Tuesday, May 19, 2009

morning runner?


I don't know how many times I've said, "Gosh, I should really get up in the morning and run." Yet I don't. The rare times I have (mostly on weekend long runs because I have something going on that evening) have sucked. But now, more and more the morning run seems to entice me. What do I do when I need to make a LIFE ALTERING (ha) decision? Pros and cons list, duh.

Pro Morning Running

  • Taylor works at 5:30am, so he has to get up at 4:30-4:45am. Because I'm a light sleeper, I'm also up until he leaves at 5am-ish.
  • I could go to bed at the same time as him and get up and go when he does. Genius.
  • It could make me more successful in races because races are in the morning, therefore training in the morning should make me a machine. :)
  • It's going to get hot. I've gotten in the habit of running after work 5-6pm during the weeks, and that is not going to fly. Today's forecast is 90 degrees at 5pm. Holy meltage.
  • By running in the morning, I would have more time after work to hang with friends/boyfriend.

Con Morning Running

  • Ugh. 4:30am is EARLY.
  • Going to bed at 9:30pm is LAME. (sorry Tay).
  • Past morning runs have suuuuuuuuuuuuuucked.
  • I'm starving in the morning, but can't eat more than an hour or so before my run or my stomach is upset. Therefore, I starve on the run or have intense side crampage.
  • Part of the reason I eat so healthy all day long is knowing that what I put in is fueling my body for my run in the evening. Running in the morning would throw this out the window.
  • I've always been an evening worker-outer. In high school, we had practice right after school, or games in the evening. In college, I had intramurals after supper and went to the gym after that.
  • I'd have to shower at Taylor's most mornings (EEEEW). He's not eew, but he has a roommate, and I know how often that shower has been cleaned=zero.

With this being said, I think I need to give morning running a try. Most of the cons are whiney Jeri. And the pros are pretty legit. For the first two weeks of June (Drumroll please) I will become a morning runner (said with a thunderous clap in the background). Is anyone else imagining a super hero version of myself, hands on hips, with a cape billowing behind me with an old school alarm clock and sunrise? No? Only me...ok then.

Either way I'm going to have to switch up my routine, by running later 9ish, or butt @$$ crack of dawn. If two weeks is horrendous, I'll quit and go back to the evening runs. Although I do know from past experience, I am a lot more likely to "skip" runs in the evening. Oh who am I kidding, last falls half marathon training I was likely to skip all runs. Eek.

Are you a morning runner? Were you ever as anti-morning runner as me? Any awesome motivating factors?

This daisy is going on 2 weeks and is just the prettiest thing in my apartment right now. :)


8 comments:

Mica said...

I used to be an evening-only runner, but then I all of a sudden, I started running in the morning because I wanted to get it out of the way. I make sure to sit around for about 30 minutes though before I head out. Best of luck with the transition, if you decide to stick with it.

Jamie said...

I am anti-morning runner most days. It hurts and I love sleep. Luckily when I work from home I'm able to get out there in the afternoon which is ideal. Good luck with trying the morning running! 4:30 am is early!

J said...

It is so worth it to have the run done in the morning and not hanging over your head ALL day. I used to not be a morning runner, but with trying to avoid the heat, I am, and it sucks at first, but halfway through the run you are so glad you got up.

I also have issues with eating/not eating before a run and have finally figured it out (for me, at least). I have to give myself about 20 or 30 minutes to digest (which means sit around checking e-mail waiting to go out the door), but I can handle a banana, and if I will have a bit more time (like 40 minutes) I can also handle toast with Peanut butter. I hope you figure out what works for you!

Kim said...

I used to be a morning runner until I started working. Now I have to get up at 5:30 to get downtown. I've been getting up at 4:30, to get to work at 7:00, so I can be home by 6:00, and run in the evening... blah.

I do run in the mornings on the weekends though, becaues of the heat. I am more likely to eat healthy if I know I am running later too!

Good luck! I bet you will really start to like it!

J said...

I love love those daisy's! They are so pretty!

I am a morning runner! And it is really awesome, sometimes it is hard to get up but then you get the workout in and can relax at night. Glad you are going to give it a try!!

MOMMY-MOMO said...

I want to be a morning runner as well! If i just got it over with then i have the day to enjoy hehe.

check out my new Momo- Runner blog!

Tony said...

I used to be a morning runner, but after a while I just missed my sleep. I did feel amazing for the rest of the day though knowing I finished my run and had the day to do anything else.

Aron said...

I have a hard time getting up too but when I do I am always SO glad I did! I love having my evenings off and I love how peaceful morning runs are. Plus in the summer its light early and the weather is perfect. Its hard in the winter when its really cold and dark but its still fun :)