Pre-race warm up????

[ChevinbyTorchlight]

Just wondering what folk do as a pre-race warm up to maximise all that hard work in training.

I've read somewhere that some top athletes do a 30 minute warm-up, but wondered if that changed considerably depending on the race distance, terrain etc??

I usually do a steady-ish mile to get my legs going, then a couple of short steep hill sprints (about 50m each) to get my heart and lungs going, and I try to have it finished about 10 minutes befiore the race starts.

Just wondered if anyone knew what the folk at the sharp end of things were doing for a warm-up. I'm never going to trouble them, but the warm up is obviously key to having a decent race so i'd like to try and maximise the hours i'm putting in over the cold wet winter by improving what i'm doing!!!

Be interested to hear your thoughts, or accounts of anything you've read etc etc

Ta

[Grouse]

The shorter the race, the longer the warm up.

[southernsoftie]

I don't do owt: I end up knackered before I even start.

[Guick Dotto]

I hardly ever warm up which is why I'm such a strong finisher! Trouble is I hardly ever finish in the top half of the field.

[stevefoster]

Usually a natter and a fag does for me, trying to cut down on the nattering though
Seriously though, be interesting to hear what the fast folk do, just don't copy me

[tomsdad]

I usually dont bother with a warm-up,

but while doing the great north I did the usuall --watch the tiny guy jumping about in the distance and copy him routine, but ended up realy suffering during the race?
I am usually so kna##ered during a race that exerting myself before-hand seems counter productive, But I have not realy had any injuries?

Tomsdad

[stevefoster]

Interesting sig, Tomsdad. Watched Mythbusters the other week and they were collecting different animal turds and attempting to polish them

[IanDarkpeak]

well i'm knocking on a bit now and I find it takes me a while to warm up

On the long stuff I now delibrately set off steady and use that as part of the warm up. For shorter stuff I can warm up for 30 minutes or so.

I find early morning races tougher to get going so after breakfast I sometimes go for a a couple of miles slow run with a bit of stretching. I then eat on way to race and follow that with a bit more warm up.

Evening races are not nearly so hard to warm up for as you've been on the go all day.

although many will say I'm always bouncing around anyway hence the nickname tigger

[ukhursty]

Pre-race pint and kebab and I'm raring to go!!!

Need to cut down on the chilli sauce though, can't stand the bloody sting half way round!!

[Al Fowler]

Ive never been one for warning up really....should do more......usually just run round for 10 minutes or so about 10-15 minutes before there race.

Often depends how cold it is standing around though.