Getting Warmed Up: Part 2
Whether you have been running for a long time or are only starting to get into the habit, it cannot be denied that warming up is an essential part of your routine.
In the last Post we talked about what all exercises you could try for a solid warm up.
Now, that you have started warming up, here are some points that you should keep in mind:
- Make sure you don’t rest afterwards after a warm up exercise. That is because after priming your body for the activity ahead, resting will cool off your body, effectively defeating the purpose of warming up. So after warming up, don’t idle around or sit about. Get ready to stretch and do so purposefully so you don’t lose your momentum. So try to stay away from idle chatting and staring at nothing after warming up to get the best results.
- After warming up, stretching will be the next order of battle. Good stretching is essential for improving performance and avoiding injuries. You can start with the head and arms, swing and stretch in counts of 12. Focus your stretching activities on your lower body because this is where most of the action will take place. Stretch and tease every major joint, and even the minor ones.
- Be careful that you do not overstretch these muscles and joints, doing so could cause injuries. Stretch yourself enough to challenge the tightness, but don’t go overboard and cause an injury for yourself.
After your running session, don’t forget to cool down by tapering down your activities to ease your nervous system into lower activity
