Going for a run is easily one of the best things you can do for your health. Not only does it keep you active, but it also helps keep you energized and motivated. But unfortunately, what you do before you start can have a big impact on how you feel after. From what you eat to how you dress, plenty of things can either help you or hinder your progress. That is why this post is here with a list of things you should avoid before a run!
The Amazing Benefits Of Going For A Run
Going for a run is an excellent way to clear the mind and reset. Not only does it provide mental clarity, but physical benefits as well. It’s one of the most tried-and-true forms of exercise that carries profound health rewards. On a cardiovascular level, running delivers oxygen and nutrients throughout the body more efficiently, keeping you energized. As you start running more regularly, your musculoskeletal systems become stronger and more resistant to injury.
Furthermore, studies have shown that aerobic exercises like running can help release endorphins in the brain, producing hormones that leave you feeling happier and calmer all day. Without a doubt, regular running has significant benefits for both body and mind.
Eating Too Much
Everyone knows that a quality run is about pacing and endurance. However, eating too close to running can be just as counterproductive for your training routine. With full digestion ahead of you during your run, you risk having all of the energy from your meal go straight toward digesting food and away from powering your muscles. Additionally, when running on a full stomach, there is a greater risk of gastrointestinal distress like nausea or stomach cramps.
On top of that, if you go too long without stretching and warmups before beginning your run, you may cramp your muscles due to an overeating-induced increase in body temperature. For these reasons, it’s essential to plan your daily meals around when you want to lace up your shoes and hit the pavement – inside or out!
Doing Static Stretching
Before taking off for a run, many runners often prepare for the activity by doing static stretches like forward lunges and toe touches. However, doing these static stretching before running can decrease your performance because this type of stretching targets your slow-twitch muscle fibers, which aren’t typically used during anaerobic exercises like running. Replacing static stretches with dynamic warmups before a run can reduce the risk of injury while improving performance by activating the quick-twitch fibers used in anaerobic work.
Dynamic warmups can include high knees, butt kicks, agility drills, and skips. These exercises will increase blood flow to those quick twitch fibers ready to handle an intense burst of energy required for acceleration during a run. Overall, eliminating static stretching before runs and replacing it with more dynamic activities will improve performance and reduce the risk of injur
