Backs and Beyond - Latest Article: The Running Executive’s Guide to Stretching
Oh, what busy lives we lead! What with work, family, pastimes, TV. Some of us hardly have time in the day to make more than one or two trips to Starbucks for that Double shot, Dry, Skinny, No fun, Vanilla, Cappuccino with wings. One thing is for sure though, we always have time for running, don’t we? The current thinking is that we should stretch after running and not before. A lot of us, especially we busy high flying executives, often forget to stretch post run. This is not ideal, as it allows muscles to remain in a shortened state, making us more prone to running related injuries.
If you are a poor post-run stretcher (try saying that when you’re drunk), I would like to introduce you to a ‘drip feed’ technique - doing different stretches at various times of the day – let’s call it ‘Executive Stretching’, since it is the type of stretching that can be done while you are performing other tasks, something even the busiest executive could achieve with ease. It is a great way of ensuring that you remain ready for your run at any time of day or night, with less risk of injury.
To show you an example of Executive stretching, why not let’s follow a busy executive through their day, and see if you can notice our clever insertion of almost subliminal stretching into their daily activities!
On waking, and whilst still in bed, our chairperson will almost without effort perform 5 x 10 second double knee hugs, and 5 x 10 second single knee hugs, no doubt using this valuable time to think about their ever increasing To Do list, and how to approach it that morning.
Our financially-aware friend would then seamlessly stride into the bathroom, and amongst other morning rituals, would brush their teeth. This is a veritably excellent time for our charming executive to do a 30 second calf stretch on each leg (whilst brushing the upper teeth), followed by a 30 second stretch of each hip flexor (whilst attending to the lower teeth). This means that two important daily stretches have been achieved during the mandatory 2 minute brush.
Whilst strolling through the park or waiting at the bus stop, you might catch a glimpse of our powerful manager with their leg on a bench or a wall. It looks like they are doing up their shoelaces, does it not? You would not be wrong, however a more careful look may permit you to perceive the clever introduction of a hamstring stretch of a duration of about 30 seconds on each side.
Let us now follow our successful suit into their office, where they sit at their desk to clear their emails. Whilst checking what delights outlook has in store for them they perform a simple, yet effective, stretch for the piriformis muscle, for 30 seconds on each leg.
Then, whilst reading the long emails sent to them, or whilst reading that all important document that will change the financial world forever, they perform a stretch putting their hands behind their head that loosens their upper back for the days proceedings.
A little while later, our Ruler of the World, stops to think about some important and quite complicated question. With a thoughtful look on their face they perform a seated back twist (30 seconds each side) that brings focus to their mind, and blood to their brain.
Ah, elevenses are upon us already! While waiting for the coffee to boil in the office kitchen, you might think that our bullish entrepreneur is checking the soles of their feet for unsavoury substances. Do not be fooled, they are performing a 30 second quadriceps stretch on each leg (almost caught you out, I see).
And then into the morning scheduling meeting, where the intense and focussed posture of our high-status yuppie is in fact a well disguised hip stretch (again 30 seconds on each side).
Finally, after a long hard day, our power hungry director comes home, and after a well deserved feast, sits down to read, or watch television. But, what is this? They do not sit on the sofa. Instead they sit on their knees for a couple of minutes performing a shin stretch. How clever our maverick is. In fact you may even see them lying on the floor for a couple of minutes with their arms above their head before retiring to bed for a refreshing power sleep.
Our friend has managed to do all this stretching without even thinking about it, since they have been practicing it for quite a while. Of course, you don’t need to be a busy executive to do this routine, it works even for the likes of us lowly mortals!
© 2008 Gavin Burt
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