Post-Run Stretches: 10 Exercises To Do After Running

What are the best stretches to do after running?

Now that we’ve covered why you should be stretching after your runs, let’s get to the reason you’re here: the stretches. For each of these stretches, move slowly and breathe deeply. Tacking these onto the end of your workouts can help to make sure your muscles recover well and are pliable for upcoming runs.

These are the stretches we will be discussing today:

1. Toe touch stretch
2. Hamstring stretch
3. Prone hamstring stretch
4. Standing quadriceps stretch
5. Hip flexor stretch
6. IT band stretch
7. Outer hip stretch
8. Inner thigh stretch
9. Hip and lower back stretch
10. Abs and arms stretch

Note that these are what's known as static stretches, which should only be performed after your workouts. To limber up before your runs, it's important to focus on dynamic stretches instead - but don't worry, we've got you covered with the essential stretches to do before running, too!

1. Toe touch stretch

This classic post-run yoga stretch gets deep into your hamstrings - super important to keep limber when you’re a runner! It also gently stresses your lower back as you fold forward. Don’t worry if you can’t touch your toes with your legs straight, you can totally bend your knees and still achieve a good stretch.

• Stand upright with your arms at your sides and your feet about shoulder-width apart.

• Keeping your knees soft and your back as straight as possible, bend forward at the hips to slowly lower your head towards your knees.

• Relax your neck and shoulders while you reach your hands towards your toes. Stop when you feel the stretch along the back of both your legs, in your hamstrings.

• Hold for about 20 seconds before slowly returning to standing.

2. Hamstring stretch

Give your hamstrings some more love with this simple stretch, which you might also feel in your calves.

• Begin standing upright with your legs together, your toes pointing forward, and your hands on your hips.

• Keep your left leg straight and step it out in front of you.

• Point the toes of your left foot up, slightly bend your right knee, and lean forward at your hips while keeping your back straight.

• Bend toward your left leg until you feel the stretch along the back of the leg.

• Hold for 20 seconds, then slowly return to the starting position.

• Repeat with your right leg.

3. Prone hamstring stretch

Another stretch to avoid getting tight hammies - and bonus, you get to do it lying down!

• Lie on your back with your legs extended.

• Bend your right knee and keep your left legs straight on the floor.

• Place your hands behind your right thigh.

• Start to extend your right leg up towards the sky.

• Try to straighten your right leg - but if this is too much for your hamstrings, you can also keep your knee bent.

• Hold for 20-30 seconds.

• Repeat on the other side.

4. Standing quadriceps stretch

Your quads do a lot of work when you’re running, so this stretch will loosen things off nicely. It also gets into your hip flexors to improve your mobility.

• Begin standing upright with your legs together and your toes pointing forward. Slowly bend your left knee, and lift your left foot behind you. Place your right hand on a wall or bench if you need help maintaining your balance.

• With your left hand, gently pull your left foot closer to your glutes. You will feel this stretch the muscles along the front of your left thigh.

• Keep your knees together and hold for 20 seconds, then slowly return your left foot to the ground.

• Repeat with your right leg.

5. Hip flexor stretch

Depending on how tight you are, you might feel this in your hips, your calves - or both!

• Begin standing upright with your legs together and your toes pointing forward. Step your left foot forward.

• Slowly bend your left knee while keeping your back straight and both feet flat on the ground. You will feel this stretch on the front of your right hip. Hold for 20 seconds.

• Hold for 20 seconds, then slowly return to the starting position.

• Repeat with your right leg leading.

6. IT band stretch

Your IT band is the big band of tissue that runs from your hip to your knee. It’s very common for your IT band to get tight if you run a lot, so make sure you loosen it up with this easy standing stretch.

• Stand upright with your feet together and your hands on your hips.

• Cross your left leg behind your right.

• While keeping both feet flat on the ground, slowly lean to your right side, and push your left hip outward until you feel the stretch along the outer left hip and thigh.

• Hold for 20 seconds, then slowly return to the starting position.

• Repeat with your right leg.

7. Outer hip stretch

Also known as figure four or reclined pigeon, this stretch targets your outer hip, and you may also feel it in your glutes and piriformis.

• Lie down on your back with your feet flat on the floor and your knees bent.

• Cross one ankle onto the opposite thigh.

• Using your hand, slowly push your knee away from you.

8. Inner thigh stretch

If you practice any yoga, you’ll know this stretch as baddha konasana, or butterfly pose. It’s a great hip opener as well as being good for inner thighs which often get neglected. You may also feel it in your lower back as you fold forwards.

• Sit up tall.

• Bring the soles of your feet together, letting your knees fall out to either side.

• Use your elbows to gently apply pressure to your knees.

• You can lean forward slightly if this feels good, to intensify the stretch.

9. Hip and lower back stretch

This is another post-run yoga stretch you might recognise from your time on the mat. It’s a good way of gently stretching your back, which does a lot more work than you might realise when you run.

• Sit tall on the ground, with both legs stretched out straight in front of you.

• Bend your right leg and cross it over your left leg.

• Keep your left leg straight.

• Place your left hand on the ground behind your sit bones.

• Either hug your right leg in towards you, or hook your right elbow over your right knee.

• Twist your abdomen to look over your left shoulder.

• Hold for 15-30 seconds.

• Repeat on the other side.

10. Abs and arms stretch

It’s not just your legs that get a workout when you run. Your core and arms are working hard, too, so don’t just focus on leg stretches after running - give the rest of your body some love!

• Stand with your feet about hip width apart.

• Stretch your arms overhead.

• Drop your shoulders away from your ears.

• Grab your left wrist with your right hand and lean towards your right side.

• Hold for 15-20 seconds.

• Repeat on the other side.