Is It Better To Be Flexible or Stiff? Flexibility is a hot-button topic for runners. We used to think it was always better to be more flexible. In recent years there's been a pendulum swing, with evidence that stiffer runners (as measured by a sit-and-reach test) have better running economy, and pre-run stretching makes you slower. The idea is that the muscles and tendons in our legs act like springs, storing and releasing energy with each stride, and a tightly coiled spring can store more energy. That's a nice theory, but it would be a mistake to think that the issue is settled. There are lots of different muscles and tendons in the legs, each … [Read more...]