How I Discovered I Love to Do Morning Runs - Runner's World

Own Your Morning Run. How Running Can Help Improve Your Sleep Quality. Any time I vowed to wake up, get a run in, telling myself I'd feel ... SearchRunner’sWorld+MembershipPerksMeetRW+MembersDownloadTrainingPlansFindaDealGetExpertAdviceExclusiveStoriesShopEditors’PicksTrainingPlansWorkoutsRWApparelSaleSubscribeRunner’sWorld2022CalendarTrainingMarathonTrainingHalfMarathonTrainingTrainingPlansStrengthTrainingCrossTrainingWorkoutsHealth&InjuriesPronationITBandSyndromeRunner'sKneeShinSplintsPlantarFasciitisNutrition&WeightLossDailyCaloriesCalculatorBMICalculatorRunningShoes&GearAllGear&AccessoriesAllShoesBestRunningShoesCompressionGearMinimalistRunningShoesShoeGuideBestWalkingShoesWhattoWearToolBestWirelessEarbudsBestTreadmillsGPSRunningWatchesSocksforRunnersWinterRunningHatsBestJoggingStrollersHighImpactSportsBrasRunningHeadlampsBeginnerRunningTipsKidsRunningStartRunningAdvancedIntervalRunningTempoRunBarefootRunningTaperingToolsRunningPaceCalculatorRaceTimesPredictorAgeGradeCalculatorPaceConverterTrainingPaceCalculatorCaloriesBurnedCalculatorRunWalkPaceCalculatorRaces&PlacesRaceFinderChicagoMarathonNewYorkCityMarathonBostonMarathonNewsRunner'sStoriesTrailRunningTrailRunningGearWomenGiftsSales&DealsNewsletterFollowFacebookTwitterPinterestInstagramYouTubeUnitedStatesUSUKEspañaNederlandDoNotSellMyPersonalInformationSkiptoContentShoes&GearTrainingHealth&InjuriesMustReadRunner’sWorld+SubscribesigninWeearnacommissionforproductspurchasedthroughsomelinksinthisarticle.WhyTrustUs?AleksandarNakic//GettyImagesThoughitgoescountertothepreferreddoctrine,Itendtothriveonlessthaneighthoursofsleep.I’vebeenanightowlmostofmyexistence,andusuallyonlygetfivetosixhoursofshuteye.There’salwaysagooddocumentarytowatchlateatnightoracomedytobingebeforegoingtobed.ButI’veneverreallyworriedaboutit,becausebeingproductiveinthemorninghasneverbeenanissue,whetherI’mdoingchoresaroundthehomeor(beforeworkingfromhomewasthenorm)gettingintotheofficeearlytogetahead.Severalyearsback,however,therewasonethingI’dneverbeenabletomasterbecauseofthistypeofschedule:morningruns.RelatedStoriesOwnYourMorningRunHowRunningCanHelpImproveYourSleepQualityAnytimeIvowedtowakeup,getarunin,tellingmyselfI’dfeelgreattherestoftheday,Iwouldeitherturnoffthealarm,orI’dgroggilystumbleoutofbedandruntheequivalentof“junkmiles”duringacrappyouting.MoreFromRunner'sWorld Butwhenworkandmypersonallifestartedconspiringagainstme,itmademytypicalroutinescrumble.AtthetimeIwastrainingforamarathon,andwhileIwouldnormallyscheduleseveraldaysaweekforlunchruns—aperkthatcomeswiththejobhereatRunner’sWorld—myafternoonshadbeentiedupwithothertasks.Sure,Icouldhavetriedrunningatnight,butthatissacredlate-nightTVtime—aguyneedstorelax.No,ifIwantedtogetinmytraining,morningworkoutsweretheonlyrealoption.SoItriedanexperimentin2017andcommittedtotryingtomasterthemorningrunfor15days.Thegoalwastohavealleasy-dayrunscompletedwellbefore8a.m.(whenIstartwork)andmyweekendlongrunstostartnolaterthan7a.m.IwasabletowakeupeverydayfrommidApriluntiltheendofthemonth,buttheprocesswasn’talwayseasy.AlongthewayIlearnedwhatworksforme,whatdoesn’t,andsomelittletricksthatcouldbehelpfulforallrunners.Here’showitallplayedoutafewyearsback.ViewfullpostonInstagramThatLittleProblemofWakingUpUnlikethe“UpsideDown”fromStrangerThings,earlymorningsarenotsomeunknownworldthatIhaveneverexperiencedbefore.I’dalwaysdonemyweekendlongrunsearly-ish,andduringafewmarathontrainingcycles,theonlytimeIcouldregularlyplanmyspeedworkwasonThursdaymorningsstartingat6a.m.Thiscontentisimportedfrompoll.Youmaybeabletofindthesamecontentinanotherformat,oryoumaybeabletofindmoreinformation,attheirwebsite.I’dbeendoingthese6a.m.workoutsonalocalcollegetrackformostoftheyearineitherblustery,frigidcold,orsnowyconditions.It’sthetypeofweatherwhereitfeelsdifficulttoreallyopenupforatruehardworkout.Oh,andthefieldlightswereneveron.Butitwassomehowlovely,andgratifyingtofinishthesehardrunsinthedark,inabsolutesolitude,asundergradsinnearbydormsremainedasleep.RelatedStoryHowtoPrepforRunningWhenIt’sColdOutSo“Thursdaymorningspeedworkouts”and“Saturdaymorninglongruns?”Noproblem.Butthat’sbecauseIspenttimedevelopingthathabit.IfearedthatgettingupMondaymorningtodo4milesknowingIhadtodothesamethingeveryotherdaythatweekwouldbemoreproblematic.Tomakethisexperimentwork,IdecidedtomimicmyThursdaymorningroutineforweekdayruns,whichmeantsettingmyiPhonealarmclockto5:01a.m.(thatminutemakesadifference,mentally,soIdon’tfeellikeI’mgettingupquiteasearly),withabackupalarmat5:30a.m.AndIbeganmytwoweekjourneyonaThursdaymorning,hopingthatmyalready-regularhabitwouldcarrymethroughthedifficultadjustment.Istartedwithaclassicworkoutof6x800repeats(alsoknownasYasso800s).Itwentswimmingly.Itwasafantasticstart.4FitnessTrackersWithSleepTrackingMostPremiumGarminGarminForerunner945$460atAmazonForAndroidUsersSamsungSamsungGalaxyWatchActive$200atAmazonSlim&StylishGarminGarminvívosmart4$220atAmazonGreatDealFitbitFitbitCharge4Now32%Off$102atAmazonWhatwasn’tsofantasticwasthenextmorning.Ididn’tdoanyprepthenightbeforeforamorningrun,Imentallyignoredthealarms,andIendedupwakinginapanicandthrowingonsomeclothesfora7a.m.run.Ispentaterrible5.5milessloggingthrough,andworryingaboutthedayahead.RelatedStoryHowtoRecoverFromCrappySleepSothemissionbecameclear:eachnightbeforegoingtobed,Iwouldplanoutmyrunandroute,putoutworkoutclothes,andprepmylunch—andthecoffeemakerifIwantedsomeforaftertherun.ThatwayIwouldn’tneedtomakeanyofthesedecisionsfromthedepthsofamorningfog.Oh,andIneededtofindabetterwaytomakethealarmactuallyjoltmeawake.Thelastpartwasthetrickiest.TheonlywayIcouldmentallygetpasthittingthesnoozebuttonwasbykeepingahandonmyphonewhenIwokeup.IfIjumpedintoanapp—myemail,calendar,bankaccount,ormorningnewsletters—thestimulationandbluelightwasjustenoughtojumpstartmymind/bodyconnection,andformetoswingmylegsoutofbed.OffIwent.FiguringOutMyStomachBeingunfamiliarwithconstantmorningrunsmeantIwasalsonotsofamiliarwithhowmygutworkedthatearly.Thiswasespeciallytrueinthefirstfewdaysofmymorning-runventure.Oneachofthoseinitialruns(besidestheveryfirst,wheremybodywasfamiliarwithdoingspeedworkoutsatthathour)Iwasinterruptedmidrunbyafranticneedtofindarestroomor,let’sbehonest,secludedspotoutofview.RelatedStories6Science-BackedWaystoMakeYourselfPoopHowtoAvoidStomachIssuesDuringaRunLuckily,thereareplentyofresourcesatRunner’sWorldIcouldturntotofigureouttheculprit.Becauseeveryone’snumber2habitswillbedifferent,herearethemainitemsthathelpedmakemymorningrunslesspanickyasIheadedintomysecondweek.IfIwokeupfeelingalittlefullbutcouldn’tgo,Imovedalittlemore,doingsomedynamicwarmupmovesthatItendtoneglect.(This2-minutewarmupseemedtodothetrick.)I’mabigfanofasmallbowlofcerealorcupoficecreamintheevening.Icutthatout(orateitearlier)knowingitcouldbeanissue.IfIneededanibbleofcereal,Iusedmywife’salmondmilkinstead.AnothergoodtipIonceheard:Makesureyouloopbacktoyourhomewithinthefirsttwomiles,orchoosearoutewithaplethoraoftoiletoptions.Assimpleasallofthesesound,implementingthemasIheadedintothesecondweekeasedthetensiononmymindand,inturn,belly.Thisallowedmetoembracetherunmoreeachday.ViewfullpostonInstagramRestDaysShouldFeelEasyOnebigstumblingblockforthemorningruninthefirstweekofthisexperimentwassimplyadjustingtohowIfelttryingtoshakeofftherustandheadoutthedoorimmediately.Thefiveminutesittookmetobrushmyteeth,putinmycontacts,andgetdressedforarunwasn’tenoughtofullyadjusttobeingup.Maybemybrainwasstartingtofireonallfourcylinders,butmybodywasn’t.MykneesandquadsoftenfeltstiffasIwentoutonwhatshouldhavebeenaneasythreetofivemilejaunt,andmylegsfeltlikerustypogosticksjerkingupanddownovertheroad.Itypicallyhita7:30milepacewhenIdomyeasydaylunchruns,butgettingpastthe8:00minutemarkbecamearealstruggle.Afterafewdays,Icametotherealizationthatthismightnotbetheworstthing.OnearticlespelledoutthetrainingqualitiesthatoftenleadtoBostonMarathonqualifyingtimesforrunners.Oneofmybiggesttakeaways?PeoplewhospendtoomuchoftheirtimetrainingnearthatBQ-pacestandardendupNOTqualifyingintheend.However,whenmalerunnerssavedtheirhardworkouts(speedsessionsorlongtemporuns)attheirgoalpaceorfaster—about15percentoftheirtotaltraining—theyhadfarmoresuccess.Sobackingoffmyspeedypaceactuallywouldn’tbetheworstthingintheworld.WiththeabilitytoignorethebeepsofmyGarmin,InoticedthatIcouldtakeinmysurroundingsmuchbetter.Therewerebreathtakingskiesasthesunwasrisingoverheadintheparksituatednearmyhome.Afewtimes,innorush,Iraninthedewonthemorninggrass,lettingthewetnesshelpcleanoffmyshoes.ThatwouldneverhappenifIwastryinghardduringalunchoreveningrun.Thosepleasantmorningshelpedremindmethatnoteveryrunhastofeellikearace.ItalsoleadtobiggergainswhenIdidwanttohaveagreateffort.ViewfullpostonInstagramTheLightbulbMomentIhadforgottenthatwhenIdomyThursdayspeedworkoutsonthetrack,Iamawakeforatleast30minutesdrivingtothestadium.Plus,Ihadlearnedtoforcemyselftowarmupforatleasttwomilesbeforetryingtohitmyintendedpaces.AsIgotthroughthatfirstweekwakingupeachmorning,Isettledintoa5a.m.wakeupschedule,gettingoutofbedby5:15andoutthedoorafteratleast30minutes.Nothingwaschangingwhenitcametorunningnearmynormaltrainingpaceforanythingbutaspeedeffort.Forthebiggestlongrunofmytrainingcycle—22milesonaSaturdaymorningwhereIwantedtorunnearmymarathongoalpaceof6:51—Ineededanewplanofaction.Afterreadingaboutonebizarrewaytotrainforthemorningofarace—wakeup,giveyourselfsometimetositaround,grababitetoeat,andgetthatfinalbathroomstopin—IdecidedtoplanoutoneweekendlongrunjustasIwouldformyracenearlyamonthout.Formyscheduled7a.m.race,thatmeantrousingmyselfoutofbedaround5a.m.,takingaquickshower,andgettingasmallbreakfastofabagelwithpeanutbutterandbanana.Alongwithtakingsomeextratimetolistentoafewminutesofmyfavoriterunningplaylist,Iwasoutthedoorby7a.m.withafocusedmindandhappybelly.AndInailedthislongouting.HavingtheextratimetowakeupandprepwasahiddenXfactorthatIneverthoughtwouldbesobeneficial,andIkepttothesamescripttwoweekslateronanotherlongrun.Butthere’salsothefactthatmybody—nowmoreadaptedtotheroutine—wasstartingtoactuallylikethesemorningruns.IfIwantedtorunagainatlunchorintheevening,IknewthatIcould.(Andbecausemostdayswereeasy,itwasnevertaxingonmylegs.)Thismademydayslessstressfuloverall,becauseifsomethingcameupthatwouldnormallykeepmefromaworkout,IknewthatIhadalreadyloggedmymiles.I’msurprisedtowritethis,butwhenthetwoweekswereoverandthespringmorningsbroughtalittlemorelighteachday,Istillwantedtodomostofmyrunsbefore7a.m.WhathadIbecome?Icanproudlysaythatsince2017,thistestturnedmeintoaprettydedicatedmorningrunner.Aboutthreeorfourdaysaweek,Igetupandoutthedoorwhenthetrafficislightaroundmyhomeandtheworldisquietaroundme.It’sanamazingwaytostarttheday,andIusuallyfeellikesomethingismissingwhenIdelaymyrunsforlaterintheafternoon.TheBestGearforSleepFitbitFitbitVersa2Now21%Off$119atAmazonYou’llfindsleep-trackingsoftwareinanyFitbityouchoose,buttheVersa2hasafancysmart-wakefeaturethatwakesyouupwhenyou’reinyourlightestphaseofsleep(seta30-minutewindow),soyoudon’tfeelgroggyduringyoura.m.run.AllswellMattressBuyNow|Queensstartat$375Boththe“supreme”andtheclassicAllswellmattressfeaturecopper-infusedfoamthattransfersheatawayfromthebody,helpingpreventalate-nightsweatsession.AllswellTuft&NeedleTuftandNeedle,PercaleSheetSet$100atAmazonMadefromAmerican-growncotton,thesenaturallytreated,chemical-freesheetsarebothbreathableandcooltothetouch.TherapedicTherapedicWeightedEyeMask$15atBedBathandBeyondCredit:BedBathandBeyondTravelwithaneyemasktoblockoutlightintheabsenceofblackoutcurtains.Thisoneisslightlyweighted,whichmayhelpsootheamildtrainingheadache.BrianDalekDirectorofContentOperations,Runner’sWorld&BicyclingBrianhasspentthelast10yearsfocusedoncreatingcompellingnews,health,andfitnesscontent—withaparticularinterestonenthusiastactivitieslikerunningandcycling.He’scoordinatedcoverageofmajoreventsliketheBostonMarathon,NewYorkCityMarathon,andTourdeFrance,withaneyetowardboththeprofessionalraceandtheengagingstoriesreaderslove.Let'sRise:RoutinestoRe-EnergizeYourMornings(andYourTraining)OwnYourMorningRunFromRunner'sWorldforWestin5TravelHacksForRunnersFromRunner'sWorldforWestinQuestionstoAskBeforeRegisteringforaRaceSpringHasSprung...andWeAreStokedAboutIt!Advertisement-ContinueReadingBelowHowBeetJuiceShotsMightHelpYouPR5ProvenHealthBenefitsofCoffeeTryaSavoryOatmealRecipeBeforeYourNextRunThisEasyFormFixCouldMakeYouRunFasterRunners’StoriesFromRunner'sWorldforBrooksRunningHelpedMeBringPeopleTogetherRunningHelpsThisMom’sMental,PhysicalHealthFromRunner'sWorldforFleetFeetRunningThroughLoss—andTowardCommunityAfteraCancerDiagnosis,ThisRunnerTackled26.2Advertisement-ContinueReadingBelow