I don't have trouble getting up at 5, but I can't seem to make my body function that early. Pre-kids I was up and at the gym at 5:30 every morning. I'm training for a half marathon and I was supposed to run 5 miles on the tm this morning. I made it 2 before I had to stop and run/walk the rest. Same issue on Tuesday. I ran 8 miles straight outdoors last weekend so I know I have the endurance for 5, but I just can't make my body work that early. I should point out that the tm is in my basement (with a TV) and I can't go to the gym in the mornings because of the kids and DH traveling.
I just started a new job with a long commute, so mornings are it for me if I'm going to fit exercise in. Prior to this I was working from home and running whenever I could fit it in during the day. I need to figure this out.
I do struggle a little bit with my body not feeling stretched out to run as fast as I normally would if I ran later in the day.
There isn't much I do about it, since at this point, I refuse to wake up at 4:30 if I don't have to.
But for example when I was in college during preseason, I'd get up an extra 30 minutes early at 5:30 to just walk around and warm up my muscles a bit and stretch.
If I've been walking around all day doing my usual activities, then my legs are ready to go. But if I'm not, then I just surrender to the fact that I might have to take my run a little more slowly until my legs feel a little more warmed up. Sometimes I'll stop and stretch after about 2 minutes of running.
Sorry that's probably not helpful, but I wanted to let you know you're not alone!
Post by balletofangels on Mar 5, 2015 9:17:06 GMT -5
I take classes at 5:45 a.m., so I know the "morning crew" is expecting me. I think that is what gets us all there. Also, I have the coffee ready via timer!
Post by theoriginalbean on Mar 5, 2015 9:21:56 GMT -5
I get up at 4:30 on the days i have morning workouts. It took a while to adjust, but after a few weeks I guess my body got used to it. I've been doing it for a few years now, and I can get up, brush my teeth, throw my clothes on, and bang out the miles. It definitely took some getting used to.
I still can't do heavy lifting at that hour, though.
I just make myself. Right now running on my TM at 5Am is my only option and if I get up any later I can't get the miles in. I've been going to bed super early to help with the waking up.
I get up at 4am to workout and can only get moving if I am drinking a bottle of water infused with caffeine (my go to is crystal light grape with caffeine). Once I get started, I'm usually ok. I run on the treadmill and watch a movie on the tablet running.
If you just started a morning routine again, give it time. I find that some weeks rock and my workouts are relatively easy and I feel great. Then there are weeks like this one where my legs feel like lead and I am suspicious that someone reprogrammed the elliptical so that the level called "5" today is the one that was called "10" last week! Try to push through and see if it gets better.
Give it time. I don't know where you live, but I have such a hard time in the winter getting up to work out, my bed is just so warm and comfy. But once you get into a routine it will get easier. I also find that I can run further/longer first thing in the morning.
Post by thebuddhagouda on Mar 5, 2015 9:52:49 GMT -5
If I'm going to do a longer run in the morning, I have to get up at least 30 minutes earlier than the run to have time to eat a pieces of toast or some easily digestible carbs. I can't run distance on an empty stomach.
I just have to make myself. I am not a morning person, but I do know that I ALWAYS regret not getting up to work out. I get up between 5:15-5:30 and my elliptical is in my bedroom. DH is still asleep so I don't turn on the TV, just listen to music. I did convince him to buy a trainer for his bike so he can get up with me to work out so soon I can watch TV!
What time do you normally get up if you aren't working out? What time do you go to bed?
If the problem is that your body is literally not functioning, not that you have trouble dragging your butt out of bed (my usual issue, lol) - I'd see if I could get into a routine where you go to bed earlier/wake up at your workout time for a few weeks without necessarily working out. Since the holidays, I've been getting up consistently at 5:45-6am and going to bed at 10pm - regardless of what I'm doing the next day - and I've noticed a big difference in how easy it is to actually work out, hold conversations, get ready for work, whatever. My body is just used it it and when I sent my alarm for 6:15 today, I woke up at 6:10 with a start thinking I'd overslept!
I think if you are just starting to get up earlier AND trying to work out at the same time, it's going to be harder than if your body is already used to being awake at that time.
I get up at 4:30 to workout or go running. It took me some time to get adjusted to working out that early. In the beginning I felt very sluggish and not as strong as I did when working out later in the day. Now I'm used to it and don't have any issues.
Post by jillybean222 on Mar 5, 2015 10:07:24 GMT -5
I do boot camp at 6am a few days a week. Once I'm up I'm usually good. Do you eat anything before you start running? A banana or something? Maybe that would help. I have been a runner for 20 years as the super early runs were always terrible. I do much better when I start at 830 or 9 or run in the late afternoon/wary evening.
Bc I have the physical endurance to run distances, but can't run them on the TM. Total mental block.
I was gonna say, are you sure it's not the TM? Because I hate getting up early but if I was outside I would get over it pretty quickly. Running on the TM drains my soul though - I run slower, less, and it's so easy to give up.
Post by everythingsshinyap on Mar 5, 2015 11:12:22 GMT -5
Everyone always thinks I'm weird for doing this, but when I did morning workouts I needed to shower first. I don't feel awake until I at least rinse off.
Bc I have the physical endurance to run distances, but can't run them on the TM. Total mental block.
I was gonna say, are you sure it's not the TM? Because I hate getting up early but if I was outside I would get over it pretty quickly. Running on the TM drains my soul though - I run slower, less, and it's so easy to give up.
Definitely could be the TM. The 5 on Tues and today was on the TM. DH is out of town so I can't go to the gym where there would at least be other people to distract me. The other issue is that we live on a dirt back road with a lot of traffic so I'm not comfortable running outdoors until it's at least light out (and the drivers have had their first cup of coffee). Otherwise I'd be all over running outdoors when DH is home.
I was gonna say, are you sure it's not the TM? Because I hate getting up early but if I was outside I would get over it pretty quickly. Running on the TM drains my soul though - I run slower, less, and it's so easy to give up.
Definitely could be the TM. The 5 on Tues and today was on the TM. DH is out of town so I can't go to the gym where there would at least be other people to distract me. The other issue is that we live on a dirt back road with a lot of traffic so I'm not comfortable running outdoors until it's at least light out (and the drivers have had their first cup of coffee). Otherwise I'd be all over running outdoors when DH is home.
Understandable. Just in case you didn't know, there are a lot of clip on lights and stuff like that for exercising in the dark, if you think that would help. I have shoelace clips, a strobe armband, reflective slap bracelets, etc.
I tried caffeine this morning. I got up 15 minutes earlier just to get a cup of coffee down me. It didn't do much. I think part of it is that without getting up at 4:30, I don't really have time to wake up between getting up and going downstairs to the basement. But if I were to get up at 4:30, I'd probably fall asleep on the couch while I waited for myself to "wake up". I'd probably be better if I had the 15 minutes to wake up on the drive to the gym.
Post by sweetptater on Mar 5, 2015 11:34:54 GMT -5
I go to bed between 10-10:30. Sometimes 9:30 if DH is out of town. I'm always asleep by 10:30. Used to be up at 6 normally, now 4:45 to work out. So a little earlier. I should also try eating something before starting. The extra calorie/energy boost couldn't hurt.
Post by mrs.jacinthe on Mar 5, 2015 12:59:53 GMT -5
I go to bed super early. Like at 8 or 8:30. Also, my body needs more time to wake up slowly and rid itself of the fog, so I actually have a small travel alarm I keep next to the bed that I set for 4:15. I just turn it off and go back to sleep when it goes off. At 4:30, my phone (on the charger in the bathroom) goes off, and then I get it, get back in bed, snooze twice, check the temp so I know how many layers I need to wear to the pool, and get out of bed by 4:45. I need that 1/2 hour of slow wakeup in order to be able to process movement and coordination in the mornings. If I just wake up abruptly and try to function, nothing functions properly and I waste my workout.
I don't know how I do it. I just...do. It sucks, but once I get going, I feel pretty good. I'm doing TM runs right now since it's below zero here and the sidewalks/streets are covered in ice. I go to the gym on mornings my H is dropping DD off at daycare. I'm up at 5 and at the gym by 5:30. I pack everything the night before so I can get up, brush teeth, and go. I've been doing it for about two months now, and it's mostly routine at this point.
I tried caffeine this morning. I got up 15 minutes earlier just to get a cup of coffee down me. It didn't do much. I think part of it is that without getting up at 4:30, I don't really have time to wake up between getting up and going downstairs to the basement. But if I were to get up at 4:30, I'd probably fall asleep on the couch while I waited for myself to "wake up". I'd probably be better if I had the 15 minutes to wake up on the drive to the gym.
I take Essential Amino Energy (it's a powder you mix with water, has 100mg of caffeine per serving). I have to wait at least a half an hour to start working out, or my legs feel like lead. I also really need to be in bed by 10:00; I wake up at 5:00 and it is really hard to get myself to work out if I don't have enough sleep.
Early to bed for sure. Prep everything the night before.
I have to eat and have coffee first, so I get up about an hour before my run and eat, drink coffee & wake up. Then out the door. I don't know how I do it, I just do. I can't think about it. If I do, I can easily talk myself out if it!