Stretching and your Ironman Triathlon preparation

Stretching Is one of those grey areas that nobody seems to really understand. Sometimes I watch people go through the motions just before a race and you can just tell they are unsure exactly what it is they're doing.

I tried it for a year or so and came to the conclusion that for me it was a waste of time. Actually more to the point, it did more harm than good. I injured myself twice in the process and ended up missing training time.

I think part of the problem is that people(like myself)just go ahead and start stretching without a full understanding of what they should be trying to accomplish. Ultimately this can result in injury from attempting too much too soon.

So I suppose if you are inclined to search out some expert help and learn proper method it might have some benefit, but I truly believe there are better and safer ways to treat your muscles and ligaments berore and after a race.

There's really enough preparation work for an Ironman hopeful to do and I think you can forego this particular routine. I think it might be a good thing if it were done every day, but ultimately that just doesn't happen. I watch young kids in swim clubs who stretch every day for fifteen or twenty minutes and that makes sense. Their bodies are used to it and it is part of their everyday routine. Also, they are being supervised by a coach.

It makes more sense to me to swim, bike or run slowly at the beginning of a training session for at least 10-15 minutes and let your muscles, ligaments and tendons ease naturally into the function they will be doing in a few minutes at a faster pace.

This is my advice to you. If you stretch now and have a regular program and it works for you, then you should stick with it. Otherwise I wouldn't even start unless you receive knowledgeable guidance and are willing to stay with it on a daily basis.

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