter Run 45-49
Preliminaries 7 John Morton M48 Aust Capital Ter 2:15.55q
(cutting it fine there, John?)
Finals 2 John Morton M48 Aust Capital Ter 2:09.14
M45 1500 Meter Run 45-49
2 John Morton M48 Aust Capital Ter 4:38.34
M45 400 Meter Run 45-49
Preliminaries 3 John Morton M48 Aust Capital Ter 56.93Q
(Did not start in the final).
M55 5000 Meter Run 55-59
6 Geoff Moore M59 Aust Capital Ter 20:04.08
W55 5000 Meter Run 55-59
2 Barbara Tucker W58 Aust Capital Ter 25:44.24
M55 8k Run CC 55-59
4 Geoff Moore M59 Aust Capital Ter 35:50
W55 8k Run CC 55-59
4 Barbara Tucker W58 Aust Capital Ter 47:09
M55 Half Marathon 55-59
3 Geoff Moore M59 Aust Capital Ter 1:36:31
W55 Half Marathon 55-59
2 Barbara Tucker W58 Aust Capital Ter 2:01:35
Cows often sit down and think, but rarely stretch
