I only have one tip for fitting my race training into my schedule, and that is to get up at dark o’clock and get it done! You may find better advice from Erika, Patty, and April, and others joining the Tuesdays on The Run Link-Up.
I wasn’t always a morning person. Before I had kids I would stay up until the wee hours of the morning and sleep until noon on weekends. But then I had kids who woke up at 6:00 or 7:00 no matter how late I stayed up, so I started going to bed earlier so I could get up when they did. When I started exercising (I didn’t always do that either!), I got up a little bit earlier so I could do an exercise video before I had to help them get ready for school. Now they are in college, but I still get up early to exercise in the morning. Why?
1. Early morning is “my” time. My husband goes to work earlier than I do, and likes to sleep in on weekends, so early morning is “my” time. While I could check my work email at 5:00 or 6:00 am, thank goodness none of my clients expect to hear from me at that time of day, no matter what “urgent” projects are in the works. The main reason I exercise in the morning is because I know nothing else will interfere.
2. Morning exercise starts my day off right. No matter what the rest of the day brings, if I’ve gone for a run or completed a solid strength routine, I feel good knowing that I’ve done something to take care of myself. Plus, I love the sense of accomplishment that comes from exercising in the morning.
3. Endorphins work better than coffee. If you know me at all you know I love my Starbucks, but no amount of coffee can wake me up as much as a morning sweat session. If I had to choose between exercise and coffee in the morning, I definitely would choose exercise–but please don’t make me choose!
4. Sunrises. I love when my morning run gives me a glimpse of the sunrise. Here are a few of the beautiful sunrises I’ve seen when I’ve gotten up to exercise in the morning.
5. Happy hour. Most days I work too late to exercise after work, but even on days when I get home early, I have no desire to exercise in the evening. The gravitational pull of the sofa, a glass of wine and social media are just too great! Because I’ve usually exercised in the morning, I don’t feel guilty about choosing to unwind at the end of the day.
[Tweet “Five Great Reasons to #Exercise in the Morning #motivation”]
Do you usually exercise at the same time of day?
Why does that time work for you?
![The Ultimate Coffee Date](http://got2run4me.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/Ultimate-Coffee-Date.png" "The Ultimate Coffee Date")
I love to workout in the morning but during the school year it’s tough for me. I switch my schedule in the summer to morning workouts and it’s awesome. It’s a great way to start the day and I find myself making healthier choices because of it.
Karen @karenlovestorun
You hit every single reason I like to work out in the morning. If my workout isn’t done by 10am, it probably won’t happen!
I use to exercise in the morning but since my injury I have been doing more stretching and I now realize It works better for me in the afternoon because i’ve given my body time to warm up. I was always so stiff in the morning!
Happy friday!
You’re right — one benefit from afternoon exercise is that your muscles are warmer!
I wish I could embrace the really early morning for working out, but I just can’t. I’m a mid morning through noon type of person for breaking a sweat — even though I’m up early, often between 5 and 6, I just can’t get going — and I have 3 teens to get up and get going
I am with you! I’m not a morning person, but over time, I’ve gotten adapted. Also, I can do things later in the day (bike, elliptical, etc.) but for running – unless it’s a shakeout/recovery run – my body and stomach NEED it to be first thing.
My appetite always gets out of whack with afternoon exercise – I am more hungry than ever!
I’m so with you on every one of these! I still don’t consider myself a morning person but I’ve learned to adapt and I’m so glad I did for all the reasons you mentioned!
I’m not an early morning exerciser as I need to eat breakfast before I run. I love the 9-11 window. Kids and hubby are gone and it’s me time. That does put me at the hottest part of the day in the summer but oh well. I am not an evening runner either-way too tired!
I love exercising in the morning, because it wakes me up like nothing else. I am the worst morning person, I require not one, but at least two cups of coffee to get going. If I go running, I don’t need any coffee. I wake up from the endorphins, and I am a lot fresher and happier during the day as well. Not to mention that it is a lot healthier to run, than to drink coffee.
The sunrise photos are stunning!
I love running in the morning. The biggest issue is just getting out of bed in the first place, but I feel good the rest of the day after a morning run.
couldn’t agree more! all of these were definitely my reasons why i [used to] workout in the morning!
Now that I am at home for a couple of days, I am enjoying training in the morning.
I always do my cardio AM, but I love to lift weights early too. I have more energy, caffein is in my veins and it is an awesome way to start the day!
Too timely! I’ve actually just started thinking about becoming a morning runner!
It’s a good time of year to switch to morning running – it’s cooler at least!
I also espouse the benefits of exercising in the morning for all of the same reasons. I LOVE IT LOVE IT LOVE IT!!!
Yes yes! Morning exercise is my “me” time…. but somehow this morning, at 6:30am, I ended up at the corner store buying cat food. No workout for me today. #FAIL
Damn cat!
Yep, morning for me too! I use to do after work, but found that with the kids and social events I was being forced to choose. I want to have it all! Having it all (most of the time) means AM workouts.
Ha, ha! I like your phrasing of wanting to have it all! So true!
I agree! Although it can be so hard to get up early. I workout a couple of times a week before work and then a couple of times a week after work. So I get the best of both worlds!
I’m not a morning person and don’t get in a morning workout as often as I would like, but these are all really reasons why I SHOULD do it more often. Thanks for sharing 🙂
yes to number 5, especially! i often have plans post work so if i don’t get it in during the AM hours, it isn’t happening 🙂
#5 is my number one motivator for getting up early every day and getting my workout done!!!
Oh man, I would LOVE to work out in the morning. It used to be my thing when I worked at a school and didn’t have to be there until 7:30 (AND the gym was right next to my school, so it was super convenient to get ready there).
Now, my gym is not near work. AND I have to be here and ready by 6:45AM. I miss my morning workouts 🙁
If I had to be at work that early I would have to exercise after work!
I really wish I was more of a morning person. I suppose if I put my mind to it I could get into the habit, but I like sleep 🙂
I’d say sleep is overrated, but I know that’s not true. I definitely don’t get enough sleep.
Couldn’t agree more. I think first thing is best!
My spouse and I stumbled over here coming from a different website and thought I should check things out.
I like what I see so now i am following you. Look forward to exploring your web page yet again.
I know that if I don’t workout in the morning or schedule a workout with a friend I just don’t workout. Working out in the morning is a great energy booster. Why is that sofa and my pjs so tempting after work?? 😉
I love to run in the morning too, for mostly the same reasons. I like #2–even if the rest of the day is terrible, at least you got a run in!
I had to remind myself of that one day last week, as I headed into a rough meeting. At least I had a good workout, no matter what happened next! 😉
YES YES YES! Mornings are the absolute best time. I love how it sets the tone of the day.
That’s another good way of looking at it. When I start my day with dumbbells instead of donuts, I do tend to make healthier choices the rest of the day too!
I morning exercise on weekends so I make sure nothing else gets in my way.
Couldn’t agree more! Morning exercise is definitely the way to go! Great post, thanks! 🙂
I still have trouble working out in the morning but I’m SO happy when I do!
Exercising in the morning is the ONLY thing I know how to do!!!! 🙂
I am not really a morning person, but I love starting the day with a run. Sunrises, the world waking up around you. I love it. It also means I don’t have to worry about anything coming up during the day that would get in the way of my workout. That being said, I cannot seem to do weights early in the morning. Just not awake enough for that.
I wouldn’t say I naturally love morning running, but it’s what works for me. I made the switch to mornings after one painful marathon showed just how many times I’d prioritized another evening commitment over a training run, and it just couldn’t keep happening. It also helps that I live in Texas and the daytime high is usually around 4:00 p.m., so evening running is even less of an option. I think it has been about 8 years since I wasn’t out the door before 5:15 a.m. (except on a rest day!).
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Great advice! I love doing my long runs in the morning because I feel like I’ve made a huge accomplishsment and have the rest of the day to relax! I start work too early in the morning to work out during the week, so I take advantage of my early time out!
Yes, one of my favorite parts of the weekend is relaxing with coffee and catching up with blogs after my long run.
I’ve recently been converted to a morning person. I love taking classes at my gym in the morning and feel awesome the rest of the day! Now that it’s nice in the morning and semi-light, I’m going to start going for runs as well. Nice tips!
It’s a great way to start the day!
I have never been a morning person! Perhaps this summer I will try to do more morning runs!
I love working out in the morning too. My only problem is that I don’t like running in the dark, so I have to wait a little later in the morning during the winter. Great post and thanks for linking up with us today!
I’ve gotten used to running in the dark (and have well-lit streets and a head lamp) but I really prefer daybreak when it’s just getting light out. 😉
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