I never thought warming up was necessary, but adding this eight-minute routine to the start of every run has made me a more consistent runner

Woman in running clothes in the lunge position.

For a long time, I didn’t think that warming up before a run was really necessary. I would just lace up my shoes and head out the door, starting with a slow jog, then eventually speeding up.

Sometimes, skipping a warm-up didn’t really seem to matter, but other times, I would feel stiff and heavy anytime I tried to pick up the pace. It made runs less enjoyable, which could put me off my next run. This affected the consistency of my running.