How (and why) I Wake Up Before 5am

Saturday morning I went out for a run before hitting the gym. As I don’t have another race until the Poland Spring Marathon Kick-off at the end of October and the weather was cool and the sky cloudy, I decided to just head out and decide along the way where to go and how long to run. Turns out, that’s a great way to run. (At least for me!) I ran through Battery Park, then up the esplanade through Battery Park City along the Hudson River, up the West Side Highway and back down. It was a great, comfortable run that ended up being about an hour long. I need to do more runs like this!

So, I like to run, and go to the gym, first thing in the morning. I’m a big fan of working out bright (or dark) and early for a few reasons, some of which are -

• I get it over and done with so I can move on with my day
• It gives me energy for the day (as long as I get enough sleep the night before)
• I don’t have to worry about fitting it in after work
• I much rather run when it’s cooler out in the morning than the heat of the day (more important during the summer, than now)

The truth is though, I haven’t always been good at waking up early to workout and some days I really just want to hit snooze and go back to sleep. It seems that this has been happening more lately, but I’m working on getting back into the groove which is part of the reason why I thought it’s a good time to write about making the commitment to wake up and workout. It seems that 9 times out of 10, when I tell someone that Woody and I wake up at 4:50am to get to the gym, they are astonished, think we’re crazy, and say they could never do it themselves. 

While I know there are "night people" and "morning people", I do think that a lot of people who say they just can’t get up early, really could if they gave it a try. It’s not easy at first, but it is doable. It’s like working out in general – if you want to do it, you have to make it a priority and make some adjustments in your life to make it happen.

Here are some of my tips for making time to workout in the morning -

• Start gradually. Set your alarm 10-15 minutes earlier every Monday until you’re setting it for the time you need to get up for a good workout. And get up at that time at least 3 (but 4 is better) days each week. For the first few weeks, just spend that extra time stretching and getting used to waking up a little earlier.
• Go to bed earlier. You still need the same amount, if not more, sleep. Sleep is so important to a healthy life and something we often overlook and give up to fit other things in. [This is what I’ve been having trouble with lately which has been hurting my early morning wake-ups]
• If you need to, set two alarms. Or put your alarm a few feet from your bed so you have to get up to turn it off.
• Put your gear out the night before so you don’t have to think about it, or spend the time on it, in the morning.
• Have a buddy. While I started my early morning routine on my own, I find that it’s really helpful that Woody’s on the same schedule. It’s definitely harder to get out of bed when he’s still sound asleep. It just looks so good.
• Don’t think about it, just do it. I find that if I hesitate when my alarm goes off, I’ll want to go back to sleep. But if I just turn off the alarm and get up right away, I’ll get to it. Remind yourself of why you need to get up. Do you have a race coming up that you’re training for? Are you meeting a friend or trainer? Are you hoping to lose a few pounds? Are you trying to lower your blood pressure? Think of your goal, not the pillow!
• If you really want to work out the next day, don’t drink (or limit drinks) at night. It’s so much harder to wake up after a night which includes a few cocktails or glasses of wine.

So, there you have it. On the weekend we get up a little after 7 because our gym doesn't open until 8am and I usually go for a run on the weekend anyway. We find this time works well either way, so we get up and going and don’t waste the weekend.

Obviously it really helps that we live close to our gym, that we have another (small) gym in our building we can use in a pinch and there are plenty of safe places to run. But even if you don’t have all this close to you, there are great websites that offer workouts for streaming and you don’t need much to start a routine in your home. Just a little space (which is what we’re short on here)!

Questions:
When do you workout?
Did I miss any good tips?
What goal are you working towards right now?
What are you looking forward to this week?

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Today’s workout -

• 40min elliptical
• 3x10 weighted side bends
• 3x10 pully side twists
• 3x10 row
• 3x10 back extensions
• ab exercises
• stretching

Sometimes A Run Can Surprise You

I woke up this morning with stiff and aching muscles still from my 12 miler on Sunday. It was cold and dark outside. I was not all that enthusiastic about this run. Truthfully, my first instinct was to stay under the covers and go back to sleep. When I trained for the marathon I hit a point where I was on the edge of being burned out. It might not happen for everyone, but I found that following a training plan week after week and really got to be exhausting. I just wanted to wake up and do what I wanted to do – be it a run or the elliptical a class or just sleep in. I did get over that bump then and at first when I woke up this morning I felt that burn out coming on now that I’m in my 9th week of training. BUT, I reminded myself that I only have one more week after this one and I only had 3 miles to do so I got up and got ready!

Today was the first time this season I wore capri pants and a long sleeve top for my run. It was only 50 degrees and the sun wouldn’t be up before I finished so I decided to go with it. Thankfully I did because it was pretty windy out there.

Right from the start my legs felt pretty fresh and I was feeling much better than I had expected. I cruised along and before I knew it I was done! After running 12 miles two days ago, 3 miles is nothing. It’s funny how that happens, right?

This is big news for me, probably not for most of you, but yesterday it was announced that the Michigan State/U of M football game that we are going to the day before the Detroit Half Marathon is going to start at NOON!! This was the best possibility and I’m SO unbelievably relieved it isn’t a night game or even a 3:30pm start. This means we’ll get to the hotel in Detroit at a fairly reasonable time and I’ll be able to get to sleep before midnight! I had such a huge feeling of relief when I read it on twitter!

Okay, pumpkin banana oatmeal time! Have a great day!

• Do you sometimes have to push yourself to get out there for a run, only to have a great one?
• Are you a pumpkin person or not?

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Today’s workout -

• 3 mile run
• ab exercises
• stretching

Late Sunrises Mean Running in the Dark

I had an easy 3 mile run on the schedule Tuesday morning but because it’s now super dark in the morning when I wake up and get going, I wanted to try a new route that keeps me in well-lit, public spaces. When running early in the morning, it’s really important to be smart and stay safe. There aren’t a whole lot of people out and about yet, so you can’t zone out and fall into your own little world when running at 5:30am. Running in the morning doesn’t do you any good if you’re not safe!

This is the route I took (thanks for the map DailyMile!)

I started at my usual point, ran along the water, then up Broadway, around City Hall Park, back towards the water and finished in a small park near our building. I have mixed feelings about this route.

Pros:

• Safer in the dark
• Nice to mix things up
• More hills than my usual route

Cons:

• More people to dodge
• Have to contend with traffic lights and construction
• Loud trucks and cars

So, I guess there are as many pros and cons about the new route and it evens out. I know the safety factor trumps the smelly trash on the sidewalks and having to dodge people on their way to/from work or the bar. At least fewer people honk their horns at that time of day!

Today I tried another version of this route to add on another mile. I don’t mind running the streets too much, but I much prefer to run along the water or in the park. It’s just more relaxing.

• Do you change your route depending on what time of day you run?
• What do you prefer? City streets, parks, or rural roads for your runs?
• What safety precautions do you take when you run?

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Yesterday’s workout -

• 40min stationary bike
• 2x20 seated row
• ab exercises
• stretching

Today’s workout -

• 4mile run
• ab exercises
• stretching