Stretching before races?

["Dangerous" Dan K]

I noticed after my first race weekend that my neck and the back of my shoulders were stiff/sore for a couple days. I do a lot of active stuff, including cycling a shitload, so I was somewhat surprised, apparently this is a set of muscles I don't use often. Anyone do any specific stretches to avoid this, or any working out to develop said muscles? Maybe I'm just a pansy? I'm thinking the third, but advice on one of the first two would be helpful.

[Doc]

I vote Pansey.

[Kurlon]

Hydrate, RELAX!

[Paul_E_D]

Dude, If you're not so sore you can barely walk after a race weekend, you're just touring!

[Doc]

My legs BURN and I have a hard time getting off the bike after a race.

["Dangerous" Dan K]

I vote Pansey.

You know what Doc? I’m going to see you this weekend, finally. And when I do, I’m going to <checks profile picture> tell you what a pleasure it is to finally meet you.

Hydrate, RELAX!

I think relax was the big thing. I was loose by the end but I was tense as hell for a lot of Penguin and especially in the rookie race. I was actually telling myself “be loose, relax” as I did my real race and Sunday practice.

Dude, If you're not so sore you can barely walk after a race weekend, you're just touring!

Haha… good shit. So it’s not just me, and it’s normal. Sweet.

My legs BURN and I have a hard time getting off the bike after a race.

I ride insane amounts on pedal bikes, so I’ve got pretty good legs. It was the upper body that was killing me.

So I think the general conclusion here is twofold.
1) Loosen up, relax.
2) It’s supposed to hurt, quit being a pansy.

[Doc]

You know what Doc? I’m going to see you this weekend, finally. And when I do, I’m going to <checks profile picture> tell you what a pleasure it is to finally meet you.

I am a big teddy bear. And when I say big I mean fat.

[Kitt]

And when I say big I mean fat.

[WordTooYoMamma]

Wirelessly posted (Tilt: HTC-8900/1.2 Mozilla/4.0 (compatible; MSIE 6.0; Windows CE; IEMobile 7.6))

Have yourself some rough sex prior to the race. Works every part of your body.

[Kurlon]

Have yourself some rough sex prior to the race. Works every part of your body.

Are you offering?

[-jro-]

Wirelessly posted (Tilt: HTC-8900/1.2 Mozilla/4.0 (compatible; MSIE 6.0; Windows CE; IEMobile 7.6))

Have yourself some rough sex prior to the race. Works every part of your body.

[KB]

I noticed after my first race weekend that my neck and the back of my shoulders were stiff/sore for a couple days. I do a lot of active stuff, including cycling a shitload, so I was somewhat surprised, apparently this is a set of muscles I don't use often. Anyone do any specific stretches to avoid this, or any working out to develop said muscles? Maybe I'm just a pansy? I'm thinking the third, but advice on one of the first two would be helpful.

I usually stretch my shaft around 6:30 am and then a nice hot shower, then some calesthenics. Let me know if you want to jump on my routine with me.

KB

["Dangerous" Dan K]

I usually stretch my shaft around 6:30 am and then a nice hot shower, then some calesthenics. Let me know if you want to jump on my routine with me.

KB

I'm thinking you're probably on your own on this one. I'd be tempted to join the calisthenics but considering the rest of the routine, I'm concerned what they might entail.

On a more serious note, I do appreciate the laughs and typical ballbusting I knew this thread would bring, but does nobody do any actual stretching (besides your respective shafts) before the races? There's got to be some way to loosen up those muscles in the back of my neck/shoulders.

[smf]

people do. just the typical "i'm going to exercise and want to loosen up a bit" stuff as far as i've seen. i tend to when i remember. regardless of what i do i'm always a little sore after a race weekend and i bike 14miles a day (to/from work). closest i've gotten to zero soreness was when i biked to/from work and hit the weights 3 days/week last season.

["Dangerous" Dan K]

people do. just the typical "i'm going to exercise and want to loosen up a bit" stuff as far as i've seen. i tend to when i remember. regardless of what i do i'm always a little sore after a race weekend and i bike 14miles a day (to/from work). closest i've gotten to zero soreness was when i biked to/from work and hit the weights 3 days/week last season.

Thanks, that's more the kind of reply I was looking for. I'm not looking for zero soreness, just a way to address the muscles that clearly need addressing. I ride 15+ miles/day typically, with at least one or 2 20+ mile rides thrown in and the occasional bigger (50+) thrown in a couple times a month (or a week, or one a week, depending how busy I am and what's going on). I've been active and riding dirt bikes and street bikes since I was a kid, but never got into typical weight style working out, so I don't even know what to do as far as typical "I'm going to exercise and want to loosen up a bit" stuff, although any of that geared toward the neck/back of shoulders area would be key. Anything in particular you could suggest along those lines? Maybe just static hangs, or the thing where you extend your arms and lean side to side getting your hands as low as you can? I really don't know where to start for this.

Thanks,

Dan

[a13x]

I stretch before my races. I tend to focus on back (cause mine is fuxked), and of course my legs, neck, arms. Just the typical stuff I learned in High School soccer.

[smf]

+1 on the soccer base-knowledge. googling soccer stretches brings up a number of things that explain it better than i can.

maybe this? but it's a lot more thorough-looking than what i do: http://www.ovphysio.com/stretchg/soccer/soccer.htm

[butcher bergs]

I start stretching at 2nd call.

Total leg stretch followed by movements to warm up my arms and shoulder area while locking into the zone.

[-jro-]

This is a site I frequent when I want to change up the gym regiment, but it has two good articles on stretching:

1) http://figureathlete.tmuscle.com/fre...ching_part_i_1

2) http://figureathlete.tmuscle.com/fre...hing_part_ii_1

Also, if you are experiencing really sore back/shoulders there's a good possibility they are just out of shape, or under worked. You do any lifting at the gym? maybe try doing some more lat/shoulder work outs to strengthen your back n shoulders. Just the .02

[butcher bergs]

Also, if you are experiencing really sore back/shoulders there's a good possibility they are just out of shape, or under worked.

.....or you have muscle damage from shivering your ass off for 8 hours.

[-jro-]

I've been active and riding dirt bikes and street bikes since I was a kid, but never got into typical weight style working out, so I don't even know what to do as far as typical "I'm going to exercise and want to loosen up a bit" stuff, although any of that geared toward the neck/back of shoulders area would be key. Anything in particular you could suggest along those lines? Maybe just static hangs, or the thing where you extend your arms and lean side to side getting your hands as low as you can? I really don't know where to start for this.

Thanks,

Dan

check out this article, has a lot of lat and upper body work outs:

http://www.tmuscle.com/free_online_a...mance/big_lats

don't be put off by the body-building focus of the site, they have lots of great articles and work outs to follow that will benefit ordinary folks like you and I.

[-jro-]

.....or you have muscle damage from shivering your ass off for 8 hours.

whatchya trying to say there mister

[butcher bergs]

whatchya trying to say there mister

Don't ever ride for that amount of time in a dense fog, at 2am, wearing only textile gear.

["Dangerous" Dan K]

I stretch before my races. I tend to focus on back (cause mine is fuxked), and of course my legs, neck, arms. Just the typical stuff I learned in High School soccer.

Thanks.

+1 on the soccer base-knowledge. googling soccer stretches brings up a number of things that explain it better than i can.

maybe this? but it's a lot more thorough-looking than what i do: http://www.ovphysio.com/stretchg/soccer/soccer.htm

Sweet, thanks for the link. Should be helpful.

I start stretching at 2nd call.

Total leg stretch followed by movements to warm up my arms and shoulder area while locking into the zone.

Nice. Appreciate it.

This is a site I frequent when I want to change up the gym regiment, but it has two good articles on stretching:

1) http://figureathlete.tmuscle.com/fre...ching_part_i_1

2) http://figureathlete.tmuscle.com/fre...hing_part_ii_1

Also, if you are experiencing really sore back/shoulders there's a good possibility they are just out of shape, or under worked. You do any lifting at the gym? maybe try doing some more lat/shoulder work outs to strengthen your back n shoulders. Just the .02

Thanks for the links. I don’t do any lifting at the gym, but I’m thinking I should probably start. I think you may be right about those muscles being under worked or out of shape. I dirt bike and whatnot, but whatever was sore after my first race weekend was something I’m not used to being sore. Worst case, I get into better shape, right? Why not.

check out this article, has a lot of lat and upper body work outs:

http://www.tmuscle.com/free_online_a...mance/big_lats

don't be put off by the body-building focus of the site, they have lots of great articles and work outs to follow that will benefit ordinary folks like you and I.

Sweet, thanks again.


Now I’ve got something to go on, and something to work with. Thanks to all.

[scottieducati]

Not now chief, I'm in the f*cking zone.

But on a somewhat helpful note, be sure to stay hydrated as some have mentioned, and have a banana... the potassium helps prevent muscles from cramping up... my hip flexor (outside of leg below waist) always gives me problems... so I usually focus my stretching on that area... which is a pain in the ass to stretch.

I start stretching at 2nd call.

Total leg stretch followed by movements to warm up my arms and shoulder area while locking into the zone.