Thursday 24 January 2008

Take it and Run Thursday: Basics of Running: Becoming a morning person

Today is Take it and Run Thursday. This week, Amy and Tom have asked us to write about the Basics of Running. Seeing as I consider myself still a beginning runner, this ought to be interesting, and a great source of learning for me.
One thing I think about a lot is how to become a morning person. Not that this is running related, per se, except that I know lots of people who have to run in the morning, or it doesn't happen. Unfortunately I am not naturally a morning person (see my last post for evidence!). For me, if I get up before I've woken up enough to realize I'm getting out of bed before the sun comes up, I'm usually pretty successful.
The thing that helps me most is to realize that at the time my alarm goes off, I'm not conscious enough to make good decisions. I need to make it automatic. When I'm doing it successfully, I think about it thusly: every time I wake up when my alarm goes off, I am training my body to do that. Every time I go back to sleep, I'm training my body to do that. Which training do I want to reinforce?
I've fallen off the wagon a bit, and I think it may be time for an intervention. This post from Steve Pavlina recommends practicing. I may need to invest a couple of hours in doing this.

7 comments:

Ed H. said...

I wish I had your strength. In order for me to be able to run in the morning, I would have to get up at 5, and that is nearly impossible for me to do. If I could just find it within myself to shift my day one hour, then I could manage it. However, getting off work at 4 PM and being at home, hugging my daughter, at 4:20 are awesome things.

Megan Hall said...

I don't think it's strength so much as knowing I'm lazy after work! I wish I had the determination to go to work that early so I could be home at 4pm and still go for a run! You're right, though, hugging your daughter at 4:20 is an awesome thing.

Midwest said...

I'm not a morning person either, and cannot fathom going out for a run without having at least one cup of coffee first. But the fact of the matter is, you don't have to be THAT awake to start running, and by the time you're finished running, you're truly awake and alert. That's a nice way to start the day.

chloe said...

I'm so one of those people, but I can't seem to get my butt out of bed in the morning. For a while, I could, but I think there's something psychological going on.

Viv said...

Morning runners are a special breed. I am working at it, but the bed is too cozy. I guess if I get up and run early I will still be 1/2 asleep. So in turn it will be over before I wake up and realise what I am doing.

kara said...

It gets easier over the years...I am now a total morning person.

PS> But I'm ready for bed by 9:30 pm
LOL

Bob A said...

Good post. My trick is to get out the door before my body and mind wake up. A friend commented last week that I run at 5:30 and wake up at 6:30.