How To Warm Up For A Run | K Squared Fitness
I grew up very involved in athletics and in my early adult life joined the military. I was used to structure and having a plan and started working out in junior high and became a personal trainer at 18.
When I got to the real world and started training adults I kept getting the same request over and over again:
“ I don’t have any time to put energy into creating my workouts, I just want to be told what to do.”
I realized everyone is juggling something.
Balancing the demands of life, jobs, kids, etc but the one thing that everyone wanted was better health, and to feel good. For many, that meant running. It’s something simple you can do just walking out the door. My objective today is to expose you to some of the best things you can/should be doing before you lace up and head out the door. A proper run warm up. Today I’m going to cover:
- Why You Should Warm Up
- How To Warm Up
- The Best Running Drills & Stretches To Do Before You Run
Why You Should Warm Up Before Running
If you are like most people you just start off running the first five minutes slow and you call that your warm up. You do this because you don’t have the time to “warm up” and just want to get the workout started.
Remember why you are running in the first place though. To feel better, to get faster, to lose weight? Maybe all of those things and I know being pain free is one of those too.
Make warming up a part of your new routine/habit. You lace up your shoes, then you get started with your run warm up. You will feel better during your run, have practiced some running drills will make you feel faster, and get your body primed to run which will result in better fat burn.
Remember this:
High heart rate = high calorie burn + burning carbohydrates
Lower heart rate = lower calorie burn + burning fat
You want 80% of your run training to be at a lower heart rate “aerobic” and 20% of your run training to be in the high heart rate zones. This is what we help provide in our run training plans at K Squared Fitness.
How To Warm Up Before Run
The key to warming up is not just running around for five minutes and then starting your run workout. You want to get blood flowing to your body, here is an exact protocol you want to do to have the best warm up. Do this:
Foam Roll (3-5 minutes)
Spend 60 seconds on each muscle group, this is found within our “prep” section within our app. We make it easy so you can just follow along 🙂 try our fitness app by clicking here.
Foam rolling your muscle tissues helps to break up and is one thing you should be doing before and after so you can stay pain free!
Follow A Run Warm Up That Is Tailored To Your Workout
Your warm up run needs to be tailored to what your body is going to see later on in the workout. Example of the best warm up flow for a run workout that calls for Intervals (speed training)
Warm Up – Two sets:
- Run x 200 meters @ moderate pace
- Run x 200 meters @ fast pace
After your run warm up we want you to spend 3 minutes on working on running mechanics (see below)
Then complete the speed primer- Three sets:
Run x 20 seconds @ fastest pace
Run x 40 seconds @ recovery pace
Then take a 3-5 minute break and then you are ready for your run workout.
Warm Up Running Stretches
Stretching is great to promote recovery and should really be done at the end of your workout. Don’t be like most and skip stretching. Make it a routine and have a couple of stretches you do after every workout. Here is one that you definitely should be doing after every run.
Warm Up Running Drills
The last time/ if ever did running mechanics may have been high school am I right? But they are important and you did them in track because they make you a better and a more efficient runner. Take a few minutes to study and do a few of them before you go out for your next run.
Speed Prep
You foam rolled, you did a small warm up, you practiced some running mechanics, and now it’s time to get your body ready to run! This is important and only takes about 3 minutes. You are priming your body for the run and it’s going to thank you.
Here are a few examples for this section of your warm up.
Option A
Three sets:
Run x 20 seconds @ fastest pace
Run x 40 seconds @ recovery pace
Option B
Complete:
Run x 30 seconds @ moderate pace
Rest x 30 seconds
Run x 30 seconds @ fast pace
Rest x 30 seconds
Run x 30 seconds @faster pace
Cool Down
After a great run workout you want to bring your heart rate down as quickly as possible because now you want to get your body to begin the recovery process. This does not mean finish your run, walk inside, take your shoes off and go take a shower. Even if you just dedicate 3-5 minutes to a cool down routine to do:
- Sit and just breathe for 60 seconds
- Choose 1-2 areas to foam roll
- Choose 1-2 stretches
Conclusion
A proper run warm up is going to help you get into a better fat burning state, save your joints, and help you become a better runner! Here is a breakdown of the run warm up we discussed:
- Foam Roll
- Run Warm Up
- Running Mechanics Drills
- Speed Prep
- Rest 3 minutes then you’re ready to crush your run!
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