I've been running regularly for almost a year but I've been neglecting proper warm ups and after run stretches. I haven't hurt myself yet and I want to make sure I don't lol. I started doing some shoulder rolls, walking lunges, and ankle things before running, but is that enough? Do I need to stretch after running? I usually lift afterwards and I know static stretches might not be good before exercising so idk what to do. I'm also incredibly self conscious so I don't want to do some of those goofy looking warm ups unless they're really good lol
Exercise keeps me sane and I really don't want to get hurt so bad I'm permanently injured or have to take a long time off, especially since I'm getting older
yeah I've tried looking up good running warm ups, and a lot of the videos and websites I found were just like 10-15 minutes of static stretches which I know is a bad idea. it's just made it hard to figure out what I should do when all these fitness websites are telling me things I know for a fact are bad.
jumping jacks is a good one, I'll definitely add those in with my lunges and squats, thank you!
ok cool. like I said I haven't hurt myself yet, but I always have the feeling that it's just a matter of time lol. how intense should they be? just like reaching for my toes for hamstrings, foot to hand behind my back for quads, stuff like that?
and thankfully I have some really nice paths/trails close to me so I run exclusively outside. the winter kinda sucks but I really love seeing all the animals and butterflies, the friendly people walking their dogs. I would probably hate running if I only had a treadmill lol