I’ve gotten into the habit of not properly warming up before a race. Don’t get me wrong, I do warm up, but with the excitement of the race and the hassle of the crowd, I’m sure I don’t do enough. I have to thank my friend for capturing this picture in action at yesterday’s Baltimore Running Festival. Couldn’t have planned it any better.

Anyway, back to dynamic warm up exercises. I did a little research and found this great video clip in Runners World of several dynamic exercises that I have never tried before. The series of exercises, created by Coster, take about 5 minutes to do, so it’s perfect for race day (or any day) when you need to warm up and go. (http://www.runnersworld.com/workouts/the-body-shop-first-moves)

Warrior Lunge
Warms up the core muscles and promotes hip mobility and Achilles tendon flexibility.
To Do: Lift your arms above your head. Step your left foot forward into a lunge, making sure your knee doesn’t extend forward past your foot. Step back to start, bringing arms down. Switch legs. Do eight to 10 reps on each leg.

Toy Soldier
Warms up the glutes, hamstrings, and quads.
To Do: Without bending your knee, step forward and kick your right leg out and up to waist level. Extend your left arm at the same time, as if to touch your foot. Release and switch sides. Do 10 reps on each leg.

Lateral Lunge
Activates the glutes and adductor muscles.
To Do: Stand with your feet parallel, hip-width apart. Step to the right, then shift your weight toward the right foot, bending your right knee and pushing your hips back. Your left leg should be as straight as possible. Reach for your right foot with your left hand. Push off with your right foot to return to starting position. Do 10 reps on each leg.

Star Touch
Improves hamstring and glute flexibility.
To Do: Stand with your feet wide, toes pointing forward. Keeping your legs straight, reach your left hand across your body and try to touch your right toe. Return to center. Repeat on the other side. Do eight to 10 on each side.

Runner’s Touch
Activates the core muscles and boosts flexibility in the glutes and hamstrings.
To Do: Balance on your right foot and hinge forward, allowing your left leg to extend back. Touch the ground with your left hand. Return to standing. Do 10 to 12 reps, then repeat on your left leg.