Monring Runs

average_runner

I always struggle on early morning runs, like the body jsut doesnt wake up much. Like this sat for example.

Had my cornflakes and took on some water and went to the shops to do the weekly shopping and then go for my run.

Can usually do 10 miles under 1:20 but in the early morning runs it was 1:25. How do people get their bodies to wake up?

Thanks

DustyBin

I do most of my training early morning cos I like to get it out of the way, and the weather we're getting at the moment is great for early morning work

Had my cornflakes and took on some water and went to the shops to do the weekly shopping and then go for my run.

Maybe forget about trying to get all that other stuff done and just get out into your run.
Typically I'd get up, put on my gear, scoff a banana or a slice of toast, drink a small glass of water / orange juice and head out the door. Bed to road is about 10 mins. I find this grand for nearly all medium and long runs (15k - 25k).
Anything less than 10k I reckon a glasss of orange juiceon it's own ius probably enough.
Just make sure to eat a good breakfast when you get back (porridge?)

As far as waking up goes, it's normally around 3k or 4k before I'm fully operational :rolleyes: If I'm just doing a recovery or aerobic run the time isn't that important to me, if I'm doing intervals or a tempo I always give myself a 3 - 5 k warm up

Just my opinion & hope it helps you

average_runner

Cheers DustyBin,

I find if i go directly from bed to road body just hates it:mad:

Its like my lungs and legs dont pick up at all, but I would like to say if it was a race at that time every ticks well:mad:

Shopping is just a good warm up that seems to work for me, strange I know!

tempo

Maybe it's just something you need to accept.Start of a ittle slower than normal and maybe your body might thank you for it.
Bet you use a garmin:P,getting caught up on time and pace.
I am the same in the morning and alot can depend on what training i did in the previous 2 days and the time gap between runs.
For example if you ran at 7pm yesterday and run this morning at 8am!!!
The body will adapt to the morning runs over time,most races are on in the morning so it's something you have to get used to.

TFBubendorfer

average_runner wrote: »

Had my cornflakes and took on some water and went to the shops to do the weekly shopping and then go for my run.

What DustyBin said. At probably the same time as you I went for my run, THEN had some cornflakes porridge and went to the shops. I know it would have been a bad run had I eaten breakfast beforehand. I know cause I've tried.

And btw, I do have a Garmin, but I pretty much ignore the first mile or two, because that is my warm-up. The real run starts after that.

average_runner

I do use the garmin but that has nothing to do with it.

I mean when i race in the mornings I have the garmin, my body is well up for it. Only difference between race is i am up 2-3 hours before hand but i cant do that at a 8am or 9am run.

Also I been running mornings for last 2 years and sat mornings is the only time i do morning runs, all my others are evening and my last run before sat is a thursday evening one.


All i need to know is why my morning runs at slow pace is slower than say the same run in the evening at a slow pace. Whats the best way to wake the body up without been up 2-3 hours before hand??

TFBubendorfer

average_runner wrote: »

Also I been running mornings for last 2 years and sat mornings is the only time i do morning runs, all my others are evening and my last run before sat is a thursday evening one.

That might be the problem. Your body is used to running in the evening and acts up when you start running in the morning instead.

Solutions? Well, you could either do more morning runs or do the complete opposite and switch your Saturday run to the evening as well.

Or, I know quite a few people who drink a cup of coffee in the morning and swear that it's the only thing that gets them going. No breakfast, just coffee and hit the road.

menoscemo

I am the same, I hate morning runs.
I also don't perform as well in morning races ( I think) as evening races. I find I am better fuelled in the evenings. In the mornings my pace is slower and HR higher whether I am training or racing.
I was thinking maybe it would be best not to eat breakfast before a morning race and have a bigger evening meal the night before. Even if i Eat breakfast 2 or 3 hours before a 9 or 10am race I can still feel it holding me back. What do you guys think?

Peckham

The vast bulk of my training is done in the evenings after work. The only exceptions to this are long runs on a Saturday morning (but I'll generally have around 2 hours between getting out of bed and hitting the road), and recovery runs very early in the morning (i.e. wake up at 5:50am, running by 6am).

I find the early morning runs work really well for recovery as my legs simply won't go very fast and I can keep the heart rate down as a result. If I leave the recovery run until the evening, the temptation is there to push the pace up a little which defeats the purpose.

Wonkagirl

hate morning runs. find it so much tougher than evening runs.

I certainly wouldnt eat anything before going unless it was somethign very quick releasing like half a banana, or a spoon of peanut butter, if you're only going out for 90 mins i'd wait til you get back.. try that once and see if there's an improvement

i'm convinced it's dehydration in my case- 12 hours without water, or not very much water, muscles and ligaments are crying out for hydration..

TakeaBowSon

As hard as it is to get up the first couple of mornings once you make a habit of it your body will adapt (like it does for anything really).

sharky86

strange as it may seam my runs are faster in the morning's than say after work. Just dont seam to be motivated enough after work just want TV

Husavik

average_runner wrote: »

I mean when i race in the mornings I have the garmin, my body is well up for it. Only difference between race is i am up 2-3 hours before hand but i cant do that at a 8am or 9am run.

Also I been running mornings for last 2 years and sat mornings is the only time i do morning runs, all my others are evening and my last run before sat is a thursday evening one.


All i need to know is why my morning runs at slow pace is slower than say the same run in the evening at a slow pace. Whats the best way to wake the body up without been up 2-3 hours before hand??

What about going to bed earlier on the Thursday and Friday. You should then feel very awake at 6am on Sat and perhaps not so sluggish.

If it is a long run, 12 miles+ then getting in some food 1 to 2 hrs before is arguably more beneficial. But as mentioned, try something lighter than milk laden Cornflakes, like porridge or soft fruits.

While you remarked that you are normally ok for races, as most races are AM, it can hardly be good to do all your runs in the evenings.

Raging_Hull

Morning runs are the only time I can get out and still keep the family appeased. Your body definitely adapts to it. I just have a small glass of water and go. A couple of years ago I used to joke about the very idea that “I’ve already been out for a 10 mile run before breakfast”....now it’s a reality! I would never have thought it possible.

TFBubendorfer

Raging_Hull wrote: »

I used to joke about the very idea that “I’ve already been out for a 10 mile run before breakfast”....now it’s a reality! I would never have thought it possible.

That's how it always starts.
When you run 30 miles before breakfast you realise that anything is possible.

boccy23

TFBubendorfer wrote: »

That's how it always starts.
When you run 30 miles before breakfast you realise that anything is possible.

Depends what time breakfast is at.