Runner’s Confession: I’m a P.M. Runner
By Toni Carey (@toni_carey)
I love sleep. No, really I do. Ever since I was a kid, I’ve been a serial napper. As a child, my mom said I used to voluntarily take naps unlike all the other two year-olds in the world. In high school, I snoozed through Spanish (and still passed, by the way). In college, I planned classes around a 1pm siesta. To this day, I’m the worst passenger ever. If I’m in a car for longer than 10 minutes, I find a way to sneak in a nap. I’m not a morning person. In fact, if you want me to remember anything, tell me after 11 a.m. Race mornings are hard. Ashley accuses me of being cranky. I blame my nerves. But the truth is, I absolutely hate waking up early. I HATE IT.
That’s why when my running game hit an all time low, I decided that drastic times caused for drastic measures. Between work, home and BGR!, fitting in runs was becoming increasingly difficult. Morning runs seemed like the natural solution. After all, I’m a runner and I’m supposed to LOVE early morning workouts. There’s no reason, I REALLY need sleep. I tried getting up at 5:30 a.m. a few times to get in my runs, hoping that my endorphins would not only last me through the entire day, but encourage me to do it again the next morning. But it never happened. Truth be told, my attempts at early a.m. workouts have all been short lived. I even bought a $100 lamp to mimic the sunrise, with birds that chirp and all. I was baffled and frustrated with my inability to workout before the sunrise. Why couldn’t I be the chipper little runner you see on the morning trails?
But today I had a epiphany. However, it required me to get over my idea of what a runner should be. In my mind, a runner should LOVE morning workouts. I realized it’s these preconceived notions that prevent new runners from getting started. “If I consider myself a runner, I must do [blank]” or “I’m a runner so, I should be [blank].” But actually the quite opposite is true. The great thing about running is that you do you. Whether that’s running in the morning, running at night, running outside or running on the dreadmill, there isn’t a mold you have to fit into. It truly is a race against yourself.
All these months I’ve been trying to change something that’s unchangeable. I’d sacrifice anything to sleep longer in the morning. Even if that means hitting the pavement after a long day at work.And I’d like to think that I’m really doing the running community a favor. No one likes a cranky runner.
Are you a morning or night runner? Have you tried to make the switch from one type to the other? If so, was it a success?
I am totally with you about being an evening runner. Even though I’m in the south and the only barely acceptable time to run during the summer is at 6 a.m., I still run in the evening. I would rather run in the 90 degree heat at 6:30 p.m. than at 75 degrees at 6:30 a.m.
It took me years to just give up on the idea that I don’t run in the morning.
I’ve done both. Despite being an early riser, I prefer running in evenings. However, since I live in the South, during the summer, I run in the morning. I have realized that I run faster and further in the mornings than in the evenings though.
I generally can do either morning or evening. Lately I’ve been doing weight training in the morning and running at night.
Thank you! I LOVE sleep, too! I could have sworn I was the only one and denying it was starting to take a toll on the efficacy of my workouts. I have come to realize and accept that my strength as well as my mood is greater in the evenings when I’m well-rested and done with the hardest part of the day, allowing me to end on a high note.
Keep posting ‘cos the encouragement is deeply felt and needed! BGR for life!
OMG!!
That article hit it right on the head. I too tried the morning run but I just couldnt do it. I WANTED to run in the mornings but my business life wouldn’t allow it plus I LOVE TO SLEEP…lol
I’m a evening workout and runner and proud of it. Get in where you fit in!!
I so agree! …in all I actuality I love to run mid-afternoon but when that is not possible I prefer evenings over mornings any day of the week. I see all the 5, 6, and 7 am runs and can never seem to get my mind or body to cooperate (and trust that I have tried).
As a new runner of just under a year I needed to hear this. I too hate early morning everything and I always thought I should run in the am to get it in for the day. I will go back to my 5 p.m runs and happily be my running self.
Omg I am the same way, I just can’t get up, I hate waking up early, it’s nothing like a good ole run rt after work while the sun is going dwn. I used to feel like if you ran you have to get up early in the morning cause that’s what runners do but it’s not happening for me, I am a runner that likes to run at night, vampires runners are where it’s at! Lol
I love my naps, too, but I don’t consider myself to be a night runner. What I have found is that outside of races, I don’t like running on weekends. I don’t want to get up out of my bed and rise and shine and RUN! I know that Saturday and Sunday runs are very popular here in Atlanta but I dont’ have the stamina to do them anymore. I’d rather just get off a little early and get my long run in. So, I think I can pretty much run any time during the day but I like my weekends to myself.
Preach and amen!!!
I too, do not consider myself a morning person, but if I don’t run in the mornings, then is just doesn’t get done. The day goes by, things happen, and before I know it , I have no energy left for an evening run. Having a running buddy definitely helps to run in the morning
(I wouldn’t do it with her). Get it out the way and get on with my day!
Great article
You are definitely not alone! I work nights and sometimes I will run during my breaks. It’s a lot easier to get a run in at night than to wait until after work, when I’m at my most tired. I find my late night break runs really energize me for the rest of my shift too
It seems like it would be really, really peaceful to run at night, but I’ve never had the courage. I thought about running with someone, but lone runs are so therapeutic for me.
Oh how true this is…I too prefer to run in the early evening, especially during the week. However, on the weekends, I get an early start to my day. Our BGR group runs are at 730am on Sundays (for now)…I get out there at 7am for an even earlier start but I can’t find the energy or the motivation to workout, let alone run at 5am during the week.
Great post! I am a morning runner, not by choice but by default. I work late hours, and I have 2 still need constant watching after children. However, I MUST have time for me and my health, and doing something I kind of like. By default, that time is the morning. I agree with you, get it in when you can, just do you!
I love evening and night runs. I can do an early morning run, which most of the times I do. but I LOVE EVENING/NIGHT RUNS!
Great article. This is a great reminder to new runners that have never considered running because they are black or 200+ lbs. etc. I encourage people to come out to group runs with the “all levels,” mantra. This will drive the point home further “Do you!” Your time, pace, method, location (trail, tread/dreadmill, group or solo)… just do it!
Oh my I do agree. I am the same way. Nothing should be done before 10am.
First year runner and my runs are dictacted by what is going on in my life. Right now I have the freedom of choice. I run Sat morning w/BGR but I am a night owl so during the week I choose late afternoons and I love, love, love evening runs when I get a chance for a group run. SC heat is no joke and soon the heat and humidity will be here. I am sure at that point I will be a convert and hit it in the am during the week too. Blah! Jus the thought.
All I can say is thank you for this post! I HATE waking up in the morning. I’m not right until after 10am. I’ve tried everything to become an early morning runner but it’s not happening. And, I will admit that I love the treadmill. I’m not a nature kind of girl. I think we all have to run the way we run and let everything else go.
I am so glad you said this out loud! I have concluded that late afternoon/evening/night exercise is better for me too. Sleep is precious to me, but I must say I don’t nap unless I am WORE DOWN.
I would definitely prefer to workout before I go to work, but my current schedule doesn’t really allow for it, and like you, I like sleeping in. I love it. I rarely get to, however. Working out in the evening is definitely more convenient, and I’m a lot less likely to skip my workouts.
I am an evening runner too. I will hit the snooze button a hundred times to get an extra five minutes of sleep in the mornings. I find it more convenient and it gives me some alone time to process my workday, my kid’s schedule and evening activities (dinner). When I get back from running, I am focused and ready for the next three or four hours before calling it a day.
I’m totally a morning runner. I will come up with every excuse in the world to not run after work or in the evening. I’m not opposed to running in the evening, as I do so on occasion, mainly the BGR! events, but my preference is the AM.
Great article! I used to be an evening runner, but I successfully made the switch. Well, maybe not entirely successful because I am a bit cranky in the morning, BUT I still manage to get my workout in. In order to wake up happily around 5:45am, I must get to bed by 11:30pm. That is the struggle. Take it from me, it is possible to re-wire your body. It’s just very time consuming and can be a big struggle! Good luck!
THANK YOU FOR THIS ARTICLE!!!
I haven’t even begun to start running yet. I am still trying to implement a workout regimen, that sadly, still hasn’t begun, because I just can’t get up at 5 am.
So I will suck it up and deal with the fact that I can’t be fab like the First Lady with her 4:30am workouts…but I will be as fab as I can be with my 5:30pm workouts and now running – starting Today!
Agreed! I only run in the afternoon or evening. I am not a morning person at all. I think the work day should really start at 10 AM. And being a new Mom added more already hectic life. I run after my husband gets home and takes the baby. Then I am able to unwind with a nice shower, prep for the next workday and to bed I go. Whatever works!
I, too, am an evening runner. But not for any noble reason or one that others would proudly admit to. I run in the evenings because I’m a procrastinator. The few times I do not have to travel for work and I’m working from my home office-I have the best intentions of getting in an earlier run (perhaps at lunch time). Nope! I will inevitably end up running some time after 7 PM. I’m up by 5 in the morning – but will put off my ‘me’ time until the end of the day.
I prefer to run in the morning but my schedule only allows for morning runs on the weekends. Now that the days are longer I actually look forward to the 5:00 pm run. I guess I’m saying, I run whenever I can. Great post.
You’re right. When it comes to running. I need to do me. Enuff said.
I am so with you all on this. I can get up but hate to and now that I work from home some days this winter I have stayed in bed till (horrors) noon. Yup.. but then I will work till midnight so it’s what works for me. Granted I work ed most of my life on the second shift , would got out with friends or home and not go to bed till 3am so getting up at 11am is still 8hrs sleep. I’m now trying to get to bed by
1am and up by 10 at the latest. I run in the evening or early afternoon.
I can rise early for a race and am generally excited at how much day one has left after completing an early race but I prefer evening for my training runs. I think about early morning runs but have yet to pull the trigger.
Night runner during the week. Morning/afternoon runner on the weekends.
I’m a night runner. I work 7am-7:30pm as a nurse. I cannot peel myself out of bed at 5am. I’ve done it but I don’t enjoy it. I do dread having to go running after working all day but I enjoy it while I’m out there. It’s so quiet
It’s relaxing.
I’ll never be a morning runner.
i’m not a morning person and i never thought i’d have to love getting up at the buttcrack of dawn to exercise. i’ve always exercised in the afternoon at the earliest. it’s at the end of my day anyway and exercising during the evenings help tire me out even more, making it easier to fall asleep and get up for work the next morning.
A.M. all the way. I don’t like to do any type of exercise in the afternoon or evening. Three days per week, I hit the treadmill at 4:15 am and then head to bootcamp at 5. On the week-ends I get up as early as I need to in order to get my run in before playing tennis. I am much more clear-headed when I get a good sweat in before sunrise. Knock it out first thing in the morning and be done with it!
I too dwell in the euphoria that is sleep. I enjoy it whenever I can get it just like you and naps are the cherry on top of any day. I set my alarm clock for 6am all throughout college to workout and it never happened. However, when I became a runner I was serious all of a sudden. It started off as a PM thing but I’ve gotten up as earlier as 5AM to make sure that I have my run for the day if any PM times aren’t plausible. So, I’m an AM/PM runner. I can run to fit my needs. Not sure of how running replaced my devotion to sleep.
P.M. RUNNER!!! Anything to sleep in in the morning! If I’m awake, then by all means, let’s get a run in, especially since it’s already creeping toward an ungodly level of heat in NC IN MARCH!!!! but in general, catch me in the p.m.!
Love this post. I am soooo not a morning person. I have always exercised in the evening.
In fact, my night owlish ways have been a longstanding joke in my family. Wake her up at your own risk!
Confession: My ways are so bad that I ended up staying up ALL night prior to having to get up and meet the 3:30 am bus to take me to the site of my first half marathon. I usually go to sleep after midnight and the idea of having to wake up that early would have been horrific for me, so I just stayed up. I felt great and had a good time. I never stopped running the entire way- no waking at all. had a good time too! I slept afterwards.
So, I am a firm believer in doing your own thing and finding what works for you. Thank you for reminding me of that!!!