I usually do first thing in the a.m. and it's getting a little chilly around here this time of year. So I generally use stretching indoors to warm muscles and get blood flowing. Then I end up jogging a few laps around a track before doing sprints.
When I say stretching I mean your basic static stretching we've all been doing since JR High Track. Any other techniques I can use to warm up, prime my muscles, prevent injury doing 100, 200 & 400m sprints for HIIT?
Let me know your thoughts and what you guys/gals may be doing.
Stretching is like bar b que. Everybody has their own opinion. Me - I like spicy bbq. - oh, I don't stretch regularly. One time I was having some IT Band issues - and I used to stretch it out, but for the most part - I never stretch to warm up.
And just to show you how dumb I really am - the reason I don't stretch is because one time I read some post that said something like 'you never see thoroughbred horses stretching before a race, they seem to do ok.' And it's true - before a race horses do a good mile walk, then about a mile gallop - then get in the gate. They run a lot better than I can - so what's good for the horse, is good for the mule... Before I run - I walk around for a bit - then jog a little.
I know - not the most scientific theory, but we all kind of do what works for us, no?
I have my pre-run ritual of getting my ass out of bed, getting dressed, half a glass of water, start my stopwatch and go. I do start out a little slow for about 1/8 of a mile and then I hit a hill from hell. If I was doing true HIIT I would probably do a better warm up but I don't know that I would stretch. And I also like my bbq with a little kick to it!
I'll be boring and follow the consenseus. Warmup is better than stretching pre activity. do 10-15min of jogging building up steam as you go but never going balls out. That'll loosen you up plenty.
Before I run in the AM, I drink water, coffee, and eat a normal-sized breakfast (or almost normal) -- oatmeal, cereal, or PB+Banana on WW toast. But I seem to be the odd man out on this, since I can eat a regular-sized meal and run about 30 minutes later without puking my guts out. I must have an iron stomach.
I am the same as BD. Half a glass of water, add shorts shoes shirt and socks, and out the door. Sometimes I change it up by adding a leash and a dog but that's a differnt story.
Wake up - Peanut Butter Granola Bar usually. Recently I just found those new Strawberry Milkshake pop tarts - and I freeze em. YUMMY. A couple of frozen part tarts will give you energy for a good morning ride/run/workout.
Then, for second breakfast, I try to eat mostly protein and fat - eggs, bacon, peanuts, yogurt, stuff like that.
No special addition of carbs. There's a little already in the PP but not enough to really note. I've been doing a limited carb diet for 3 weeks now and haven't noticed any drop off in performance.
If I was actually going to race then would probibly change things up a little, but IMO the whole runningextra carb thing is largely a crock. If you want to getstay lean then I wouldn't take in extra carbs.
I'm with Bama. I always eat a normal breakfast and have no prob running or working out right after. Full tummy doesn't bother me. Empty tummy REALLY bugs me though. [img]/images/graemlins/wink.gif[/img]
Stretching before HIIT
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