Most runners have some sort of quirk, routine, or ritual they need to follow before a big workout or on race day. For some, it’s putting on your shoes a certain way; for others, it could be having that same exact pre-race meal.
However, some runners have pre-race quirks and routines that are a bit more left-field…
Colleen Quigley, a middle-distance runner and 2016 Olympian, recently gained attention online for a peculiar method she uses to alleviate her pelvic discomfort. The 31-year-old steeplechase athlete posted on Instagram about her pre-race routine, which includes an unusual exercise involving her tongue to help her perform at her best.
In a video shared on her profile, Quigley first removes her tank top, then grabs her tongue, pulling it in different directions—left, right, up, and down—holding each position momentarily. She claims this exercise helps relax her jaw muscles immediately, aiding her overall physical readiness.
Quigley explains that the tongue and jaw are connected to the pelvis through the body’s myofascial network of connective tissues. By releasing tension in the jaw, she believes she can also relieve tension in the pelvic area. She often performs this routine before big workouts or competitions.
The technique, which Quigley learned from Dr. Noah Moos, a chiropractor based in Texas who has worked with other US Olympians, has sparked a mix of fascination and disbelief among her followers.
Comments on her post ranged from amused disbelief to acknowledgment of the science behind the method. One follower jokingly wrote, “Is it April Fools? *checks* it’s August 19,” while another added, “Why am I sticking my tongue out while watching this?”
Others noted the connection between jaw relaxation techniques and other practices, like natural childbirth, which also aim to reduce tension in the body.
The video quickly went viral, showing once again that unconventional methods can capture the public’s imagination, especially when backed by an athlete of Quigley’s social status.
