Early morning runs

ahnoyouregrand

I find it really difficult to run in the morning. It feels as if my body is still asleep, I have no energy and I am not fueled for running. However, I have never gone through a consistent period where I have ran a few times a week for a period of time, rather it has just been a once off and then I revert to running in the evenings. A morning run once or twice a week would be much handier for me though.... is it a matter of persevering for a few weeks and the morning runs will become easier?

average_runner

ahnoyouregrand wrote: »

I find it really difficult to run in the morning. It feels as if my body is still asleep, I have no energy and I am not fueled for running. However, I have never gone through a consistent period where I have ran a few times a week for a period of time, rather it has just been a once off and then I revert to running in the evenings. A morning run once or twice a week would be much handier for me though.... is it a matter of persevering for a few weeks and the morning runs will become easier?

It does take time to get with it but i wouldn't do a hard session at 6am, more like a long run or recovery. Long run always starts 25-30 secs slower but after 8k it comes back.

coogy

I have done a few early morning (6am) runs and apart from the stealth-like tip-toeing around the house, trying not to wake everyone up beforehand, I've really enjoyed them. It's such a good feeling arriving back to the house when the others are just waking, or even better, still asleep!
Have tried not to do any early morning runs further than 10k as I am conscious of not having eaten since the evening before.
Am doing the Dublin Marathon as a first-timer this year and I have been running consistently since the beginning of November 2017.

Goose76

Did my first early morning run in months this morning - an easy 5k - feel absolutely amazing now after it despite feeling like death when I woke up.

it's definitely a nice change and I think i'll be incorporating more short/easy runs in before work from now on

squirrel84

Recently switched to early 6am morning runs, setting off on empty stomach but struggling with toilet stop needed after 4-5 miles, don't have the time to wait for digestive system to wake up before setting off. Any advice welcome?

Ultraman100

squirrel84 wrote: »

Recently switched to early 6am morning runs, setting off on empty stomach but struggling with toilet stop needed after 4-5 miles, don't have the time to wait for digestive system to wake up before setting off. Any advice welcome?

have breaki b4 u go to bed...ur digestive system will be ready to rock wen u wake up

cullenswood

squirrel84 wrote: »

Recently switched to early 6am morning runs, setting off on empty stomach but struggling with toilet stop needed after 4-5 miles, don't have the time to wait for digestive system to wake up before setting off. Any advice welcome?

I used to have this, but the body got used to it eventually.

TFBubendorfer

squirrel84 wrote: »

Recently switched to early 6am morning runs, setting off on empty stomach but struggling with toilet stop needed after 4-5 miles, don't have the time to wait for digestive system to wake up before setting off. Any advice welcome?

A cup of coffee usually does the trick

shotgunmcos

squirrel84 wrote: »

Recently switched to early 6am morning runs, setting off on empty stomach but struggling with toilet stop needed after 4-5 miles, don't have the time to wait for digestive system to wake up before setting off. Any advice welcome?

I'm in the same boat. I'm out the door within 10 minutes of waking usually. So much so I'd say I'm still half asleep for the first mile. But then same at 35-45min the body wants to do its business. On an hour run I can hold it but longer usually involved impromptu bush stops.

I had this years ago when I last did morning runs. I've tried breakfast the night before but maybe that makes it worse. My only solution seems to be getting up a half an hour earlier but I'm already up at 5-6!

conti

TFBubendorfer wrote: »

A cup of coffee usually does the trick

+1 for the coffee. My routine is up at 5:45, drink water and small cup of black coffee. Line up a podcast and browse Reddit/YouTube while I await nature's call, generally I'm out the door by around 6:20.

Testosterscone

squirrel84 wrote: »

Recently switched to early 6am morning runs, setting off on empty stomach but struggling with toilet stop needed after 4-5 miles, don't have the time to wait for digestive system to wake up before setting off. Any advice welcome?

Water before you leave. Bar that toilet roll in the gel pocket of shorts

Testosterscone

Slowly becoming a convert and embracing the morning runs. Currently have a 5 week old and now back to work routine is finally settling in.

Do the night feed which happens around 4-4.30 am so I get up, brekkie, feed baby put them down and get out. Well woken up by the time I hit the roads and at the desk in work for 7 post shower. Sneaky lunch time half hour and I am done and dusted with training before I finish work so I can take over when back from work. Oddly enough I am actually getting more done and less guilt as I am not going out in the evening's and not trying to squeeze the runs in as much.

Winter might be another matter mind you

shotgunmcos

Testosterscone wrote: »

Slowly becoming a convert and embracing the morning runs. Currently have a 5 week old and now back to work routine is finally settling in.

Do the night feed which happens around 4-4.30 am so I get up, brekkie, feed baby put them down and get out. Well woken up by the time I hit the roads and at the desk in work for 7 post shower. Sneaky lunch time half hour and I am done and dusted with training before I finish work so I can take over when back from work. Oddly enough I am actually getting more done and less guilt as I am not going out in the evening's and not trying to squeeze the runs in as much.

Winter might be another matter mind you

Good stuff. Balance is everything with those brownie points. Getting as much done without affecting family time means a lot. Great habit to get into before the winter, then its just HTFU!


My little one usually wants breakfast the second she gets up but if I'm out running she will wait for me to see if I am doing yoga afterwards. She likes to do yoga with me and then its the best quality time breakfast you can have.... all came from the morning habit created when she was weeks old

coogy

I did my first run to work this morning. I live in Lucan and work in city centre so I got the bus as far as Liffey Valley and ran the rest of the way, 6 miles in total.

Was well hydrated before I left and ate a banana about an hour before I left. Took it nice and easy and ran part of it through the Phoenix Park. Great way to start the day, I'll definitely be doing it more often!!

average_runner

coogy wrote: »

I did my first run to work this morning. I live in Lucan and work in city centre so I got the bus as far as Liffey Valley and ran the rest of the way, 6 miles in total.

Was well hydrated before I left and ate a banana about an hour before I left. Took it nice and easy and ran part of it through the Phoenix Park. Great way to start the day, I'll definitely be doing it more often!!

Its a nice route to run. Sometimes I run it in from Lucan.

cullenswood

coogy wrote: »

I did my first run to work this morning. I live in Lucan and work in city centre so I got the bus as far as Liffey Valley and ran the rest of the way, 6 miles in total.

Was well hydrated before I left and ate a banana about an hour before I left. Took it nice and easy and ran part of it through the Phoenix Park. Great way to start the day, I'll definitely be doing it more often!!

You could also keep going straight at Chapelizod and then run by the banks of the Liffey and through the War Memorial Park, which is also quite nice.

backofthepack

From the beginning of training i always did my long runs early on a saturday morning.
It was of great benefit as my body was used to the early mornings by the time marathon came around, and it means you can eat all day long to recover, particularly nice when the really long miles kick in!
I usually have one weetabix around half an hour before i head out.
A carb rich dinner the night before helps with energy too. And a good drink of water as soon as i wake helps get the system going so i can get a morning toilet trip in before heading out

Paul_C

cullenswood wrote: »

You could also keep going straight at Chapelizod and then run by the banks of the Liffey and through the War Memorial Park, which is also quite nice.

I've started running in from Lucan too (Marathon training for Sept)
The run along the banks of the liffey is great (not sure what its like in the winter) and then grab a bike somewhere around Kilmainham. Have done the whole thing (16K) a couple of times.
I normally eat a couple of peanut butter /oats/honey balls that i make which gives a little boost, i normally have to wait at least 3/4 hours after breakfast so this seems to be working.
Like most people here I've had to adjust my training since the arrival of the wee person, to be honest even though i do be knackered getting up It quickly wears off once you get going!

rm75

Did most of marathon training early morning, easier with 2 kids.The midweek medium long run was the toughest, especially for a spring marathon as means you're running in the dark. Long run saturday morning, kids activities afternoon, few glasses on wine sat night and would usually be asleep early enough !!

Keep telling myself will do the run commute, but running with any kind of bag does my head in.

RayCun

rm75 wrote: »

Did most of marathon training early morning, easier with 2 kids.The midweek medium long run was the toughest, especially for a spring marathon as means you're running in the dark. Long run saturday morning, kids activities afternoon, few glasses on wine sat night and would usually be asleep early enough !!

Keep telling myself will do the run commute, but running with any kind of bag does my head in.

Bring a bag in the day before with your change of clothes.

Even better, go in one day with a bag with running gear and a change of clothes. Run home that day, run in the next.