Subject: RE: stretching or foam rolling during a race I've done it. Did it help, I'm not so sure. I think that if you experience sudden tightness or cramping in a race then stopping to immediately stretch it is likely to exacerbate the problem.
I did a 10k last year where I cramped up right around the halfway/turnaround point. I stopped to stretch, didn't seem to make much progress. I then stood pathetically at the side of the road for a little while. Then quickly realized that since it was a freezing cold February day and I was 3 miles from the finish, I might as well start moving. After running slowly for a little while I was able to speed up a bit, then went zooming past other runners in the last 2k. That remains my fastest 10k of the past 20 years. |