That’s not to say AIS is the only type of stretching (just probably the most effective at permanently increasing range of motion). The old standby of static stretching is certainly better than nothing. Research has pretty conclusively shown that, for runners, it’s best saved for after running. Holding stretches for the prescribed 30 seconds before a run can cause a decrease in the stretched muscle’s power in the near future, which is hardly what you want before a hard workout.
Before a run, the best non-AIS stretches are dynamic movements that prepare your body for the range of motion it will move through out on the roads. Activities like leg swings and walking with high knees will help you start your runs readier to move efficiently. The key is to ease into each one so that your muscles don’t constrict protectively from suddenly being thrust into action.