I have recently started running quite a bit more, which has led me down the rabbit hole of interesting running myths and truths. Although tests are usually not something I look forward to, I think a little running quiz on this Wednesday morning could be quite fun. There are six running myths and truths below, can you figure out which are true and which are false?

Hint: three are true and three are false.

Truths

If you guessed that two, three, and five were true, you would be correct. Kinetic stretches are vital before a run. This form of stretching lubricates the joints, warms the muscles, and prepares the tendons- all of which increase performance and decrease the risk of injury, just be sure to keep it kinetic before and static after. Likewise, shorter strides have been shown to decrease fractures in the foot when compared to longer strides. The average stride for professional competitive racers is between 185-200. That should be our goal as well!

Not Truths

If you thought something was fishy about numbers one, four, and six, you were correct! There is no scientific evidence to show that running is bad for our joints. Actually, there is no evidence to show that running does anything (good or bad) to our joints at all. When wearing compression socks, race times are improved by up to 6.1%. Recovery time is also lessened with compression gear and so is soreness after a run. Although flexibility is good for running, too much flexibility can weaken a stride and increase the risk of injury.