Is performing easy static stretches mid run on tight muscles detrimental?
I was doing an easy 30 minutes with wifey for the second run of the day. My wife isn’t a competitive runner-but should be. She’s an uber fit hardcore personal trainer that would make a lot of collegiate runners look like softball players out there on the track or trails.
About 20 minutes in I told her that my calves were feeling really tight, so she asked why I didn't just stop and stretch. I insisted that whenever I, or anyone else I know stops to stretch mid run they end up hurting themselves or gaining nothing more from the stretch than a tired fatigued feeling. My wife just laughed and told me I was full of sh!t. The thing is she knows a lot about running from a SCIENTIFIC and academic physiological perspective. I defended myself saying that by stretching an already fatigued muscle its really easy to damage the muscle further, similarly stopping mid run when a muscle is tired cools the muscle and seems to just make it cramp up or tighten further.
I always stretch immediately after my runs or in the evenings. If I ever stretch prior to racing or workouts I do after a very easy 5-10 minute JOG. She said the idea that stretching a muscle mid-run would cause injury to the body goes against everything in the Physiology journals. Is this true? I remember guys on my collegiate team that would stop to stretch a tight muscle only for it to become irritated and turn into a small strain or at best a week long niggle.
I'm supposed to be the expert on running in our relationship so it's important that I save face here (those that are married will understand).
How many of you notice your muscles hurt more after stretching mid-run? Am I completely wrong or are there matters concerning running where experience trumps science? I would appreciate any links either for my point or negating it (I have to remain somewhat objective :)).
Cheers,
Romney.