It’s baseball post-season, and while my Atlanta Braves are out of the race, maybe your team is still hanging strong. One team that's still in it is the LA Dodgers, led by their generational talent, Shohei Ohtani. He’s not only a dominating pitcher on the mound but a prolific slugger and base stealer—an incredibly rare combination in modern baseball.
What really caught my eye, though, isn’t just Ohtani’s performance but his warm-up routine. Have you ever seen it? Before the game, you might find him in the outfield going through his batting motion—but here’s the kicker: he’s got no bat in hand. Just the motion, over and over again, precise and identical every time. It’s funny to watch at first. Braves slugger Marcell Ozuna “Big Bear” even called him a "robot" for his methodical, repeatable movements.
There’s something to be said for having a reliable warm-up routine, especially for us runners. My coach has always encouraged me to have one, and over the years, mine has solidified. Today, it looks something like this:
- Dynamic stretches to get the muscles loose
- Warm-up miles at a relaxed pace
- Static stretches to lengthen the muscles after warming up
- Strides to get the legs firing
- And finally, it’s race time!
A solid warm-up helps prepare the body physically, but I’d argue it’s just as important for getting your mind in the right state. It signals to your brain that it’s time to focus, time to compete. Whether you’re preparing for a game, a race, or even a tough workout, a consistent warm-up routine can be the key to starting strong and staying injury-free.
What’s your warm-up routine like? Let me know—I’m always curious to learn what works for other runners!