Running in the mornings - convince me!

[JosieRosie]

I currently run twice a week for 30 minutes, more jogging than running really. I would like to extend this so I could work up to running for 60 minutes once a week, with a shorter run twice a week.

At the moment, I don't feel I'm running often enough to build up my fitness and because of evening commitments, it's hard to find time to run 3 evenings a week. I'm thinking of running 1-2 mornings in the week and then once or twice at the weekend as well. The problem is, I love and need my sleep! I already go to sleep at 10.30 most nights so going to bed much earlier isn't really feasible.
What will I love about running in the mornings? I need you lovely MNers to get me out of bed!
Thx

I think it works fine for short runs, as I don't need to eat beforehand and can pig out afterwards on porridge with golden syrup. There is something very virtuous about getting out early too. Doesn't work so well for me midweek though, as I need enough time to eat and shower before the school run - but nice at the weekend.

Thanks for your reply monkey! Porridge with golden syrup, that's my current fave brekkie!

I was going to start a similar thread. I used to run 3 times a week, mainly in the evening. Unfortunately, at the moment it is very tricky to fit it in. I think the only way I could keep the running up is to switch to mornings. I find getting up early so difficult though. It was difficult I the summer but lovely once I got out. A bit of a different story now

duende and monkey, I did my first morning run this morning It was nice actually after the inital shock - there were hardly any cars around and no bloody cyclists on the pavement and it was lovely watching the sun come up. And I got stuck into the porridge and golden syrup when I got home - I was starving! I'm going to try to do 1 evening run, 1 morning run and 1 weekend run every week from now on. Yay!

Well done Josie see we knew you could do it .

I don't run anymore due to my knees complaining (moved to cycling and rowing) but I ran for 12 years in the early mornings - sometimes getting up at 4.15am for a longer run before getting the kids ready for school and going to work. I never had a problem with not eating beforehand - our bodies are actually quite capable of exercise when we haven't eaten for several hours, as long as we generally have a good diet and good hydration.

The advantages are:
Less traffic
Cleaner air
it's done so you don't have all day to think of a reason why you just can't fit it in that evening
It makes you feel good all day.

The disadvantages are:
It's dark in the winter and you have to stick to the roads - hence knackered knees!

I would like to add that (afaik.. and please correct me if I'm wrong) cardio first thing in the morning (ie when you've not eaten for several hours) is especially good for keeping body fat down.

I'm with you Glass, I always exercise on an empty stomach and it works fine for me

I found that when I exercise in the morning it keeps me on the straight and narrow that day food wise as I don't want to undo my good work. Start as you mean to go on and all that. It is nice to have a bit of headspace at the start of the day as well.

Nobody has mentioned the obvious - the pelvic floor is in better shape in the morning. Less liquid to contend with holding in .

I've been running once a week in the mornings (plus one evening and once at weekend) for about 3 weeks now and I've got right proper into it! I don't like running in the dark but it's lovely having less traffic and fewer bloody cyclists on the pavement and yes, it's great to get it done early in the day so you don't make excuses as the evening draws in. And I'm feeling so much fitter and more toned, even just in the past 3 weeks - loving it!

I sometimes it takes a while for my body to 'wake up' so that the first mile can feel particularly hard. I do feel virtuous though! I generally only do shorter distances for my morning run - no more than 5 miles - although that is usually because of time pressure to get back and get sorted for work. When I was on holiday in Italy in the summer I ran in the morning as it was the only time that I could do it when it wasn't scorching. I would do a longer run then because no time pressure and it was AMAZING - sunrise, little Italian town waking up, mountains..... Also ran through Ludlow recently at sunset on a Sunday morning, and then up to some woods. Blue skies, birds singing. Was lovely.

notyummy, that sounds fantastic I'm really looking forward to the mornings getting light a bit earlier after Xmas so it's not dark all the way through my run. Good for you!

I run to work sometimes. The first mile is a real pig and then it gets better. I do feel much more awake once I've got to work. Also it is better in the summer than the winter, no doubt that leaving for a run while it is Still Dark just seems wrong...