Be Cool with a Warmup

Be like the climate -- warmup!

Q: Can I skip my warmup on warm days?

A: Even in summer's most sultry months, you still need a gradual transition from inactivity to activity to warm up ligaments and tendons, increase heart rate and blood flow, and gently introduce your body to the motion of running.

When the mercury climbs particularly high, skipping your warmup can lead to a too-quick increase in core temperature, which can increase your risk of heat illness. For a simple warmup, walk for 3 minutes, then alternate 30 to 60 seconds of easy jogging with the same amount of walking for a a total of five minutes. SOURCE: August 2007 RW

Pre-game birthday parties & running from your parked car to the field work just as well.