Speedy Sneakers Walking and Running Clubs for Women by speedysneakers

I am not sure of the demographics of the Columbus Marathon, but I am very sure that there will be many runners who will be older than 35 year. One thing we know about aging runners is that stretching becomes very important the older we get.

 

As we age our muscles and tendons begin to tighten and even shorten without proper and regular stretching. This can cause our running stride to shorten up and the comfort we feel when running can be decreased through added muscle tension.

 

The problem get exacerbated by our training programs that have us running many slow miles and as we run those slow miles our muscles never really "stretch out." Over time we end up with these little shuffles that make us look old and also cause a decrease in our speed. Imagine a track sprinter with a short stride. How fast could he run the 100 meter dash? Probably not very fast. Now, we don't need you to be as supple as a sprinter, but we certainly don't need you so tight you could fit your stride in a jar.

 

So as you train, don't forget to stretch your muscles. If you are unsure about how to stretch properly, or which muscles to stretch or even if you are unsure whether your current stretching program is adequate, try consulting a coach or best a physical therapist who can put your through a range of motion test. They will see where you are experiences the most amount of tightness and will be able to show you the specific stretches to help you.

 

Best of luck with your marathon training and for the Columbus Marathon and once again, don't forget to stretch.

 

Speedy Sneakers Walking and Running Clubs for Women is dedicated to promoting health and fitness for life through walking and running programs. See our website at www.speedysneakers.com