January 5, 2020

Warming Up – Wherever You Take Running

Whether you are running for 2 minutes or 2 miles, you need to put time aside for warming up and down, your body will thank you. Start with a simple fast walk or slow jog before getting started at your normal pace.

A warm-up can take as little as a few minutes. Even when you’re strapped for time, going through a quick list of specific motions will help prime you physically and mentally. Here are three warm-up options in addition to your initially warm up walk or jog;

Complete 5-10 Reps of each movement

Knee to Chest:

Stand straight, bring your right knee to your chest while keeping your left leg straight, and rise up on your left tiptoes as you clasp your hands in front of your right knee. Take a step forward and alternate legs, hugging your left knee to your chest while rising up on your right toes. Keep your core engaged and strong.

Quad Stretch:

Lift one leg up behind your back while holding it with your hand and feel the pull in your quad. Repeat with the other leg.

Lunges:

Step one leg out and bend to a 90 degree angle and bring the other knee down towards the floor and repeat.

Calf:

Stand with one foot in front of the other, bend your front leg while keeping your other leg straight. Keep the foot that is behind firmly flat on the ground and don’t bend the knee. Straighten your back and hold the pose for 10-seconds and repeat with the other.

Toe Touches:

Standing with your feet out wide bend your body over keeping your hips straight and reach your hands down to you toes. Hold 10 seconds. For variations move your hands in between your feet and both hands to one side. Do as you see fit.

Leg Swings: 

Get an area of support to stand by, swing one leg in front and backwards and continue for up to 10 motions. Repeat with the other leg.

Hip Rotation:

Standing straight up, make exaggerated hula-hooping-style circles with your hips, rotating in one direction, then the other.

Full Arm Circles:

Keeping your arms straight and out to the side, circle your arms forward and then backward. to get the shoulder moving before running. 

Your body will thank you for taking the extra time to warm-up efficiently. There are plenty of other ways and techniques to warm up effectively if you’re someone who needs that extra bit of conditioning before exercising. At Intersport Elverys , we have a number of products like foam rollers and resistance bands to enhance your warm up, cool down or for general maintenance on your body.

 

Foam Rolling

 Foam rolling is as important to do as a warm up as it is for your warm-down. A foam Roller is a small piece of equipment that helps you massage out your muscles to help get rid of any tightness or tension you may have. You simply roll it against any part of the body that you have tension or tightness in, common areas would be the calves, hamstrings, quads, glutes, back and arms. Using a foam roller is a habit everyone should get in to, you don’t have to be regularly active just to use a foam roller! Here are some ways you can use a foam roller:

Calves:

  • Sit on the floor with your legs straight, ankles crossed left over right, and a foam roller under your right ankle.
  • Place your hands on either side of your body and lift yourself off the floor, rolling your right calf muscle over the roller—from ankle to knee—a few times with your toes pointed up.
  • Repeat with your leg rotated inward (so you’re rolling the inside portion of your calf), and then again with your leg rotated outward.
  • Switch legs and repeat.

Hamstrings:

  • Sit on the floor with your legs straight and a foam roller under your thighs. Place your hands on the floor on either side of your body.
  • Lift your body and use your hands to roll the entire length of your hamstrings—from just below your glutes to your knees—over the roller.

Quads:

  • Lie facedown on the floor with your legs straight and a foam roller under your quads. Prop yourself up on your forearms.
  • Slowly roll your quad muscles from the tops of your legs to the tops of your knees.

Glutes:

  • Sit on a foam roller with your left foot flat on the floor and your right leg crossed over your left thigh. Place either both of your hands or only your right hand on the floor behind you for support.
  • Tilt your body to your right so that your right glute presses against the roller.
  • Roll forward and backward several times, and then repeat on your left side.

Arms:

  • Lie on your right side with your legs straight, your right arm extended above your head, and a foam roller under your armpit.
  • Place your left hand on the floor in front of you for support, and place your left foot on the floor behind your right leg.
  • Use your left hand and foot to slowly roll your right side from your armpit to below your ribcage several times.
  • Switch sides and repeat.

 

Back Baller:

The BackBaller get’s teeth for an even greater self Myofacial release, you can take foam rolling to the next level with the BackBaller, by putting you in total control over the force applied in an unprecedented secure and comfortable manner. The BackBaller is specifically designed to self-treat muscles in your upper & lower back. Due to the stability & control offered it goes beyond & is now the foremost product to knead out all muscle groups. To stretch out using the BackBaller, simply lie on it and move back and forth.

What is Myofascial Release Therapy?
Myofascial release is a form of soft tissue massage intended to support pain relief, increase range of motion, and balancing of the body. Techniques can include manual and self-massage.

Shop all Foam Rollers HERE

Stretch/Resistance Bands:

Stretch bands are great for stretching out your muscles in preparation for a run or workout. They work most muscle groups in the body depending on the exercise performed, and because of the resistance the stretch bands hold they are a great alternative to use instead of weights.

Warm up exercises using resistance bands:

  • Lunges
    Place your foot on the mid part of the band and pull it up to your shoulders. Now step your other leg backward and bend down until the front knee comes to 90-degree position. Once done, come back to standing position. 10 repetitions per leg.
  • Monster walk
    Place both feet in the resistance band just around your ankles and walk sideways, keeping tension in the band. 10 steps/3 sets per side.
  • Front raise
    Step on the resistance band with your legs at a width equal to your shoulders. Now hold the band with your hands at a width equal to your shoulders, and pull upwards up to your shoulders. Repeat 10 to 15 times.

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