Stretching & Strength Training for Triathlons

"What we call static stretching is best used after the activity is over, especially after running, especially after lifting. Another variation on that is yoga. And that's a real effective way to enhance your recovery from the workout and also build some flexibility. With yoga, you also build some strength. This is called the sun salutation. Start with a tall stretch, just really lift and reach up towards the ceiling, head comes back, inhale, legs apart, exhale. Just kind of dangle. Just relax; you never want to force a pose in yoga. You let the hands come down further and further and further. Called a downward dog, a downward dog's a really good stretch for the calves. Distribute your weight equally between your hands and your feet. All the poses get held for about fifteen seconds, a little less on some of the strength ones. We move into an alligator pose, which is a three inch push up, moving onto the front of your feet, cobra, stretch for your lower back, back into downward dog, left leg comes forward, shin perpendicular. Drop the knee onto the front part of the foot, look up, downward dog, other leg, shin perpendicular drop the knee on the front part of the foot, look up. I kept my shoes on but it's a good thing to take your shoes off for too, and downward dog."