Looking to shave a few seconds off your mile? Hoping to set a personal best time in a 5K race? New research says that doing quick brain teaser as part of your standard warm-up routine may actually help you run faster.
Brain Games And Running Speed
According to researchers at the University of Birmingham, recreational runners ran time trials 2-3% faster after adding cognitive tasks to their usual physical warm-up routine. For the study, researchers had 25 recreational runners complete three 400-meter track sessions at their top speed, although they were not allowed to use a device to judge their running speed in real-time. Before each lap, participants were asked to perform one of three warm-up routines:
- A standard physical warm-up.
- A physical warm-up with some simple cognitive tasks.
- A physical warm-up with more challenging cognitive tasks.
The physical warm-up included jogging, strides, stretching and some explosive drills. The cognitive section involved short tasks that challenged focus, quick decision-making and attention-switching.
Anyone who has pushed themselves while running knows that it is more than just a physical sport. At some point, your body starts to physically ache, and your brain either convinces you to keep going or to back off the exercise. Researchers were interested to see if engaging the brain during the physical warm-up stage could prepare your mind for the part of the race where your body starts to hurt. The team found that runners that added a short brain teaser to their physical warm-up ran 2-3% faster than those who did a physical warm-up only.
So the next time you’re gearing up for a run, consider grabbing the crossword puzzle or trying the daily Wordle on your phone before beginning your physical warm-up routine. Engaging your brain can help it stay alert and push you to keep going when your body wants to physically shut it down!
If you’re a runner who is looking for more ways to improve their time or train for an upcoming race, click around on our website and check out many of the running-related blogs we’ve already penned. And of course, if you suffer a running-related injury or are dealing with symptoms that make it difficult to run as often as you’d like, connect with a foot and ankle specialist in your area to learn what you’re dealing with and to get set up with a targeted treatment plan.
Dr. Silverman will soon be accepting patients in the Scottsdale area, so if you need help with a foot or ankle issue, stay tuned to our contact page, as he’s expected to begin taking patients in late August 2026!