WHAT IS A DYNAMIC WARM-UP?
It is one that challenges every bit of YOU that you use to run.
Your body is a machine, YOUR machine, and there are lots of moving parts. Your cardio capacity is certainly a driving factor in your performance, but your ability to get the most from your cardio endurance is highly dependent on your body’s ability to transfer your effort efficiently, from head to toe and on to the pavement, during each and every running stride. A dynamic warm up coordinates all of your moving parts: muscles, ligaments, joints and cardio, by challenging your flexibility, mobility, strength and stability all at once because that’s what you ask of yourself when you run, right?! Doing so is pivotal in getting you to the finish line as fun, fast, and pain-free as possible.
THE GOALS OF A DYNAMIC WARM-UP:
- INCREASE HEART RATE to get the blood pumping through the body and warming up the muscles.
- OPEN UP YOUR JOINTS especially those within the hips, spine, feet and ankles.
- ACTIVELY STRETCH YOUR MUSCLES to prepare them for what you’ll be asking them for in the run!
- REINFORCE GREAT POSTURE.
- HIT THE GROUND RUNNING WITH ALL SYSTEMS GO when the gun goes off!
THE KEYS TO A DYNAMIC WARM-UP:
- Think of it as a part of the race. Do it!
- Set aside time dedicated to it. Whether its 30 minutes or 2 minutes you can do your body good.
- Clear your mind and focus on your body. Save chit chatting with friends for before or after the race.
- Move through the movements purposefully but continuously so that your heart rate increases throughout.
THE ELEMENTS + EXERCISES OF A DYNAMIC WARM-UP:
.......COMING TOMORROW!!
