Vigorous Stretches To Do Before A Run

Bodyweight Squats

Bodyweight squats work all the major muscle groups of the legs. There is no equipment required for this stretch, so you can do this anywhere. The benefits of this type of stretch include building leg muscle for increased endurance, aiding in leg strengthening, and increasing hip flexion. While this is a great pre-run warm up, it can also be added to your daily fitness or cross training regimen. Add weights or strength bands to increase resistance in small increments for safe, steady progress.

Lateral Lunges

Before your next run, try warming up with lateral lunges. This warm-up targets almost every single muscle in the lower body. By using the spinal muscle in the back for stability, hamstrings, quadriceps, and muscles in the buttocks are worked. You can vary this move by adding hand weights for increased resistance. As with all the stretches presented here, this warm-up requires the correct technique. Keeping your back straight and positioning yourself on your heels while doing this move ensures the best results. Large lateral steps will help work glutes more and shorter lateral steps will help more with quads.