Does anyone have problems with early morning workouts? Specifically early morning runs or bike trainer workouts?
This morning I ran 5 miles and it was a struggle after mile 2. My legs were dead and felt I had just done a long ride. This was a mellow run and not a speed workout. I can do the same run in the afternoon or evening anyday just fine. I can run 12 miles easily at a relaxed pace.
At first I thought it takes a while to adapt. But after 3 weeks of waking up at 6AM to start a run (or bike trainer workout) at 6:30AM, nothing has changed. I struggle each time. Swim workouts go ok though. I get about 7.5 hours sleep each night.
I’m starting to think my body and legs need at least one or two hours before it’s fully awake. Any ideas or advice?
I’m the opposite. Swimming is pretty much a no-go in the mornings for me. Running is fine (I’ve been running in the morning since college) and cycling is fine as well, so long as I’m not doing anything longer than two hours.
Seriously, I’ve been doing them on and off for years (depending on my race schedule) and I have never gotten used to them. I’m slow and unergetic. I’m not a morning person. However, if I could work out at 4pm every day that would be great. But life doesn’t work that way when you have a job, kids, wife who also works, a house, etc… Good luck and keep at it. They do still count.
I used to struggle during a lot of my am workouts and once I started eating something about 1/2 hour before the quality of those workouts improved drastically.
Im lookin for the article as soon as i find it ill post it on here…It has something to do with our internal clocks…the optimal time to workout was something like after 5pm and stuff…I am the same way and i usually workout after 7 cuz of the heat and humidity here and have no problem working out…Sunday long rides are killers cuz i get up at 6am though
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I have a banana, a bagel and some juice while driving to the run start. So yes, I usually eat ~10-15 minutes before the start of the run. Might need to space that gap more…
I refuse to eat anything more substantial than a powerbar / clif bar that close to the start of the run. I wouldn’t eat a bagel / banana / juice combo any sooner than 2 hours before I ran.
That’s just me, though, and how comfortable I feel running with food in my stomach. If I’m running and I need to eat, I’m fine, but I couldn’t eat and then run 15 minutes later.
There are morning people and there are non-morning people. I do much better with an afternoon, evening or even night workout. I like to ease into the day, and the shock of a morning workout to my system is not good.
What works for me (when I have to) is to get up earlier than needed so I can get around for a while, have some food and coffee and just generally get the motor started before attempting a workout. Get moving around, do some stretching, get the HR up a little and the joints lubed etc. I’m old so aI generally always feel bad in the morning.
Exactly. I only have a good workout if I get up, have some food, drink some coffee and relax. If not, I find myself yawning and feeling flat.
What works for me (when I have to) is to get up earlier than needed so I can get around for a while, have some food and coffee and just generally get the motor started before attempting a workout. Get moving around, do some stretching, get the HR up a little and the joints lubed etc. I’m old so aI generally always feel bad in the morning.
All my workouts are better in the morning. I never eat breakfast prior to running (bad, bad, bad idea for me). I eat a little before heading to the pool or on the bike. I drink a lot of coffee and I need to be up about an hour. I hate working out in the evening, mostly because it’s freezing, foggy and windy here, especially in the summer, but I never know when I’ll get away from work. Easier to come in later. I do like lifting and doing a short treadmill run about 3PM.
Eating a bagel and drinking fruit juice 15min before a RUN workout is a bad idea.
1/2 hr from wake-up to run workout wouldn’t be enough for me either (I need 45min to 1 hr to get rolling). I normally use this time to do some easy tasks around the house.
I do eat something easily digestible (Banana/Soy shake or some engineered liquid food) immediately after getting up (gives me some digestion window before the workout). I also drug myself with a cup of coffee (it is not a race, after all). Running on empty doesn’t work for me.
So for me it is that I either can make the time committment or I am going to bag it.
There are 15 hours of daylight, why are you training in the morning?
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!(images/clear_shim.gif)if the race is in the morning wouldn’t training in the morning be a good idea ?
Not everybody is a morning person. I’m not. I’m useless in the morning. I’m at my most intellectually creative at night owl times.
I think anybody can train themself to be a morning person, no matter how reluctant or difficult it is at first. At times in my life, I’ve done it. But if there is no pressing reason to do so, why bother?
I’m interested to read responses to this. I can swim and run in the early morning, no problem, but cycling is another story for whatever reason.
Hee hee, me too. I love morning workouts and will quite happily wake up wicked early to swim or run. Cycling I prefer in the evening (although riding down cottage street in the morning before the Tourist Invasion is nice)
That is very simple. Because you fail to take time to inject enough caffeine (stimulant) in your body…and expect your muscles to perform without that odd hours!
