Running first thing on a morning

[Happyinheels]

Hi,

I'm struggling to fit running in after work as I'm so exhausted. I'm thinking of getting up earlier on a morning and fitting my run in before work.
I've tried this a few times but my body just doesn't work as well! I'm really sluggish and feel like I'm running through treacle!
Has anyone got any tips to make it better? I literally get up and get out at about 6am. Does it get better? Does your body get used to it? Or should I maybe eat before I run?
Any tips or advice would be greatly appreciated thanks 😊

I don’t run, but walk briskly for a couple of hours.
I walk at night now because of circumstances but can’t wait to get back to the 6 am starts in a few weeks. At first, it took a few weeks to get comfortable with it but I found if had warm milk and a snack before I went to bed, I didn’t flag.
I still never particularly enjoyed dragging myself out of bed but was always glad I’d gone and it was job done for the day.

definitely a habit thing. I used to hate running in the mornings, couldn't face 3 miles and hated everything, but then found myself jogging 9 miles to work and feeling like i'd stolen a march on the world and was actually the Queen. Although that was in the days when the end of my run was dotted with Prets to buy a bacon bap.... that probalby helped.
On a serious note: running fasted is fine apart from around 4 days before your period comes, that makes it harder due to hormones dropping and for those days I would take a muesli bar to eat half way round.

I run early (6:15), I find I’m better first thing than trying to run later. I usually just have a glass of water and a cup of tea, then music on and out the door.

@Happyinheels

I've only tried it a handful of times, and sporadically too! I haven't ran for about 6 months and I'm missing it. I don't mind the dark or the wet so that's not a problem. I've heard so many people say it's a great way to start the day. I guess if I persevere then maybe it will become a habit?!

I start work at 8 so realistically it would have to be about 6am.

I love exercise

It's for the end of the day for me

I tried it before, it makes the day all wrong

I'm tired before I start my day

I like to have it to get rid of the stress of the day and help me sleep.

Do what suits you.

I think we are all different as to what time of day suits us to run. You only have to listen to Jenny Falconer's podcast 'Runpod', where she interviews well known people who run, to know that.

I have gone early a couple of times recently due to fitting it in and they have not been my best runs. Like you, I feel sluggish and I find my body needs time to warm up and get moving before I go straight into a run. A bit later in the morning suits me better - at least an hour after waking (when I'm not working) or after work (I start at 7.30am and finish at 4pm) is perfect this time of year.

Thank you so much for all your replies. I'm going to give it another go. I think I might have a cuppa before I start - it's how I start my mornings normally! I'm going to try and give it a fair go. As posters have said, it's much quieter at 6am, especially here. I live on the edge of a forest and the moors so after work it's horrendous. That's mainly why I stopped running at the start of lockdown - I found trying to avoid so many people out walking quite stressful and it took away my enjoyment of running. When I run it's the only time my head is empty, probably because I'm so focused on trying to survive the run!
I'm going to start on Monday!

How’ve you been getting on OP?

I’m not a morning person either but I would like to switch my after work runs to before work runs in order to fit them in, as I’m trying to increase my mileage and it’s becoming quite time consuming!