Is 5 mins warm up walk really enough?

[Mrun1]

I'm on W3R3 and so far I'm loving every minute of it! I do a few stretches after each run and so far no aches or pains.

But as the weeks pass the running time increases, is a five min warm up walk all that's needed for longer runs? Or should I be doing other warm up exercises as the weeks progress?

I have a feeling this is a stupid question but I had to ask...

[SnailRunner71 Graduate]

I do a few leg stretches first

[Mrun1 Graduate in reply to SnailRunner71]

Great, I'll throw in some stretches before as well as afte from now on!

I'm just really worried about getting aches and pains that wil put me off running!

[UnfitNoMore Graduate]

5 minutes of brisk walking should be enough, we only need to up the muscles by one degree to have them at peak temperature apparently. You could add some dynamic stretches in too if you like.

[Mrun1 Graduate in reply to UnfitNoMore]

Thanks! That's put my mind at rest now

[cheekychipmunks Graduate]

Not a stupid question at all Mrun1.

I like to do a short pre-run yoga warmup for runners at home first. I use a YouTube yoga lady who I like a lot, and she does post run videos too, which I also use. Just be careful stretching too much before your muscles are warmed up.

Enjoy your running! 👍

[Mrun1 Graduate in reply to cheekychipmunks]

Thanks, that's really helpful!

Can I have the name of the YouTube channel you use please?

[cheekychipmunks Graduate in reply to Mrun1]

I use Yoga with Adriene. She’s great. 😀👍

[Mrun1 Graduate in reply to cheekychipmunks]

I LOVE her! I use her bedtime yoga routine. I'll check out her other videos for pre-run stuff. I'm very new to yoga so still have lots to learn

[cheekychipmunks Graduate in reply to Mrun1]

Ahh brilliant! I love her too. My daughters introduced me to her videos and I’m hooked. The difference in my flexibility is enormous.

She does some excellent core workout videos which are quite a challenge! I also do her ‘Yoga for the Feet’ video regularly which I started doing when I had a toe injury and it really helped. She makes me laugh as well! 😅❤️

[Hidden]

I think 5 mins is fine, bearing in mind its 'brisk' walking and not dawdling along looking in shop windows, hah ( or in my case looking at the cows). The warm up is just to get your muscles a bit warm, and raise your heart and breathing rate ready for the run, and they will only increase to a certain level even if you walk all day long. You then start running at a not-too-fast pace so that continues your warming up anyway.

[Mrun1 Graduate in reply to Hidden]

This was my thinking, surely you can only warm up so much before youre as warmed up as possible. I just figured with say 20+ min runs maybe 5 mins of warm up isn't enough.

I'm going to look into some proper pre run stretches.

I know me, and if I get one tiny ache or pain I will go into full panic mode, think I'm dying and quit running (I suffer terribly with health anxiety) so whatever I can do to avoid pains and aches from running, I'm going to do it 😂

[dimjoe]

No! Especially when on the longer runs you need to stretch properly

[Mrun1 Graduate in reply to dimjoe]

Thanks, I'll have to look up some proper stretches. I really don't want to get any aches or pains thag will put me off finishing the programme.

[IannodaTruffe Mentor]

If you want to do extra pre run stretches make sure they are dynamic, as opposed to static, as linked to in the guide to the plan healthunlocked.com/couchto5...

I find 5mins brisk walking adequate, but, especially as colder weather arrives, you may feel the need to do more.

[Mrun1 Graduate in reply to IannodaTruffe]

Thanks, I'll check this out.

Not looking forward to the colder months, will really have to force myself out the door for my runs 😫