Calling all early morning runners(6am or earlier)

Some awesome responses and routines. I usually wake up 4:45 out the door by 5:30. Work out days I’ll have some Gatorade or something with coffee. I might need to roll more or do something to wake myself up and feel more ‘awake’ and loose for my run. I’m very tight I feel like to much of the time.

These are great tho thank you

get up at 5:30

poop and dress

out the door by 5:40

i try not to do workouts in the morning but if i have to i'll wake up a half hour earlier so i can have something to eat and drink.

I really like running early during the 6 months out of the year that I don’t need a headlamp. Waking up to 0-10 degrees in the pitch black is rough mid winter. Workouts can also be tough, but it just takes some acclimation. It’s a great way to make sure that the run happens if you’re juggling a busy work and family schedule.

I have gotten used to running on an empty stomach. Just a couple sips of water then coffee and food when I’m back home.

I like to walk for a couple of minutes before I start running. And don’t worry when your first mile is 10 minute pace. It’s probably a good thing that those first miles are slow.

I have to be showered and out the door for work by 7am. Most days my alarm is set for 4:40/45 and I'm out of bed by 5 or so. I sit on the toilet for 5-10 minutes whether I feel like pooping or not (gotta be very sure). Then I put on my running clothes/shoes, drink a small glass of water, and try to get out the door by 5:15 at the latest. I walk about 5 minutes to my starting point, do some leg swings, ankle mobility stuff, and I'm off. First mile is usually very slow but I get rolling after that.

That's it, that's the whole routine. If I have an especially long workout I'll set my alarm a little earlier and do the same thing.

are you the same poster from Trailrunproject?

Depends on the day. Sometimes I wake up and drag myself out the door half asleep within 15 mins of waking up, some days I’ll take like 30 mins to stretch, and if I’m really hungry half a granola bar and if I’m really tired a few sips of a caffeinated drink. I only do easy runs because at 4:30 or 5:30 in the morning it’s hard to even keep below 8min/mile pace. I run in the early morning maybe 3-4 times a week.

Great thread. Married, two kids, mid 40s. Similar routine to many, a few highlights:

- Always study weather night before and set out gear; can lose 10-15 precious morning minutes locating right gear (shoes / socks / watch / headlamp / half zip / hat / gloves etc).

- Purchased single serve kcup coffee maker for $30 on Amazon, put in bathroom - don’t need to walk downstairs in cold dark house at 430am for my caffeine fix (dont forget to have a coffee mug ready as well; not helpful when I forget to bring a mug up night before).

- No food, but maybe gel / stinger waffle / half a bar / banana if workout (yes will also have this upstairs, nibbling as I get dressed).

- Bathroom always tricky, sometimes I can “lighten up” and sometimes not. I spend 5-10 min on toilet trying as last step regardless.

- Whole routine was 20 minutes in my 30s, 30 minutes in early 40s, now 45 minutes. I just move more slowly and you will too as you age.

- Runs are 45-75 minutes most days. First mile always a shuffle, is 60-90 seconds slower than standard easy pace.

- Recently running with kids at random times, routine totally changed, but I prefer early morning slot for same reasons as others (time, energy, less full).

Pro tip for early morning runs when traveling and time constrained: if hotel has room service try ordering fresh coffee night before, ask for 5am delivery which also is a wake up service; I often will also order breakfast (oatmeal, fruit, PB and toast, simple stuff) PRE run, requesting it to be delivered around time I return, and I authorize them to drop off if I am not back. Allows me to eat real food as recovery vs a bar or whatever, plus avoid crappy food options with co-workers or worse missing breakfast all together.

Good thread. I have been consistently running before work for over 5 years. Have kids and a busy job, and it’s just too unpredictable to leave run for later in the day. My wake up time varies depending on run distance or workout, but now top out at about 75-80 mins for morning runs. At one point a few years ago, I did up to 18 milers in about 2 hours, but that got old quickly.

I wake up 15 minutes before run drills, which I do for about 3 minutes, then get rolling. As others said, always check weather and have clothes laid out the night before. Even have a couple options if rain is unknown, etc.

Sips of water, eat a couple dates or small piece or chocolate, quick bathroom stop, and out the door.

Am i the only one that dosnt drink coffee?

Utah12 wrote:

Am i the only one that dosnt drink coffee?

Yes

I’m just up dressed and out. Clothes downstairs the night before, trainers by the door. Warm up in the first mile then all good. Always have to poop on these runs, usually around mile 3, I just make sure I run out of town in the mornings, I’m not scared of doing an outdoors one!! I tried waiting around before but can take up to an hour to get things moving down there even with coffee so figure I’d rather be asleep.

Workouts I save for lunchtime runs.

Been running at 5:30AM for about 40 years. Routine for last 15 years has been.

Get up at 4:15 and running clothes are already set out. My wife is up earlier.

Pee time. Drink water. Check emails. Check Facebook. Take out breakfast stuff for later.

Nothing to eat. No coffee. Drink more water.

Stretch a bit and do some light plyometrics, sit ups, plank while watching morning news on TV.

Always a regular dump at 5:15. Drink a bit more water. Drive over to meet running group.

Light stretching after. Head home. Shower, Eat Breakfast.

EarlyAF wrote:

What’s your routine? How early do you get up before your run? 30min 60min? Do you eat? Drink?

I’ve been struggling with energy in the AM and not sure if I need to wake up earlier to feel more awake during my run or what. Wanted to hear about what some people are doing out there

Morning runs are a Love/Hate thing with me. When I do get out the door early I love it (except winter...not happening and never did). It's such a great feeling during the middle part of the day knowing you've done your workout. The kicker for me was going to bed early, I just can't do it. I always believed that the most sleep possible was more important for recovery.

Some really impressive posts from the 4-5 pm early risers. I love the dedication!!!!

Go Run One!

Up by 4:30

A few sips of drip coffee programmed the might before (this means I’ve committed and never fails)

Active Meditation for 15 mins (includes some stretching...only purpose to using phone)

Poop

Out the door by 5 AM (usually do 7 miles)

Back and in the shower by 6 AM

Dress and eat bfast

Watch some news if in the mood as I get my daughters bag ready

Head out the door by 6:30 to drop off daughter and be at work by 7 AM

It’s a tight routine and that’s why I cannot afford to hit snooze. My miles are usually 7 min pace.

Weekend runs are longer and faster (mid to low 6s). I manage to gain pretty good fitness through this. I’ve ran a 1:16 half twice in March on a hilly course with the same routine. Sometimes I don’t time my morning runs at all.

Not everyone is a morning person. but I believe most can adapt to becoming a morning runner.

There have been many days when I was out the door running before 6 am after awakening at 5:30 am or later.

The quick sequence wake up- bathroom- quick weather check- get dressed- out the door running.

Do some prep the night before. Get all your clothing/shoes/whatever assembled in one place.

Sometimes I would wear some of the clothes I planned to run in to bed.

The timing of a morning poop can be an issue, but I have adapted so that I normally do that within 10 minutes of getting out of bed. If you eat most of your food earlier in the days you will poop earlier.

I don't drink coffee or eat before I run.

On some days the hardest part is getting out the door. Most days I wake up wanting to get out there.

I used to be an afternoon runner but made the change to early am. You need to commit to it for at least 6 weeks to see if you can adapt. Most people can. and it may take that long to modify your circadian rhythm.

My lowest daily resting heart rate used to be upon waking in the morning. Since switching to early am runs, my lowest rates have been right before going to bed.

I train on my way to work. Get up at 430, eat a bit of oat. 445 out, 10min run to catch the 1st train. I live 35k from office, depending on where i get off the train I have 7, 13, 18, 24k or run from home with 35k. I can get a shower and i have a locker at the company. Sometimes i double to catch the evening train at the station thats 13k away. This all year, abaout 200 trainings last year. Usually i do 35k on monday, 13 easy on tue and thursday, 18 fast on wednesday and intervals on friday. Usually family 'training' or off on weekends. Morning runs are great to get a fresh mind for a day in the office. Also in summer its the best time of the day since its cool. For training discipline its cool to have to catch a train in the end. The minute you start defines your pace ;-)

I don't have time to wake up for long before I start running.

My routine is get up, most days 4:30 to 4:45. Go to the bathroom, then get out the door and started. Pound out 10-13 miles then stretch and core. Then clean up for work and inhale breakfast. I start work a little after 7 most days. Then run again after around 5:30 and 6.

I've done this for about 8 years. It as a small transition after college but got used to it fairly quickly. I'm more of a morning person than most. The hardest part is getting going for a hard workout that early in the morning.

On easy days im Out at 6 and at work 7, then I can leave work at 15 and have loads of time at home.

On double threshold days I wake up 5:50, eat and massage before intervals at about 7. Works great but have to stay a bit longer at work as I'm not there until 9/9:30.

After years of running in the evening but struggling to fit it in, I went to early am running this year, prepping for a winter marathon. Although I'm not a morning person at all, once I got used to it, I love it and now feel weird running when it's light out, constantly having to wave at people and all that BS. There's such a great left-alone feeling in the am before the sun gets up, like you have the whole world to yourself, plus it's cooler in the summer. I get up 15 min prior to running (20 min in winter since more clothes/gear), drink a glass of water and force my groggy self out the door. The first 1/2 mile I feel weird but after that I have as much energy as a normal run, if not more. I save the coffee, food, etc for when I get home, otherwise the heaviness in my stomach increases my morning sluggishness, and the routine adds unnecessary time. Plus the last thing I want is to have my morning coffee trigger me having to use the bathroom on a run, if you know what I mean.

You just have to force yourself to go to bed early and get up early everyday for about a week, then you get used to it. Going to sleep in workout clothes, along with setting all gear out the night before, helps get me out the door.