The Ealing Half Marathon is just around the corner, with the tough 13.1 mile race taking place on Sunday September 25.

And if you feel like you haven't quite done enough preparation for the long run, which will take place on closed roads around Ealing borough , a good warm up is essential to make sure you finish.

On race day, make sure you have a balanced and healthy breakfast, drink plenty of water, and follow our tips on how to warm up, and you'll be fighting fit... As long as you don't forget your race number!

The Ealing Half Marathon

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Here are our top tips for the perfect warm-up for the gruelling race to ensure you avoid injury and enjoy your time!

Don't stretch!

It's a common misconception that you should stretch before you exercise; in fact, stretching doesn't protect your joints or warm up your muscles, so it doesn't provide an effective warm-up.

The best time to stretch out is immediately after your cool-down, which helps reduce soreness and minimise any damage. The ideal routine should be: warm-up, run, walk (as a cool-down), then stretch.

Get your joints moving

Gentle movements of the neck, shoulders, waist, hips, knees and ankles will help you loosen up. Think of the little exercises air stewards tell you to complete on long-haul flights.

Go for a walk

Begin your warm-up by walking, steadily progressing your speed into a slow jog, then slow down and repeat. The light exercise will prepare your body for more movement.

Hamstring swings

Put your hamstrings through a range of movements, without the impact of running on the road, to prevent injury.

Reverse walking

Walking backwards activates the gluteal muscles, which helps to stabilise your pelvis while running.

Short runs

Finish your warm-up with 25m runs, accelerating from a slow start to a brisk pace. This will get your heart beating and blood flowing easily to your muscles.

Remember your equipment is also as important as your training and warm-up so make sure you've got the right gear on, including a good pair of trainers.

Take a look back at 2015's Ealing Half Marathon in our photo gallery.