Calling early morning runners...

jasfrmn

posted: 6/9/2009 at 7:40 AM

How do you make yourself get up! I want to start running before work which means I need to get up by 5:00 but I cannot seem to make it happen. I have moved my alarm clock clear across the room so I have to get out of bed but the snooze button always seems to win the battle. Any ideas on what I can do?

AuntJenny74

posted: 6/9/2009 at 8:15 AM

1) Go to bed earlier

2) I like a "practice" wake-up, so I set my alarm 10 minutes earlier and hit the snooze button only once, so that I can rouse a little more slowly. The 10 minute warning helps me brace myself and semi-walk through what I'll do when I get up.

3)have everything out and ready so all you have to do is suit up and head out the door.

4) Having a canine running partner really helps me. She gets so excited when the alarm goes off that I really don't have a choice.

Jenny

Craig S

Menace to Sobriety

posted: 6/9/2009 at 8:24 AM
modified: 6/9/2009 at 8:26 AM

Sleep in your running gear, 'cept maybe shoes. As soon as the alarm goes off, hit the floor. Put on the shoes and hit the door. Getting to the door is more than half the battle. Once you make it happen a few days, you sleep pattern will gradually adjust and it will become easier.

Good luck.

MTA: Focus about how good it will be to have your run behind you and be done for the day when you get home in the evening. This is my main motivation for getting out there.

Janie, today I quit my job. And then I told my boss to go f*** himself, and then I blackmailed him for almost sixty thousand dollars. Pass the asparagus.

nauseousadrnalin

Steady As She Goes

posted: 6/9/2009 at 8:24 AM

Agreed. If you can't (literally) get out of bed, you're probably not sleeping enough. Here (Pacific NW), it's light by 5 so it isn't too bad. Just make sure you get enough rest. And I like to drink OJ before I go. Kinda peps me up. But a lot of people drink coffee pre-run.

GOALS:
c25k ✓
5k ✓
12k ✓
HM ✓

M
It does not matter how slowly you go, so long as you do not stop. Confucius
Be patient and tough, some day this pain will be useful to you. Ovid

MrPHinNJ

Prince of Fatness

posted: 6/9/2009 at 8:49 AM

There's nothing magical that you can do to make it easier to get out of bed. Most mornings it will suck. It all boils down to whether you want to get your run in more than you want that hour or so of sleep. You either choose to get up or you don't.

This year I decided that I needed to add another running day to the week. It came down to getting up an hour earlier one day. I've been doing it for a few months now. My race results say that the extra day is helping, and I'm happy about that, but I doubt I'll ever be happy when the alarm goes of at 3:50 AM on Tuesday mornings.

There is a long dark road ahead of me.

mikeymike

posted: 6/9/2009 at 8:56 AM

It just takes practice and persistence.

Mr Inertia

Suspect Zero

posted: 6/9/2009 at 8:57 AM

5 minutes of discipline - that's all it takes.

Feet on the floor, hit the head, shoes on and out the door. If you can get those first five disciplined minutes under your belt you'll be ok. Do it once and the next time gets easier.

Roses Revenge

posted: 6/9/2009 at 9:18 AM

Get to bed earlier and follow the same sleep schedule all week - even on weekends.

I'm awake between 4:30 and 5:00 almost every morning and haven't used an alarm clock to wake up in probably 20 years or more, I'm also seldom up past 10:00 in the evening.

Rose
Marathon Maniac #991
Half Fanatic #58
It's a perfect day and I feel great!

jeffdonahue

posted: 6/9/2009 at 9:56 AM

When my alarm goes off at 4:45 my wife usually hits me - that wakes me up.

Seriously though - if that is not an option, when the alarm goes off get up and go pee. then you are up, throw on your running stuff (set out the night before) and get out the door. You will feel better for the rest of the day if you do it before anything else (at least I do).

NaderAlfie

posted: 6/9/2009 at 10:16 AM
modified: 6/9/2009 at 10:16 AM

Outter setting: I'd set two alarms, ten minutes apart, if necessary. I'd also have the coffee maker pre-set and everything laid out the night before. I am usually ready and out the door before I realize that I'm probably still a bit tired.

Inner setting: I agree with those who say that desire, persistence and practice are important. You have to want it.

If we don’t try we’ll never know. At least I can find out how good I can be. I can have an answer at the end of the days, and have a hell of a good time with the process. -Desi Davila

tuf_aint_enough

posted: 6/9/2009 at 10:30 AM

I've heard it said that it takes 21 days to create a habit.

First you decide, then you do. Repeat.

kencamet

posted: 6/9/2009 at 10:39 AM

The only early mornings I run are on the weekends. I have little problem getting up and out for a quick 5 or 6 miles but when the alarm goes off at 6AM on Sunday morning and I know I have 20 miles to do it get's tough. The thing that works for me is, as others have said, to get out of bed immediately. No laying there wishing it would go away. Out of bed immediately, hit the bathroom, running clothes on and out the door all within 5 minutes of waking up and without thinking about the task ahead. If I actually thought about running 20 miles, I'd never do it. Only a crazy person would run 20 miles at 6AM.

azredbirds052

Marathon Finisher

posted: 6/9/2009 at 10:47 AM

I brush my teeth, splash cold water on my face and use the bathroom. After that, I'm usually good to go. I will say, however, that it never really gets a whole lot easier. At least I don't think it does. 4:45 is freaking early. I like the summer....I get to sleep in a bit.

I need to go to bed earlier....That's probably my problem. Maybe it would help you too.

2011 Goals:

**Run 2 Marathons:

1) January 16, 2011 PF Chang's Rock-N-Roll Arizona Marathon 4:04:59

2) October 9, 2011 Bank of America Chicago Marathon

**Run 1,250 miles (Just a stupid goal--given up 05/31/2011)

**Stay healthy and injury-free (never really healthy to start year)

joe_h

The voice of mile 18

posted: 6/9/2009 at 10:47 AM

I'm hit or miss on it but i use mutliple alarms but have the most success when i go to bed early and make a pitstop instead of going straight back to bed - so i drink a fair bit of water before bed. silly but it helps

4/18 Rutgers Half Marathon 7/20 Antrhacite Olympic Tri 9/25 chesapeakeman Ultra distance Tri Rule #1 of Triathlon Training/Racing - If Momma ain't happy nobody is happy http://community.active.com/people/Joe_h1/blog

Doug B

posted: 6/9/2009 at 10:58 AM

Quote from kencamet on 6/9/2009 at 10:39 AM:

The only early mornings I run are on the weekends. I have little problem getting up and out for a quick 5 or 6 miles but when the alarm goes off at 6AM on Sunday morning and I know I have 20 miles to do it get's tough. The thing that works for me is, as others have said, to get out of bed immediately. No laying there wishing it would go away. Out of bed immediately, hit the bathroom, running clothes on and out the door all within 5 minutes of waking up and without thinking about the task ahead. If I actually thought about running 20 miles, I'd never do it. Only a crazy person would run 20 miles at 6AM.

I agree but one problem I have is... well... after being vertical for 30 - 60 minutes I generally need to make a pit stop. So make sure you have one on your route. There is nothing worse than being 3 miles from home and feeling you have 5 minutes tops before you have a serious problem. Well, maybe being 4 miles from home. Yeah, that's worse.

Some people don't have this issue but for others it needs to be considered in the morning run routine. I'm not trying to be crude. It actually is something you need to consider.

2012 goal = 4:59 for 1,500 meters. (before then just get healthy)

Calling early morning runners... (Read 3083 times)