Anyone ever skip the warm up?: Hi, it's just at... - Couch to 5K

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Anyone ever skip the warm up?

Crismatlotta profile image
CrismatlottaGraduate
4 Replies

Hi, it's just at the moment (I'm in New Zealand and we're coming into winter) the warm up feels more like a freeze up and I think it's affecting my run! Anyone ever skip it or is it a really bad idea? Maybe shorten it? Thanks. Cris

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Crismatlotta profile image
Crismatlotta
Graduate
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4 Replies
swanscot profile image
swanscotGraduate

When it's cold it more important than ever to warm your muscles before running. In the middle of winter here I always started with warm up in the house before going out. I did some dynamic stretches (some of these in this video: runnersworld.com/stretching... )

and a general sort of aerobic routine: marching, side-stepping, arm-swinging for a few minutes.

Then when my blood was circulating I stepped outside and started a quick walk. If it was really cold I did my warm-up walking for about 3 minutes away from the house, then turned and returned to the house to dump my fleece jacket, before starting the run.

TJFlute profile image
TJFlute

Just don't skip anything :) Why should you..it's all to help stay injury free, and what's five minutes?

Crismatlotta profile image
CrismatlottaGraduate

I know, :( I guess I knew the answer but just needed to see it written down, just so warm in bed and then I have to walk in the cold...

greenlegs profile image
greenlegsGraduate in reply to Crismatlotta

The bit that swanscot said about going out and coming back to take off extra layers is what I found worked best for me when it was icy out. Otherwise I ended up with things tied round my waist, which was annoying (and then I ended up too hot!)

I always find it hard doing the warmup walk though - I just want to get running! But having read quite a few blogs about people getting injured because they didn't warm up makes me do it. :)

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