An exercise scientist says you need a 20-minute warm-up in the cold—is that overkill or smart training?

Group of people in long-sleeve activewear lunging outdoors.

I never fail to warm up before strength training, but I always skip that step on the rare occasions I go for a run. At best, I manage a couple of token hip openers and lunges, but I know I should spend more time preparing my body.

Even so, I was taken aback when I read the recommendation to warm up for 20 minutes when exercising outdoors in the cold. That’s according to Athalie Redwood-Brown, a senior lecturer in performance analysis of sport at Nottingham Trent University, in the UK.