Logistical considerations outside of my control have forced me to switch from an evening running schedule to a morning schedule.
Early morning runs were my routine for years up until about four years ago, when I began finding it increasingly difficult to drag myself out each morning. It was not an issue of getting up—I mostly find it impossible to sleep past 5 AM—but rather that when I did get up at that time, running was really not what I was looking for. I also don’t like running in the cold and while it’s plenty cold in the late evening in the winter, it’s not as bad as early in the morning.
So I switched to running at night and it turned out to be a great change. My body is loose from moving around all day so I don’t have to spend a bunch of time stretching and warming up, and it’s a great way to close out my day.
What is weird, though, is that while I had been dreading running in the morning this week—managing to get out the door only by telling myself that while running early in the morning sucks, it doesn’t suck as much as not running at all—it has turned out to be not that bad.
I think the big difference is that I am not getting out of bed, suiting up, and heading directly out for my run. It is summer and the kids are able to sleep in, so I don’t feel like I have to be back, showered, and ready for the day by seven. Instead, I can get up at five, have a coffee, write in my journal, and head out for the run a little after six. Then I can have some breakfast, some more coffee, and ease into the morning.
Nonetheless, I am still looking forward to getting back to my evening running routine next week.