because they have tight hamstrings and can't touch their toes," says Denham-Jones. "But there are benefits beyond flexible hamstrings: opening and stretching the chest, back and shoulders will release the tension you hold in these areas and allow you

m, which could be another two minutes off your time.Doing strengthening exercises twice a week is the best way to build leg power. Try squats, leg extensions, thigh curls (for the hamstrings and buttocks), leg presses, toe raises and heel raises

the pull is so great that a spur of bone forms under the heel. "Tight calves or hamstrings, overpronation and poor nutrition – particularly a lack of vitamin C and omega-3 oils, which are important in ligament integrity – may also contribute," he adds

exercises twice a week is the best way to build leg power. Try squats, leg extensions, thigh curls (for the hamstrings and buttocks), leg presses, toe raises and heel raises. These will also help to reduce your risk of injury by fortifying your joints

, which ultimately leads to poor performance. Problems further down the legs can also occur since lots of muscles are attached to the pelvis, including the hamstrings and quadriceps, so any rotation or misalignment in this area will affect the tension

running lives, we can expose our backs to minor damage from poor posture, poor abdominal strength, too much bending forward or backward, repeated quick or strenuous muscle contractions, tightness in the gluteus and hamstring muscles and tight connective