Post graduation runners-do you still do your 5 min walk before and after running?

[Ally25]

I was just wondering if everyone still did this once they feel they have consolidated their 30 minute runs? Or is it something that you continue to do throughout your running life......thank you 😋

[Ripcurlrana71]

Hi Ally - I still do a walk before and after. 😊

[Ally25 Graduate in reply to Ripcurlrana71]

Thank you, good to know

[Sarakc Graduate]

Hi! Yes I still do mine religiously!!! 😀

[Ally25 Graduate in reply to Sarakc]

Thank you, really good to know 😋

[Sarakc Graduate in reply to Ally25]

Even if I finish my run at my front door (which I don’t usually ) I set my timer for 5 mins and wander around the houses looking lost!!! 😂

[Ally25 Graduate in reply to Sarakc]

🤣🤣 love it....that made me laugh

[Gran4z Graduate in reply to Sarakc]

Made me laugh too 😂

[Penelopesimmons Graduate]

I just run very slowly for the first few minutes before increasing to my usual pace. This suits my natural running style of gradually getting quicker throughout. Post run I do the walk to cool down along along with stretching

[Ally25 Graduate in reply to Penelopesimmons]

Thank you.....that’s interesting. It’s just that I live right next to a popular running route and see people start their run outside my house and they just seem to start running, not walking 😀

[rollyrol Graduate]

Hi Ally25, I was also wondering the same as I'd always continued to walk to start with. Then it struck me that I've usually already ran around the house like and woman for an hour organising things for the day, walked my daughter to school, walked back, ran about the house again like a mad woman tidying up and getting ready for my run that I usually don't need to warm up my legs!! Instead I now do lunges, squats etc while listening to the first 5 mins of music, then off I go! I do it differently if I've gone out at 6am on a work day though - usually stretches as above then I start with a slow, downhill run. It seems to work for me. I always do 5 minutes walk after though x

[Ally25 Graduate in reply to rollyrol]

Lol.....you are so right, all that ‘running’ about we don’t really think about, that made me smile and 😂 I generally run at 6am too, I like your idea of doing squats and lunges to music for 5 mins, may give that a go because I really think I’m not doing enough of those....thank you for the advice

[rollyrol Graduate in reply to Ally25]

There's a good 7 minute workout on YouTube for runners that I started off with but now just do my own thing ☺ If I find the link I'll put it here if I'm allowed. It's really useful. youtu.be/ioELqxr-Q_w(Not working as expected?)

[Ally25 Graduate in reply to rollyrol]

That would be great, thank you 😊

[ArthurJG Graduate]

If you don’t warm up before and warm down after a run it puts you at greatly increased risk of energy. I’m sure there are alternatives to the brisk walk that warm up more or less the same muscles but to start running from cold is a bad idea.

[CJDavies Graduate in reply to ArthurJG]

I love the idea of a greatly increased risk of energy- if only! I’m guessing you meant injury but it made me smile

[ArthurJG Graduate in reply to CJDavies]

If only!

[Ally25 Graduate in reply to ArthurJG]

Thank you for your advice, totally agree 😀

[GoGo_JoJo Graduate]

I still do a 5 min warm up walk. I don't always do a 5 min warm down but I always keep moving and go into cardio/ aerobic exercises in my garden before finally slowing down and stretching 👍

I think its very important. It definitely reduces your chances of injury.

[Ally25 Graduate in reply to GoGo_JoJo]

Thank you, sounds very sensible 😀

[Jay66UK Graduate]

I always do both. It’s a bit of a “rabbit’s foot” thing, part of the process that works for me.

I remember suffering badly from lactic acid build up after playing sports in my younger days and I’ve not had that with running.

[Ally25 Graduate in reply to Jay66UK]

Thank you.....I am beginning to realise we all need a bit of ‘rabbit’s foot’ thing going on in this running game.....creatures of habit and routine 😋

[JennyH10 Graduate]

Yeah always, sometimes for longer if I want to start my running route at a point further away. After the warm up fast walk I stretch a bit and my first 5min of the actual run are super super slow in order for me to get my breathing under control and to gradually ease my old achey knees into it to avoid injury.

[Ally25 Graduate in reply to JennyH10]

Mmmm I think super super slow for the first 5 mins is a great idea.....thank you 😋

[Ang33333 Graduate]

Yes 5 mins before and after the run. Feels right.

[Ally25 Graduate in reply to Ang33333]

Thank you 😊

[SaskAlliecat Graduate]

I don’t tend to do a warm up walk anymore but will usually do a series of dynamic stretches that warms up the muscles anyways and always try to start out for the first km or so at a slower pace until the muscles warm up fully. I usually still do a cool down walk but it may not be 5 minutes, it’s whatever is needed to get to my car or home and get my breathing rate back under control, especially if I ended my run with some fast intervals.

[Ally25 Graduate in reply to SaskAlliecat]

Thank you....what dynamic stretches do you do? 😋

[SaskAlliecat Graduate in reply to Ally25]

I do 20 leg swings per side both front to back and side to side, some deep lunge walks with a torso twist and toy soldier with toe touch. Sometimes i’ll do a figure of 8 with my knee that puts my hips through a full range of motion... it kind of depends on how I feel.

[Ally25 Graduate in reply to SaskAlliecat]

Fab, thank you 😊

[Irishprincess Graduate]

When I run on my own I warm up for at least 5 minutes (longer when it's cold) but at run club the warm up is only a few minutes. The cool down walk is usually very short but I always stretch when I get home.

What I find interesting is that at races I rarely warm up or stretch afterwards and it doesn't seem to make that much difference on the day but I feel much stiffer on the second day so that's when I tend to do more stretching.

[Ally25 Graduate in reply to Irishprincess]

Thank you for sharing 😀

[Jason888 Graduate]

Yes 5 minutes pre but about 20 after as I’m rubbish at turning around when I run and always end up with a long walk home 😂😬😂

[Ally25 Graduate in reply to Jason888]

Lol.....can only be good for you though 🤣🤣

[Tasha99 Graduate]

Nope, neither 😳

[IannodaTruffe Mentor]

You can be a top, pro elite athlete and still damage muscles if you don't warm them up properly before making demands of them.

[Ally25 Graduate in reply to IannodaTruffe]

Thank you 😊

[ancientrunner Graduate]

Yep, still do -especially the warm up.

[Ally25 Graduate in reply to ancientrunner]

Thank you 😊

[Rignold]

Never. Unles i am literally going for a run immediately after getting out of bed.

[Ally25 Graduate in reply to Rignold]

Thank you, that is when I generally do my run, fall out of bed and out running within 10-15 mins.....so will makes sure I continue with my 5 min warm up walk 😀