Doing the right warm-up drills at the right time can improve your performance. (MC3 Kenneth Abbate / Navy)

Do you worry about your warm-up? Bob Thomas says you should:

A proper warm-up is critical to good performance not only in competitive events but also in your daily workout. This warm-up sequence is modeled after a routine for high-level competitive racers and modified to the time constraints of a PT test. My source is Jennifer McGranahan, an extremely talented cross-country coach at Virginia Tech. Note that she begins with “active warm-up” and allows the body temperature to elevate prior to the stretch. Sound familiar?

The intent is to raise the core body temperature and lubricate the muscles, allowing them to contract and relax more efficiently, as well as preparing them to fire in the specific way they will be asked to in the event exercise.

Read the rest of Bob’s column, and get the full workout, here.