What Everyone Ought to Know About Warming Up Before a Run
Last week I mentioned how what I think about first thing in the morning seems to set the tone for the rest of the day.
You know how we use the phase, “I think I got up on the wrong side of the bed.”? This is sometimes set by what we thought about as we went to bed or could possibly be a dream you had or an attack from the enemy, but it could also just simply be that your blood sugar is low and you need to eat.
Whatever the case is, you have the power through Christ to turn that around and set out on the right foot. You have the power through the Word of God to change your mood so that you can take charge of the day.
…for without me ye can do nothing.
John 15:5
I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.
Philippians 4:13
Things to keep in mind about your warm up before a run:
- It can be as simple as a walk, some jumping jacks, dynamic stretching, foam rolling, self-massage, a light jog, etc.
- Make it fit your needs in the season you are in. Pay attention to how your body is feeling. One day you may need to warm up longer because you are extra stiff, whereas other days you may only need a few simple stretches. Whatever you choose, find what works for you, and don’t be afraid to switch it up overtime.
- The goal of warming up is to warm up your muscles so they are less likely to tear and cause problems from tightness.
- If time is an issue, be creative. Do leg swings while you’re making breakfast. Do some squats or jumping jacks while you wait for your coffee. Use your warm up in your workout, by just going extra slow or even walking for the first 10 minutes.
Things to keep in mind about starting your day with God:
- Remind yourself why you want to spend time with God first thing in the morning. Check out last week’s post for some motivation in making morning devotions a priority.
- Tell God good morning as soon as you are awake.
- Pray as you go through your morning routine.
- Spend time in God’s Word so you can learn to hear His voice and be able to interact with Him throughout the day.
- Be sure to sit down undistracted every morning in the same way you would sit over coffee with a friend.
- Shake it up. You don’t always have to spend time with Him every morning in the same way. When you go on dates with someone, you don’t always do the same exact thing, so why would you expect to do that with God?
- Carry over your time with God into the rest of the day. Invite Him to run the day with you and to help you practice His presence.
Though the list of ways you can warm up is limitless, you only need to find out what works for you.
But the one thing you need to keep in mind is that you are not the same as anyone else. Your schedule, your needs, your family, your availability to be flexible, your work demands… They all make up a totally different person.
That is why you see several people saying, “I found the perfect formula for…” and they are all different.
I encourage you to drop the perfectionism mindset and be creative. Have fun, experiment safely, and see what works for you. A little tip though is to only change one thing at a time to see if it is really helping. If you change everything at one time, you’ll never know if something truly works for you.
Listen to January’s Mid-Month Motivation (MMM) on Be Still and Run by Alli Anne podcast with your favorite platform or by using the link below to search for it.
Remember, be creative and have fun! Until next time, Happy Running!
Be Still and Run 