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Many runners think about tight hamstrings to be a badge of satisfaction. Though stress in your hamstrings could make for environment friendly power switch as you run, it’s not a testomony to your athleticism. An excessive amount of hamstring stress can create again ache, hip ache, and ache elsewhere in your legs, which may sideline you from the very factor you do. The answer, which you’ve little question been advised earlier than, is to include some hamstring stretches for runners into your quiet down.
These sturdy muscular tissues alongside the again of your thighs work to bend your knee and prolong your hip—vital actions on your working stride. Stretching might help you navigate the calls for working locations in your physique with extra ease—and with out received’t diminishing your hamstring energy.
![Anatomical illustrations of the hamstrings muscles, notably the biceps femoris, the semitendinosus, and the semimembranosus.](https://cdn.yogajournal.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/Tight-Hamstrings_Getty.png?width=730)
In yoga, we check with this elusive balancing act as “sthira and sukha,”typically outlined as “effort and ease.” The idea truly performs out in each facet of your life, however relating to working, you might consider it as a stability between stability and mobility, energy and suppleness.
The Easiest Solution to Method Hamstring Stretches for Runners
If you are probably used to pushing your self in coaching—that’s what makes you a superb runner, in any case—that you must take the other method on the mat. Aggressively stretching your hamstrings can apply an excessive amount of stress to your excessive hamstring tendons, which join the hamstrings muscular tissues to your sitting bones. That may result in tendinopathy, a literal ache in your butt that may take a frustratingly very long time to heal.
It will possibly additionally lead much less apparent tears and strains that you simply received’t really feel within the second however can derail you later—particularly whenever you all of the sudden change tempo, like whenever you dash for the end line.
The intention is to know when sufficient is sufficient and be okay with that. Yoga might help with that—each with self-awareness and stretching. You don’t must get your foot behind your head in an effort to be versatile sufficient. The truth is, that’s most likely counterproductive. What many people misunderstand about flexibility is that in case you concentrate on getting so far as attainable in your ahead folds, you’re most likely lacking out on some important stress and springiness that makes you a superb runner.
Suppose by way of how a lot flexibility you want on your exercises. In the event you’re a hurdler, it’s going to be much more hamstring stretching so that you can clear the impediment than in case you’re a distance runner. In the event you’re the latter, you would possibly want sufficient flexibility to get your sneakers tied together with your knees bent and no extra!
So strive them, discover a number of the variations, and see what works finest for you. And don’t overlook to know when sufficient is sufficient.
7 Finest Hamstring Stretches for Runners
Strive a couple of of those stretches after your exercises. Lingering for 5 to fifteen breaths in every of those stretches might be loads of time.
When it comes to how intense the stretch needs to be, consider it as sufficient to maintain you from becoming bored however not so sturdy you need to cry! There needs to be no ache related to these stretches. If there may be, seek the advice of your well being care supplier.
![](https://cdn.yogajournal.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/Monkey-Splits-Mod-1_Andrew-Clark-e1713214139767.jpg?width=730)
1. Runner’s Lunge
Why It’s Useful for Runners: It targets all of the hamstrings of the entrance leg, so don’t overlook to change sides.
How To: From Low Lunge, shift your hips again barely as if you’re resting all of your weight in your again leg and begin to take your entrance knee towards straight-ish.
Variations: Level your toes away from you to stretch the highest of your ankle. Then strive rolling to the again of your entrance heel to work your calf muscular tissues. For much less depth, place blocks beneath your arms and experiment to search out the right amount of bend in your entrance knee.
![Woman in supported Head-to-Knee forward bend](https://cdn.yogajournal.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/Janu-Sirsasana-Mod-2_Andrew-Clark_1.jpg?width=730)
2. Head-to-Knee Pose
Why It’s Useful for Runners: This asymmetrical head-to-knee fold focuses on one leg at a time whereas stretching the muscular tissues that join your pelvis and backbone and that run up the size of your again. This allows you to pay cautious consideration to every leg as its personal expertise.
Methods to: From sitting, straighten your left leg in entrance of you and bend your proper leg, taking the underside of your proper foot towards the inside thigh of your left leg. Fold ahead over your straight leg, resting your left hand in your thigh, shin, or foot.
Variations: The location of your bent knee will have an effect on the stretch on your again. If it’s hovering in area, help it by sliding a block, folded blanket, or pillow beneath your knee. To stretch your again extra, strive sliding your bent knee a couple of inches again and farther to the left.
![Man practicing Downward-Facing Dog Pose, one of the most basic yoga poses](https://cdn.yogajournal.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/Downward-Facing-Dog-Pose_Mod-1_Andrew-Clark_2400x1350.jpeg?width=730)
3. Downward-Going through Canine
Why It’s Useful for Runners: Downward-Going through Canine stretches each hamstrings concurrently, which may spotlight any variations between your proper and left sides. It additionally permits you a variety of room to switch so you will discover an depth, or edge, that’s acceptable with out overdoing it.
Methods to: From arms and knees, tuck your toes and press down by way of your arms as you raise your hips up and again as you straighten your legs to create an inverted V together with your physique. Your heels received’t essentially contact the mat!
Variations: For much less stress in your hamstrings, maintain a deep bend in your knees and let your heels keep lifted off the mat. For much less stress in your higher physique, apply Down Canine standing towards a wall, a counter, or a chair again.
![Man doing a forward bend in gym clothes.](https://cdn.yogajournal.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/Standing-Forward-Bend-Mod-2_Andrew-Clark-1.jpg?width=730)
4. Standing Ahead Fold
Why It’s Useful for Runners: In this sort of ahead fold, the stretch is centered in the course of your hamstrings. The longer you hand around in this stretch—spend greater than three breaths, and fewer than three minutes—the extra probably you might be to counteract a number of the tightness your working incurs.
Methods to: Maintain your toes collectively or roughly hip-distance aside together with your toes dealing with ahead. Tilt ahead out of your pelvis (don’t lean out of your waist, which stretches your again, not your hamstrings). Relaxation your arms wherever in your legs or blocks or a espresso desk—you don’t want to succeed in your toes. Your head and neck can let go. Bend your knees as a lot as you want.
Variations: Quite than maintain your self tense on this standing ahead fold, you’ll really feel gravity assist launch your again physique. Let it.
![Woman demonstrates Wide-Legged Standing Forward Bend](https://cdn.yogajournal.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/Wide-Legged-Standing-Forward-Bend_Andrew-Clark.jpg?width=730)
5. Standing or Seated Vast-Legged Ahead Fold
Why It’s Useful for Runners: Taking your legs right into a straddle modifications the realm affected by the ahead fold, transferring the stretch into your inside hamstrings and inside thighs.
Methods to: Transfer your legs as far aside as feels cheap and hinge ahead out of your hips. Don’t attempt to drive the stretch by rounding your again, until you additionally benefit from the stretch in your again. When your again rounds, you lose the main focus in your hamstrings. And sure, this implies you won’t “fold” a lot in any respect—and that’s okay! Keep in mind, tense and springy hamstrings are obligatory for good working.
![A woman practices Wide Angle Seated Forward Bend.](https://cdn.yogajournal.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/08/Wide-Angle-Seated-Forward-Bend-Alt_Andrew-Clark-2-scaled-e1713213741295.jpg?width=730)
Variations: In the event you apply the ahead bend whereas standing, you’ll be able to maintain your arms beneath your shoulders together with your fingertips consistent with your toes. Or you’ll be able to select to stroll your arms ahead, stroll them between your legs and behind you, or clasp your arms and interlace your fingers behind your again.
In both the standing or the seated model of this extensive ahead fold, you’ll be able to shift the place you’re feeling the stretch by including a slight twist. Merely attain each arms towards one leg at a time.
![](https://cdn.yogajournal.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/Monkey-Splits-Mod-1_Andrew-Clark-e1713214139767.jpg?width=730)
6. Reclined Hand-to-Strap Hamstring Stretch
Why It’s Useful for Runners: Stretching this muscle group whereas reclined allows you to take any balancing or strengthening out of the equation and easily concentrate on stretching.
Methods to: Lie in your again together with your knees bent and your toes on the mat. Loop the strap across the ball of your proper foot. Slowly attain your proper foot towards the ceiling, conserving your shoulders, neck, and head relaxed and grounded. Draw your proper leg towards your chest no matter quantity is affordable for you.
Variations: You may work to stretch every of your hamstring muscular tissues by transferring the place of your leg a couple of inches in both route. To stretch your outer hamstrings, which interface together with your IT band, transfer your proper leg towards the left aspect of your physique whereas conserving your proper hip down. To stretch your inside hamstrings, which interface together with your adductors (inside thigh muscular tissues), take your proper foot towards the appropriate a couple of inches whereas conserving your hips regular.
![Woman demonstrates Dolphin Pose](https://cdn.yogajournal.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/485-yoga-journal-2022-C-andrew-clark-BC8I1624_1-1-1.jpg?width=730)
7. Dolphin Pose
Why It’s Useful for Runners: Along with stretching the hamstrings, this variation on Downward-Facing Dog additionally builds upper-body energy and suppleness, one thing that working doesn’t handle.
Methods to: From arms and knees, place your forearms on the mat, shoulder distance aside, as you’ll for Forearm Plank, both parallel to one another or on a diagonal together with your arms clasped within the middle. Elevate your hips into an inverted V as you’ll in Down Canine and stroll your toes towards your arms till you’re feeling an appropriately fascinating stretch—however no ache—alongside the backs of your legs.
Variations: You may change the angle—and, subsequently, the depth and sensation—of the stretch by resting your forearms on blocks or working towards the stretch whereas standing and leaning your forearms towards a wall.
About Our Contributor
Sage Rountree is the creator of The Runner’s Guide to Yoga, The Athlete’s Guide to Yoga, and The Athlete’s Guide to Recovery, now in a second version. Within the final twenty years, she has labored extensively with runners, cyclists, NBA and NFL gamers, Olympians, and faculty athletes. Sage additionally teaches vinyasa circulate and meditation in North Carolina, on her website, on the Kripalu Middle for Yoga and Well being, and at festivals and conferences across the nation. Her newest e book is The Art of Yoga Sequencing.
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