A few years ago, my dentist told me I should start flossing. I gave it a brief go, but found it a hassle and it made brushing the teeth take longer, so I didn't stick with it. I was reminded several times over the next few visits to the dentist, and ignored those reminders. Until, that is, I needed root canal treatment. Since then I've flossed regularly.
My experience with stretching is similar. I initially took the view that the first 5 minutes of a run was for stretching, and afterwards there was never time for much more than a cursory stretch left and right before getting showered and changed. I kept coming across articles recommending stretching, and kept ignoring them. Until, that is, I strained my hamstring.
I went to see a physio, who got me going on some exercises and recommended using a foam roller. Youtube is also full of videos showing hamstring stretches and massages that will help you recover. As it was a recurring problem, I've carried some of these through into every run now. I don't go to town with it, but a little before and a little after seems to have helped keep the problem at bay.
The key, I'm told, is to make sure you hold the positions for a good while. And also, take it easy beforehand - a rapid fire succession of to-the-limit stretches could be detrimental, and may cause exactly what you're trying to avoid.
As for the foam roller? Well, it gets the odd look in, but not often. It's more commonly used as a 'robotic arm'.
photo by Flyfishtography