During the week I run in the evening after work. However, I often work quite late and it would suit me better to swap one or two runs to early morning (especially in summer).
I'm able to force myself from under the duvet at 6.30 OK (well, reasonably OK) but I lack energy and my muscles feel stiff at this time of day (obvious, I suppose).
How do early bird runners cope with this? I do eat a banana, drink some water and stretch gently before I go out. Anything else I could be doing?
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I immediately eat a bowl of cereal with lots of semi-skimmed milk and have cup of tea. I then read the paper or do chores for an hour and then go and run.
The hours delay seems to help my body get up to speed although the first 10 minutes of running still feel tough. Thereafter its not a problem.
If I am going for a run longer than 40 minutes I will also drink 500mls of water or Lucozade with the breakfast.
I've tried getting up for an early run and fail miserably everytime. Now I stick to plodding after work!
Simon
I find i can run quite happily at 7 o'clock on a saturday or sunday,(with out eating first!) but in the weekday a 6.30 run is completely out of the question.
I personally think it is all phsycological at the weekend you know you can come back and relax for the rest of hte day but in the week day i know i probably wont have a chance to rest till about 7pm
Not sure if this will help much but I am an early bird, I set the alarm for 6 and then hop out, get dressed and out the door in about 10 mins after stretches. I may have a sip of water but nothing else and off I go. I find that I am fine and doing it this way means that I am not awake enough to talk myself out of plodding. Also there is hardly anybody around to see me plodding around. Maybe when I am running for longer I may have to alter my routine but I feel fine doing this way. I do drink a lot of water normally during the day so I am fairly well hydrated I think.
Good luck ,try it and see.
I find it hard to run early but living in Naples in Italy, I'm having to from 2 weeks ago until mid-september, just because its too hot during the day.
I get up at 5am do the usual morning stuff and drive to work then I'm usually running by 6:15. I eat a bowl of cereal BEFORE I go to bed in the evening!. I've found that trying to eat before running so early in the morning just does not work for me. I then have a bowl at work after my shower.
When I started running so early 2 weeks ago I found it a real struggle and all my times were around a minute or so slower than normal. This week though I've got into my stride and seem to be back to normal - had a great 8 miles this morning!!
Stick with it and try eating before going to bed - probably not the best thing to do but it works for me.
Cheers
I am an early bird too up and out for run by 6am i have a pint of water before i leave and a banana.I have tons of energy and feel so refreshed from my morning run usually I don't see a soul I run down a wooded cycle track.
I too drink 2 litres through the day so I am well hydrated too.
Miles makes smiles.
Progression
I won't necessarily fall asleep but it does help me win the psychological battle when the 6am alarm goes off to know that I'm not going to be away from my bed for too long before I'm all snuggled up again - which is absolute heaven as I know I've earned it.
If I'm not doing that then I'm on the 6:01 from Woking and @ the Tottenham Ct Rd Y for 7:00.
I just don't feel the same if I don't exercise in the morning - it's like wearing a woolly hat inside your skull!
Keeps-Me-Happy Shambler!
When I run in the week I am generally out by 5.30 - run up to an hour. That gives me an hour to get ready for work (7.30 is the latest I can leave the house) - and most of the hour is needed to get my face back to its normal colour!
SJR
Slaphead - I'll try the evening cereal tactic.
Picketty - I leave for work about 8.15 so could run 6.30 to 7.30ish and still have time for shower/brekkie.
It really would make sense during the week to do this, as 12-hour working days are not unusual and getting my run "out of the way" in the morning would mean a 9pm finish wasn't such a nightmare. Right - tomorrow morning it is then!
I think whoever said you're either a morning runner or not is right. Like WP I get a real buzz from being up when not many people are around. My routes get me up high and in the winter I get this amazing view of dawn breaking over London....truly fantastic!
Slaphead - you lucky thing! Naples! We went to Sorrento last year - what a great area. One question though....how do you manage to drive and stay sane??? I was absolutely terrified.
Glad you enjoyed it. We 'popped' over to Capri a couple of weeks ago for something to do - loved the blue grotto! I know exactly what you mean about the driving - traffic lights are viewed as christmas decorations in Naples!. Its just crazy at times. I was stopped in a line of traffic at a T junction a few months ago and a horse trotted past - once I rubbed my eyes I had to do it again because it was being led by a bloke on a scooter!!! makes running a bit difficult sometimes but thats one of the advantages of running early - LESS traffic! You just have to drive like a Neopolitan to survive.
If you ever fancy a 10km race up Mt Vesuvius its held the first week in November and is British organised.
Regards
I believe that it is proven that running early morning is in fact a little slower, & I'm not sure that it would be wise to do any real speedwork early morning, but other than that I love it. This morning was lovely & bright, but cool as well. I ran for just over half an hour, & still left for work just after 7 o'clock. I feel refreshed & full of energy.
RRR - Hi, how are you? I'm ususally in bed by 11 and out cold by 12!
Like FatBloke and some of the others when I have the time, a day off work or before my longrun on a Sunday I also have some brekkie (toasted cinnamon and rasin bagel with almond butter and a banana) about 60-90 mins before I hit the road.
Just-Back-From-The-Gym Shambler!
I get up at 5am, drink a flask of hyper-strong coffee that I make the night before and get out of the door by 5:15.
Speed sessions can be a bit punishing so early in the day but the benefits of no cars or pedestrians being about means you don't have to break pace at junctions etc.
I generally will be in bed by 11 too but instead of taking an hour to get to sleep like you, I am out cold by 2 mins past 11!!!
I don't suffer from gettting to sleep at night however I am more of an insomniac early morning as I tend to wake up sill hours.
Are you at the next social?
Beer-Goggles-At-The-Ready Shambler!
RRR - I'm hopeless after about 10.30 but as I often wake up between 4-5am (insomnia not because I want to) I have to get some sleep sometime. Also, I do occassionally find myself nodding off in the middle of the day at work....
Slaphead - the thing that really got me was seeing mopeds with two adults on and a babies/toddlers squeezed between them! The marathon sounds incredible but as a someone whose only just got to grips with running 8 miles I think I'll leave it for this year! Enjoy your Limoncella afterwards though!
Have decided to run at this time on Tues and Thurs, longer plod Fri teatime and usual Sun afternoon plod. Will take more note of Fri and Sun times and just accept I'm a bit slower in the mornings.
Thanks for the advice, everyone.
Will be at the social too and probably a very happy bunny cause I go on hols on the Sunday for a week in the sun and will be in relax mode.
FlatFeet
I am identical to you in waking early too. Must say I don't sleep in the afternoon though.