Too Cold for Comfort!

Since it's track season, and its February, I feel it's important to address the need for stretching. Stretching is important in any conditions, but it's extra important when it's cold outside. If you think about it, it makes sense. People use the phrase "warm up" when stretching out, and if it's warm outside, there is not much warming that your muscles need. That's why it's always easier to play sports in stifling heat rather than the freezing cold.
For a runner, it is a good idea to start out with a run. Get your muscles moving. For my track team, we run a mile on our track, but since its February and in Iowa it snows so much I want to cry, we have to run in our school parking lot because the track is covered. Usually we run for about 10 minutes.
After we run, we do all sorts of different stretches. Most of them are dynamic, because you need to get your muscles nice and loose by moving them around. First we start with hamstring and quad stretches. There are many different stretches for these muscles. Knee pulls, toe pulls, toy soldiers, walking RDL's, lunges, side to side lunges, and Spiderman's are my favorite. Then, you get into the running stretches. These work on your running form, like high knees and pushing off of the ball of your foot. "A" skip works on picking up your knees, and if you do them correctly, it stretches out your hamstrings. "C" skip is my favorite. It progresses off of "A" skip, but instead of just putting your foot down, you kick it out and put it down real fast. This also stretches hamstrings. Quick step is very similar to "C" skip, you just add running in. Then there is anklings and straight legs. These are practically the same thing, you just bounce off of the ball of your foot, but in anklings, you are aloud to slightly bend your legs. Obviously in straight legs, you have to keep your legs straight.
These are just a few different stretches you can do, but I highly suggest you do something before you start a run in the cold weather. It is very uncomfortable, and there is a very high chance you can pull a muscle, which believe me, is no fun at all. Be smart and stretch!
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Image: http://www.womenshealthmag.com/fitness/stretches