question on stretching

[Heather!]

so my boyfriend told me that he read a bunch of studies saying that streching makes you a less efficient runner... what? i don't know what to think. i've always heard about how good stretching is for you and how it prevents injury and all that.

haas anyone else heard anything about this?

[Andrew Chandler]

The only thing I've heard is that a cold stretch... is about as good for you as eating doritos (hhmmm... dorittoooosssss). But outside of that I haven't heard anything. in fact, I can honestly credit my lack of stretching for causing my ITB.

I guess I can understand why it would be stupid to stretch w/o warming up. Also... i've learned that if i have lactic acid in my legs... stretching without ironing them out, and getting some of the lactic acid loosened out, that's also a bad idea. I'd say that stretching is actually as important as muscle building or any other part of it. I mean, if your body is an engine, the food is the fuel, and the muscle horsepower, the muscles are the belts, and you wanna keep those supple and workable.

No offense, but I think you're bf has been reading some really bad stuff. My advice: put him back on the evolutionary path.

[bryan]

i have always heard that your muscles are more efficient when they are warm and stretched. they can handle higher volume of blood flow and and as a result get more oxygen. made since to me so i never question it.

[Tom Dobosz]

Stretching for some people is necessary and for others it can lead to injuries. I have logged over 80,000 miles running and have never stretched prior to running. On training days the first mile is at a much slower pace than the rest of the run. On race days I run a little bit before the gun goes off. Also, I have read after you run is when the stetching should be done for the cool down. I must be lazy b-cause I haven't stretched then either.

[Heather!]

yeah i know for sure you're supposed to stretch after and not before running. i read that stretching before exercising sends signals to your brain that it's time for your body to relax... and there's the obvious stretching when your muscles are cold could tear 'em.