Subscribe RSS FeedAlthough many people carry the belief that warming up before any type of physical exercise is not necessary, it can actually cause problems later down the line if you decide to skip it, especially if you are a runner.
To make things more clear, try to imagine that you are about to take the plunge and experience sky diving for the first time. Would you do it without having practiced first, or at least consulted with a professional on safety precautions? Would you recommend such an approach to anybody you knew and cared about? It’s not likely that you would answer yes. By not doing these exercises prior to starting running, you are not taking care of yourself; you are jumping unprepared. For those of an older age set, this can even prove to be a deadly mistake.
The first reason to get your body ready before any serious exercise is the fact that you need to increase the temperature level in your muscles. In doing this you will make your body aware of the fact that it will soon be participating in a workout and that’s never a bad thing. Not only is more heat circulated, but there is also an increase in oxygen and blood flow. Therefore, you are less likely to suffer any kind of injury during or after your couple mile run, and that saves time you might have otherwise wasted recovering from said injury. You won’t feel sore, either, which is especially beneficial to people new to the craft. It is a well-known fact that those with little or no prior exercise experience tend to ache for days afterward because they aren’t used to it.
To warm-up the appropriate way, one can’t simply stretch their arms and legs and hope for the best. You have to get your heart pumping in order for it to work. This can be achieved by doing low level activities such as riding a bike or walking. Remember, though, that this is not meant to make you tired, so don’t overexert yourself. After this has been done, you can then move on to stretching exercises. Since you will be going running, start stretches with your legs and move on from there.
Warmups may appear confusing and even unneeded by your average running enthusiast, but they are vital if you want to succeed in what you are doing. Take care that you do the steps correctly, and not only will you save time you thought would be wasted, but your body will thank you, as well.
Tags: running, warmup exercises