8 Common Running Myths, Busted!

Myth: You Should Always Do a "Cool Down" After Your Run

The Truth: Have you ever finished a long run and all you want to do is sit down but your running buddy insists on a cool down? Good news! It’s actually OK to sit and catch your breath after a run, Olson says. The idea behind 'cooling down' (an active way to recover) is that you’ll enhance your body’s ability to return to its normal, pre-exercise state, but it isn’t mandatory. Your increased breathing rate will do the job just fine, Olson says. "Your body is engineered to return its functions back to a normal resting state anyway—and that post-exercise heavy breathing is your body's natural way of restoring oxygen levels, removing heat, and moving out waste products whether you are actively recovering or passively recovering."