I have trouble getting up early and going for runs. I keep telling myself that I’ll do it, I set my alarm, I wake up in the morning, but I almost always end up going back to sleep.
This morning, my alarm went off at 6am, I turned it off, laid back down on the bed “for a minute” but then when I looked at the time again, it was 40 minutes later. Oops. So, my 8K run turned into a 3.5K run and I’m going to end up getting to work a few minutes later than I had planned today.
How can I motivate myself to get up earlier? And how can I have more energy to run in the morning? This morning I found myself practically dragging myself. I want to be able to train in the AM and I want to be able to train fairly hard. Any suggestions?
Today’s Run:
Distance: 3.5 km
Weather: 14 C, wind W 11 km/h
LOL…Vic…it’s tough sometimes…and all runners have those days. Here’s what I’d try…
ReplyDeleteSet out every thing you need for your morning run the night before and lay it out (I mean EVERYthing. Underwear, socks, your music, what you’ll eat before what you’ll eat after etc). That way you don’t even have to think about all the stuff you have to do just to get out the door. They sound like small things but when my alarm go’s off at 5am…putting socks on sounds like climbing a mountain to me.
Tell yourself/remind yourself that once you’re out (and usually only a few minutes into your run) you’re going to feel amazing and glad that you got up. I have almost never regretted my morning runs ONCE I WAS INTO THEM and even after they’re done. That proud feeling usually takes me through the day so I really try to remember that feeling when the alarm goes off. It also helps to think about your next race and goal. I tell myself that the dudes who are going to qualify for Boston with a 3:10 are getting up now too. They’re going through the motions at this Godforsaken hour because THAT’S what it takes…so THAT’S what I’m gonna do.
Reward yourself. Tell yourself that if you get up and do the run…you’ll treat yourself to one of those expensive Starbucks frappa-slappa-mocha-whatevers later on in the morning.
Good luck with those morning runs.