If you find yourself all fired up to play tennis after watching Wimbledon, let me remind you to warm up before you rally. Watching elite athletes can be really deceptive. They lunge, jump, and volley with such ease, but this is one game that can be hard on your body.
Adding a dynamic warm up to your running routine is a great idea. I am not the only one who thinks so. Check out how middle distance running superstar and Olympic hopeful Shalane Flanagan warms up.
When warming up for a run you have more options than just walking briskly or jogging slowly; you can warm up dynamically. Doesn't that sound like fun! Here are a few moves that prime your body for running:
It's so important to warm up before exercising, especially now that colder temps are sweeping across the country. Exercising muscles that aren't warmed up is more likely to lead to injury, so here's an exercise you can do that will not only get your heart rate up, but it'll also strengthen your upper body and core.
Music: "Never," by Tina Arena
To learn how to do this dynamic move read more
Long considered on a lower tier than the other two elements of fitness — cardio and weight training, flexibility training is key to keeping you on the road and in the gym.
Stretching and its merits can be confusing, but one thing is clear: cold muscles do not respond well to stretching. When a muscle is warm it is less likely to tear, so it is best to stretch after you have broken a sweat.
Hiya Fit,
I still consider myself to be a novice runner and am plagued with lower leg issues — mainly shin splints. I realize how important stretching is to prevent these types of issues but am just confused on when to stretch. So, I've got a question for you.
Flexibility training is so often forgotten as an important element of any workout. You might be neglecting stretching because you're uncertain if you should stretch before or after cardio. Is it part of a warmup or a cooldown?
In some places across the US, snow has fallen and temps are below the 30s. If you're still gung-ho about running outside, staying warm is a big concern. So before you head out the door, after you're all dressed, warm up inside for a few minutes.
Spring running often means increasing the intensity of your workouts, but this vigorous approach can lead to shin splints. Aside from following the 10 percent rule, here are a few things you can do to prevent that nagging lower leg pain.