Happy Tuesday! It’s time for another edition of Tuesday Topics. This week’s topic – how do you warm up before a run? Please feel free to write about this topic or anything running related. Remember to link-up with Kim and Zenaida and the bottom of this post!
Although we all know how important it is to warm up before a run, I never really took it seriously. If I had time to warm up, that was great. If not, I just hit the ground running, literally. This year I decided to make warming up part of my running routine, especially during marathon training. I wanted to make sure that I was doing everything possible to get through training healthy.
Warming up for treadmill runs
I normally take a 5 minute pre-run stretch class on the Peloton app before class. I like these classes because the instructor always talks through each stretch and why it’s important. This is super helpful information to me because it helps me select the type of stretches I do before starting an outdoor run. I also do a post-run (cool down) stretch class son the app after my runs as well.
Warming up for outdoor runs
No matter the temperature, I always walk briskly before starting a run. This normally last a few minutes and when I finish walking, I do a few stretches. This world well for me because it’s a short warm up and my body feels ready to go.
Warming up for a run in OrangeTheory Fitness
I usually start on the treadmill during classes. Because of this, I do a few stretches while I wait for class to start. Then once on the treadmill, I power walk for a minute before getting into my run. Because these classes normally start very quickly, this is the best way for me to ensure that my body doesn’t;t go into shock by starting off with sprints right away, lol.
Tell me: How do you warm up before a run?
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Topic for next week – What are your Winter running tips? Feel free to write about any running related topic. We hope you’ll link up with us!
I’m also linking up with Marc from Train With Marc and Debbie from Coach Debbie Runs for Coaches’ Corner!
Well, I got mixed up with the topic! LOL! Guess I have winter on my mind. Anyhoo, I guess it doesn’t matter since I don’t warm up before I run… :p
LOL no worries! We always need cold weather running tips 🙂
This year was all about embracing the warm-up for this Kim, too 😉 Honestly, we really should be friends 😉 I didn’t mention it in my posts, but I often do some power walking before and/or after my runs as well.
I love a few minutes of power walking to get my body nice and warm!
I think warming up (and cooling down) are so important, yet obviously I’ve been struggling with it for a while! So many things to do.
Mine is a long, slow process, and it doesn’t all get done every run. I usually start out a few hours before a run, with some of my PT exercises, then rolling my feet and stretching out my calves (always tight). It takes roughly 10 minutes.
Once I’ve had breakfast & got dressed, I foam roll. I almost never skip this part. It takes about 15 minutes, but sometimes I shorten it.
Yes, often I’ll also do some yoga before a run too. Working a non-conventional job has its benefits. 🙂
The finally stage is doing some dynamic stretching before I start to run.
I love that you warm up with walking, too. I do a little, definitely not enough. I’m usually quite good about doing a post run cool down walk, though. A short one!
I love that you have such a detailed warm up routine! I’ve thought about doing a little yoga before a run but I’m so stiff that I don’t know if it would be good or bad for me before a run lol.
I do a few moving stretches, leg swings and the like, and ankle rotations, esp when it’s cold. Then I mean to jog to the start but am usually late and rushing horribly!
I love doing leg swings as part of my warm up – it helps opens up my hips
I’m pretty good about doing a pre-run dynamic warmup. It’s a derivative of something I used to do before Tae Kwon Do a billion years ago. Let’s just say I’m better about that dynamic warmup than I am stretching after. although lately I’ve been good about foam rolling.
Same here! I used to be better about post-run stretching and now I’m better at pre-run warm up lol
Ah, a brisk walk is such a good idea! I completely forgot about that! It’s so efficient and effective.
Thanks, Kim for this week’s Tuesday Topic. Have a great week!
A walk is always so great to get the blood flowing!
Well, I get out of my car and start running. My bad.
That’s what I used to do but now I just try to make sure I dedicate 5 minutes to a warm up.
You are smart. I am always in a rush.
That’s great that those warm up routines on the app also talk about why each stretch is important. That’s really useful information. I definitely need to be better about warming up. I hate it in the Winter because I just want to get straight to running when the weather is cold.
It’s a lot harder in the Winter, especially when it’s brutally cold because you just want to run to get the blood moving!
I don’t take warm ups seriously enough at all!
It’s such an easy thing to skip but so important, especially for longer runs!
I don’t really warm up before I run but I do try to run a slow first 1/2 to 1 mile. I consider having coffee and doing a few little things around the house my warm up. 🙂
I think that still counts as a warm up!
I’ve gotten so much better with my warm up routine!
Me too! and it’s crazy how much of a difference it makes too!
I feel and run so much better when I warm up! It’s so important!
Totally agree!
Jog easy and then go into active running drills. I don’t start my watch until both of those are done.
That’s a really great idea!
For an outdoor run, normally all I used to do was walk – but since injuring my back, I’m trying to be better about doing the stretching exercises for that prior to the run too. Fingers crossed it helps!
I’ve been having issues with my back this year so I am hoping that doing more stretches will be helpful.
Sometimes I am bad and I don’t warm up before I run. But lately I have been trying to add in a dynamic warm-up.
A dynamic warm up makes such a difference!
I had no idea about the pre-run stretch class on the Peloton app!!! Oh boy. I like the idea of walking briskly before a run too. Thanks for the tips!
Yup!You can get so many great classes on the app.
I have never warmed up or stretched before or after a run, but of course in an actual race, the long walk to the start line always serves as a good warm up!
So true about the walk to the start acting as a warm up. Usually that’s at least half a mile!