Getting up with the birds
Today marked a rare occurrence of getting up and out the door a few minutes before 6:30 a.m. to run 3.5 miles. The alarm clock didn’t go off — I just got up and ran (after a trip to the bathroom, of course).
It sounds so easy, right? WRONG. If it was easy, I’d be a full-time morning runner. I generally have no problems doing this on the weekend. Even last year when I was going for really long runs on the weekend I could set the alarm for 5:30 and be out the door before Big Red made it’s daily rising.
This past winter, though, with nothing to train for except getting healthy, even weekend morning running took a back seat. I get up with my son — usually between 7 and 7:30 a.m. — and hang out with him for an hour or so before my wife gets up. I’ve been doing those runs closer to 9 a.m. or so. Don’t take that the wrong way though — I love that extra time with my son on the weekend and it’s often the only time it’s just the two of us.
All this being said, I am awful with weekday morning running. I’ve done it before, back when I had a job in which I didn’t have to be at work until 9 a.m. When I first started running in 2004 I worked evenings, which made it even easier to run in the morning, but that was more mid-morning.
Now, though, I have to be at work at 8 a.m. On paper, it seems easy: get up at 5:45 a.m., do whatever it is I need to do before running and get out the door around 6 a.m., give or take a few minutes. That allows me enough time to run 4-5 miles and still have plenty of time to get ready, eat breakfast, hang out with my son for 15 minutes and get to work on time.
Running in the morning isn’t a wish … it’s something I need to do in order for the next six months to go well. That’s right, need. Here’s why:
My son’s bed time is getting later. He’s a great sleeper, but as he gets closer to 3 years old, his bedtime is getting closer to 8 p.m. Before it was regularly 7 p.m., but those days are gone. It’s funny to tell other people when he goes to bed, but guess what?!? Kids need that much sleep. They shouldn’t be staying up with you until 9 or 10 p.m. or catching the late local news, and then turning around and getting up at 7 a.m. [end rant] … so for me as a family man, I love the evening time I get to spend with my son (and of course my wife). Those couple of hours or so at the end of the day are the only times during the week that I get to spend with him, so I’d rather not go out for a run if I get an extra half hour with him.- The weather is quickly changing. As the weather gets warmer and the humidity creeps up, afternoon storms can really ruin running plans. The rain I can handle; the thunder and lightning are another story. I actually don’t have any issues with the heat, and here in Virginia the humidity sucks just as much in the morning as it does in the evening.
- My wife needs the freedom in the evenings. With her stay-at-home Mary Kay business, evenings are prime time for meeting customers, dropping off products, meeting potential team members … the more time she has to do that, the sooner we can drive that pink Cadillac to race expos near and far.
- I need to set the tone for my days better. From my past experience I know that running in the morning helps set the tone for the day and leads to better decision making with food. No matter what time of the day I run, I need that, but I know getting up with the birds helps the process.
- My dog Duke is a better morning runner. He’s driven me crazy on the leash lately, but I was reminded this morning how much better he is in the morning. Other cruel dog owners don’t have their dogs tied up in the front yard early in the day, which keeps him and me calmer. While my dog is so great with my son and good in the house, he seems even more grounded when he’s getting his regular runs in.
- Lastly, for now, this also isn’t “need,” but I sure do like waking up with nature. Hearing the birds sing, watching the sunrise, occasionally hearing a rooster crow … it’s good for the mind, and there’s definitely nothing wrong with that.
Image: Paul / FreeDigitalPhotos.net
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I love this post! I am not a morning person, not even on the weekends. I'm actually worse then. I have to use an alarm to wake up in the morning. I was running early on weekdays last year while I was training for my 10K at the MCM in Washington DC. After that was over, I stopped. I'm older, near 50, and my muscles aren't really good for much early on. Running was fine, but any weight lifting - forget it. Just not flexible enough to do it that early!
I can't run every day, so getting up early on odd days is even harder for me. But I digress. I agree with your reasons about a good run setting the tone for the day. I'm more energized, happier, and love knowing my workout is done!
Good luck! You sound more likely to be able to get that early run in than I am and I know you'll get back into the habit again!
I've been an o'dark-thirty exerciser ever since I started because that was the time that family and work wouldn't interfere (or vice versa). I am totally hooked on my morning shot of endorphins.
5:45AM is ALL? Get your bum out of bed. I have to get up at 4:45AM for a decent amount of time. And you don't even have to blow dry your hair into shape before work.
The 2nd bullet, so it doesn't storm in the morning there? BHAHA. kidding.
The 4th bullet, I'm completely opposite, after running I tend to eat more garbage.
5th bullet, also opposite, my dog is stupid.
6th bullet, you have fun with the birds!!!!
I'm so with you on so many of these reasons to be an early morning runner (setting the tone for the day, time with the kids, connecting with nature). I've been trying to make the transition - only a week under my belt but so far so good.
Agree with Steena… get yer bum out of bed!
I quite often set my alarm for sometime between 5:30 and 6:00. I don't start work until 7, so this would leave me time to get up and get a workout in.
I can't do it though. I almost always reset the alarm for 7 and go back to sleep
I used to be able to get up early with no issue whatsoever, what the heck happened?!
You know, I don't work outside of the house but having that time in the evening with Tre and the girls before they go to bed (they both go to bed at 7-7:30 by the way so I hear ya on the kiddos getting sleep) is golden!! I normally run mid-morning at the gym but getting it done first thing OUTSIDE would be good for me. I have to work it out with Tre's schedule too since he likes to go to work at crazy hours but I am thinking I can talk him in to leaving a little later at least twice a week.
Ok, I'm almost convinced