5 minute warm up walk

[Viewfinder]

Graduated last week - yay! - and have completed three 30minute runs this week (stepping stone music is definitely NOT for me first thing in the morning).

I am keen to know whether I really need to keep up the 5 minute warm up walk or is it safe to shorten that? I ask as I always have to start with an uphill and walking for 5 minutes makes it go on forever!

[Dtay1978 Graduate]

Warming up and down either side of exercise is as important as keeping hydrated, well assuming you don’t like sore muscles that is 😂😊

[Honor32]

Unless you warm up your body with movement and stretching, continue with the five minutes walk. All athletes, dancers etc warm up. It prevents injury.

[Alex9273]

I'm not an expert but I'd be very wary especially of running on a hill without a good warm up. In a previous running life I started my run on a (not even very steep) hill. I don't know what I did to my calves, but I couldn't run for weeks after.

I'm on week 8 and the walks are still my favourite part of the couch to 5k!

[IannodaTruffe Mentor]

Elite athletes with finely honed bodies warm up to avoid injury.........I think us lesser mortals with slightly less finely honed bodies probably need it more than them.

[Jell6 Graduate]

I still do it, longer in the cold weather!