Morning runs

[wvjules]

Who runs first thing in the morning and do you like it?

We've been wanting to switch to running in the mornings (around 6:30) to avoid the evening heat and also to leave me time to do homework in the evenings but we can NEVER seem to get out of bed. I think I would be able to get out of bed if I weren't worried about the running wearing me out for the day. I'm sure it will give me a boost but what are your experiences? I don't want to be dragging all day.


lol @ morning runs

 

[FireDancer]

Unless it is a race I never run in the morning. If it is really hot I wait for the sun to go down and run in the evening. If you live in an area that you feel is safe for running at night and hate running in the morning it is another option.

 

[palmtreegirl]

I'm not a morning person so I usually run at around 7-8pm. My first 5K was the Expedition Everest challenge because it started at 8:30, been looking for more night races to do. I wanted to do the Halloween Family 5K but with a start time of 7am & I live 40 minutes away, well that's not happening. lol

 

[APrunner]

I usually run in the mornings. It is definitely cooler, take a look at the hourly forecast on weather.com. I feel better for the rest of the day. It does not cause me to "drag". For me, it frees up the evenings to spend time with the kids.

It does take getting used to though.

 

[MouseDogMom]

I've done both, and am currently running in the evenings due to schedules and not being able to drag myself out of bed. For a while though, I was getting up at 5:00 and running on the treadmill for an hour before work. I felt way more energized when I got to work than I do when I don't run beforehand, so you may find that you have more energy if you run in the morning. It took me a while to get used to it; when I first started running I couldn't get my body to wake up and adapt, but once I did I found I really liked it. My Saturday running group starts at either 6:30 or 7:00am, so I don't have a choice for my long runs.

 

[wvjules]

I think next week we will try the morning run. Our problem seems to be getting to bed at a decent hour. I'm usually a tired person during the day; maybe this will be the energy boost my body needs.

All running events we plan on doing are mornings so might as well learn to do them now.

 

[cewait]

Who runs first thing in the morning and do you like it?

We've been wanting to switch to running in the mornings (around 6:30) to avoid the evening heat and also to leave me time to do homework in the evenings but we can NEVER seem to get out of bed. I think I would be able to get out of bed if I weren't worried about the running wearing me out for the day. I'm sure it will give me a boost but what are your experiences? I don't want to be dragging all day.


lol @ morning runs

Actually run both (as well as teach a cycling (spinning) class at 5 am).

The benefits of running in the AM is that you are done and do not have to worry about it again. There is a camp that believes running on an empty tummy will help with fat loss. I say make a little time for a small easily digested 100-200 Kcal snack about 30 minutes pre-run. If you leave a small snack where you would get to it before you dress for your run it will become habit. I am of the camp that once winter hits you need to spend the better part of the first mile in a slow gear to warm you body up. Make sure you have a nice recovery breakfast as you cool down.

Most morning runners do not have a letdown during the day, but most folks in my circle will eat breakfast, have a mid morning snack, lunch, snack and then dinner. Smaller meals yet designed to prevent the mid morning sugar low. Note that the trade for getting up and running is an earlier bedtime. You still need your normal sleep. In the 15 years I have been up early I have developed a natural alarm mechanism that awakes me around 5:30. I would suggest getting up for 2-3 weeks solid (i.e. set a routine) even on non-running days. Go out for a walk or do another form of x-training.

If you do switch, make sure to allow enough cool down time! Here in Houston you can break out in a sweat between the garage door and car. I tend to experience a slight re-sweating experience once I get into the car on running mornings. Nothing major, but I know I need a little more time to get ready on those mornings.
The benefits of running in the evening are a lower chance of tight muscle injury and having a normalized blood sugar level, assuming you have not just eaten. Obviously the disbenefits include the afternoon heat.

This time of year when I am not really training for anything large I run long in the mornings. If I am running hills or another speed workout on a treadmill it is usually in the morning. But I love to get out and run when I get home from work. I will grab a small energy snack as I drive home. Then once home I am out running 15 minutes later. For me running and cycling at 4:30 in 97F & humid weather is a great way to beat the stress of the day off. I hydrate well through the day and carry water with me on my route. The benefit is that I do not eat a large dinner later in the evening as I am just no longer hungry. I am in tune with who I am and where my hydration levels are…. I tend to not run on high ozone days or when the heat index passes 110 – then it just hurts to be out.

 

[StacyMarie]

Morning runner here! I love it. I used to run in the evening but decided to switch due to the heat. I am done by 7:00 and don't have to worry about fitting it into my schedule later on if I don't feel like it. I also run on an empty stomach having just a bit of water before I go out. I run better in the a.m. after being rested. Try it, you might like it.

 

[MommyMcQueen]

I really don't like running in the morning either. I usually run afternoon/evenings depending on the temp. A few times I did morning runs I was definitely more tired all day long (like wanna-go-take-a-nap-tired). I am a fairly new runner and only been running 3 months, and I almost always go in the PM's, my body is definitely not trained to run in the morning.

Morning runs are pretty much out for me during the week since DH leaves for work at 5:15am, and there's no way for me to go with 2 little kids at home, so late afternoons/evenings work best during the week.

I have been doing my Saturday runs first thing in the morning for the last few weeks and they have been okay, this last one was tough, felt like I was dying from the first block...made for a long 6 miles. I just don't have anywhere near the energy in the mornings that I do at night, and even though I eat a small snack and drink before I head out I always end up feeling dehydrated. Last morning run I stopped home half way through to get a drink, and the second half of the run as much better. I'm hoping that over time and by doing more of them that I will get better at morning runs!! But I definitely prefer evenings too...

 

[crewmatt]

I prefer working out in the AM, but I also run in the evenings sometimes. I find it wakes me up and the sunrises can be quite pretty. I also row so thats another early morning sport, but I do find I goto sleep earlier. The other advantage of running early is that its not really in anythings way, you dont have a meeting that could run late, or work that needs to get done.

 

[kirkson]

Another vote for morning runs. here in SoCal, it's the coolest part of the day, and training for the DL Half all summer, its the only viable time to run. Even in the early evening, it's just too warm.

I am one of those who feels great and energized all day after a morning run. Also, fully agree with Coach Charles, though I am fortunate not to have to deal with the humidity. Poor air quality? yeah, you may have heard we have that here in LA

 

[wvjules]

We finally managed to get up and run this morning. I gotta tell ya...it wasn't easy (getting up or running). But I think that can be corrected. We rolled out of bed, brushed our teeth, drank a little bit of water and headed out the door. I think if we can actually get up earlier, have a bagel and water or gatorade, get dressed then run it will be better/easier. I do like the idea of it being done for the day though. That's what motivated me to get out of bed. I think we will try to continue with the AM runs through the summer.

 

[FireDancer]

We finally managed to get up and run this morning. I gotta tell ya...it wasn't easy (getting up or running). But I think that can be corrected. We rolled out of bed, brushed our teeth, drank a little bit of water and headed out the door. I think if we can actually get up earlier, have a bagel and water or gatorade, get dressed then run it will be better/easier. I do like the idea of it being done for the day though. That's what motivated me to get out of bed. I think we will try to continue with the AM runs through the summer.

Glad you liked the AM run. Whatever it takes to get it in, right?

 

[es45]

We finally managed to get up and run this morning. I gotta tell ya...it wasn't easy (getting up or running). But I think that can be corrected. We rolled out of bed, brushed our teeth, drank a little bit of water and headed out the door. I think if we can actually get up earlier, have a bagel and water or gatorade, get dressed then run it will be better/easier. I do like the idea of it being done for the day though. That's what motivated me to get out of bed. I think we will try to continue with the AM runs through the summer.

I'm a morning runner too. It was 81 degrees this morning at 5 AM so that is a big reason why I run early.

 

[John VN]

Not sure if I am qualified to respond since I am a walker , but tomorrow I will be out the door at 3:00AM to start my bicycle ride and on Sunday I will be out the door by 4:00AM for my walk. It is so quiet and peaceful.

Guess I am lucky to be one of those early risers.

Update #1, out the door at 2:56AM and biked 125 miles.

Update #2, out the door at 4:00AM, walked to food store to do some shopping, dropped things off at home and got 12 miles of walking in.

AM exercising is the best

 

[roomthreeseventeen]

I love to run, but running is NOT worth losing sleep over.

 

[Lullabee]

As much as I am not a morning person, I have to vote for running early morning. My belly just is not happy with running when I've eaten anything within the last 5 or 6 hours. Wake up, half a soda and out the door for a run seems to work though. Then I feel so energized for my day! This does suck for hair looking nice for work though. Good luck either way!

 

[NeverlandClub23]

During the week I run at night (about 9:30 p.m. on the treadmill at home) but on my outside run on Saturday's I like to get up early and run. I go out to eat every Saturday so that can get in the way of the evenings and I like how when I go out it's so empty with not a lot of cars or other people and very peaceful (which is hard to get around here during tourist season). It also feels good to get home, take a shower, and still have a whole day left to do other stuff. Not to mention that lately it's been 100 degrees almost every day so it's nice to get out there when it's only 80 .

Good luck with sticking to mornings! It is a pain to get out of bed but it feels good when you're done.

 

[HockeyKat]

I've done both, and am currently running in the evenings due to schedules and not being able to drag myself out of bed. For a while though, I was getting up at 5:00 and running on the treadmill for an hour before work. I felt way more energized when I got to work than I do when I don't run beforehand, so you may find that you have more energy if you run in the morning. It took me a while to get used to it; when I first started running I couldn't get my body to wake up and adapt, but once I did I found I really liked it. My Saturday running group starts at either 6:30 or 7:00am, so I don't have a choice for my long runs.

Hey, I wonder if we are in the same running group? Mine does 6:30 or 7 as well, and I am in NC...

That being said, I hate mornings. I go with the running group because long runs suck alone, I need to get outside mileage for races, and it is freakin HOT here in NC in the summer so later in the day outside isn't happening.

I do most of my short run/walks on the treadmill at lunch, and then go back to work. I have done some after work but prefer the lunchtime workout, gets me energized for the rest of the day. After work I am tired and don't want to.

I did one last week only because my cat work me up at 6 and I couldn't get back to sleep. I felt like I just couldn't really get going the way I do at lunch.

Good luck!!

 

[MouseDogMom]

Hey, I wonder if we are in the same running group? Mine does 6:30 or 7 as well, and I am in NC...

I run with the Galloway group in Raleigh - all 400+ of us. And it is HOT. I don't care what time we start, it's not early enough to beat the heat once the mileage starts building.

Jackie