We All Need to Warm Up Before Running

I know... thinking about ankle mobility isn't exciting. You'd rather get out there and run! I get it. But... you need to have healthy feet, ankles and calves if you are going to run to your potential. So many little problems that become big problems start with the feet.

Take a look at the foot in the image above. See that angle? If the foot can't achieve at least a 30 degree angle as it is loading, it is going to compensate in some way that usually creates a braking force (which slows you down). The inability to move the foot through the range of motion without compensating by rolling the foot to one side (for example) means that the runner will execute this flawed motion repeatedly over the course of their training run. And every motion from the minute the foot touches the ground affects something further up the kinetic chain. 

Why do we care?

1) If you want to get faster, a good place to start is with the feet.

2) To help prevent injury. My goal as a coach and with my social media content is to help people become active for LIFE. Longevity, not a one-time race or event.

Take a look at the video above - it's about 5 minutes long - to test your ankle mobility and to see a few exercises I recommend that serve as a good warm up, and also help address this issue.

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I want to help YOU become a stronger runner, athlete and person. Check out my online training programs. If you work with me for your running, one-on-one or as part of an online group, in addition to the coaching, you get access to my library of warm ups, cool downs, mobility workouts, strength workouts and mindset lessons. (And if you like what's on my podcast, but don't want to run with me, there's the Champion's Club that works on mindset, and has exercises for those of you who want to strengthen your body, along with your mind)