Running News Daily

Seven ways to make morning running easier

Morning runs can be wonderful. You get to wake up in the fresh air and listen to the silence of the still-sleeping world, and by the time you get home, you’ll have the satisfaction of knowing you’ve put your work in for the day. Of course, actually getting out there can be challenging; it can be tough to force yourself awake, no matter how much you know you’ll enjoy the run. If you struggle with morning runs, here are seven tips to make getting up and out the door easier.

1.- Don’t hit snooze

Hitting the snooze button is never a good idea. Sure, it feels great to fall back asleep for those nine minutes before your alarm rings again, but do you ever actually feel more ready to tackle the day after hitting snooze? Probably not. Soon enough, you’ve hit snooze five or six times, at which point any hopes of getting up for a morning run are dashed. You still feel as tired as you did when the alarm first rang, but now you also feel guilty for not getting out for your run. We know it’s easier said than done, but try not to hit snooze tomorrow. Get up right away–we promise you won’t regret it!

2.- Set your clothes out

Before you go to bed, make sure all your running clothes are ready to jump into in the morning. In the morning, all you have to do is pick up your pile of clothes, toss them on and you’re ready to go. No more shuffling around in the dark and trying not to wake your partner while you search for the right shirt or tights.

3.- Plan your breakfast

You should eat something before you morning run, even if it’s just half a banana. In fact, morning runs are a great time to practice your race nutrition plan. If you like a bagel on race mornings, eat a bagel before your morning workouts. Plan ahead, make sure you have everything you need for a good pre-run breakfast and go to sleep knowing you’ll be well-fuelled by the time you step out the door tomorrow morning. 

4.- Know your run

Are you planning an easy run or a workout? How long are you going to run? Where will you be going? These are all questions to consider the day or night before your morning run. Having a plan and knowing what you’re going to do will make getting up much easier. If you don’t have a plan, you may wake up and convince yourself it’s not even worth heading out the door. (Trust us–it’s always worth it, even if it ends up being 15 minutes.)

5.- Get to bed

The only way you’ll feel well-rested in the morning is if you get to bed at a decent hour. There are few guarantees in life, but one thing you can be sure of is that you’ll feel awful in the morning if you stayed up past midnight watching YouTube videos or Netflix. Getting enough sleep is always important, even if you don’t have a run planned for the next day, but it’s especially important if you want to feel fresh and rested for your morning runs. 

6.- Drink water

You’re going to wake up slightly dehydrated, so drinking some water right away in the morning is a good habit. Otherwise, you’ll only become more dehydrated as the day goes on, which isn’t a recipe for success. Have a glass of water ready on your bedside table for the morning and sip it as you get ready to head out the door. You may not feel the effects immediately, but your body will thank you for it, especially when you start working out. 

7.- Get used to the mornings

If you only follow through with your morning run plans every now and then, you won’t get used to getting up so early. Making early-morning runs a habit, however, will help you slowly feel better with each passing day. And who knows? You may even become a convert.