Anyone have some good stretches for your shins and calves.  I am currently training for my first 5K in September, benefiting The Lance Armstrong Foundation, it’s called the Live Strong Challenge.  Anyway, I would have no problem running my training schedule except for my shins and calves are killing me.  I get 4 to 5 mins in and I have to stop and stretch them.  It kind of has me a little worried that I am not going to be able to complete the race.  I tried different running locations as well, (treadmill, track, and boardwalk) nothing seems to help.  I end up cutting my running time short and go stretch some more, followed by ice at night when I am at home.

Any suggestions or solutions would be great.  Thanks in advance for your help.

All the best,
Stu

Yet another Motivation to Move’r getting out there! Congrats on making the effort and for a worthy cause to boot!

If you can get past the initial stick figures - these stretches are about as basic as they can get and they work:
http://www.spinalhealth.net/stretching.html

Click on the name of each stretch to see a picture.

Keep us updated on your progress

The Mayo Clinic also has some information on stretching: http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/stretching/SM00043&slide;=1
The main book that I use for resistance training also has a pretty good section on stretching including very well illustrated pictures of each stretch.  The book’s name is “The Book of Muscle” by Men’s Health.

lol Russell - you beat me to the mayo link! I got it in my email this morning and thought of Stu immediately. Great pictures and good explanations.

Thanks guys, for the great info.  I look forward to trying some of the stretches out later today before and after my run.

Geez I love this place....

All the best,
Stu

Hey Guys,

I just wanted to thank everyone for the links to the different stretches.  Wow what a difference.  I used the stretch where you sit on your feet, with them under you to stretch your shins.  Man does that feel great.  I actually do that one 2-4 times a day even if I am not running.

It just feels good to loosen up the whole body.  For anyone who is doing any sort of actitivities on a daily basis (which you should be since this is MTM after all), I highly recommend stretching morning and night.  It does the body good.

Just finished my lunch, time to go stretch.

All the best,
Stu