Runnning to Warm-up or Warming up to Run?

My weight training class has been focusing on warm-ups and have collectively agreed that this might be the single most important segment of their workout or training session. I know in my personal workouts, the days I skimp on the warm-up are the days I suffer the most.

And yet the question remains.... Do I run to warm-up? or Do I warm-up to run?

Since I spend the majority of my time running, I am outside. It is sometimes shocking to step out of the house on a cool winter's day.... so glad spring is coming soon! How I prepare for that shock could influence my overall run that day.

In the winter, we realize the need for a warm-up more so than summer. The body needs to be physically warm to perform. It is cold outside. How am I prepping my hamstrings this time of year so I can run further and faster?

In the summer, it seems we are warm. Do we still need the warm-up for efficiency in overall performance?


YES! The warm-up is a tremendous part of our overall workout. If we are not warm, we cannot perform. Period.

In January, I was following a kettlebell routine that warmed me up and mildly kicked my butt before the run. I felt like the running part was easy. The reason... my joints and body were thoroughly warm and I was prepared for movement. I have since progressed to different means of strength training, but I still take the time to move in my driveway before I head out to pound the pavement.

Do I ever run to warm up? Well, yes...... but only after I have done a progression of activity in my driveway to prepare me for overall movement. The warm up moves from general to specific. And the specific is then the run. This is important when I am running a time trial..... i might need to run a mile or two to prepare the body for the timed distance. And then I follow with a mile or two warm down. I suffer on the days that I am lazy and just go run. I am not 20 anymore and my body needs the prep time.

Warm ups should move from general activity to specific. It preps the body and the mind for what is coming. It might take an extra ten minutes or more to warm up. The time taken is beneficial in my overall performance and goal to be injury free. They also help me not feel as beat up after a hard run.