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| Morning runs (Read 725 times) |
jamesatkinson view log |
posted: 6/2/2008 at 11:11 PM |
| OK, I’ve been running now for about 4 months, with probably 90% of my runs in the evening or late afternoon after work. The problem is that I’m training for a race which, like most races, will be held in the morning. The few times I’ve run in the morning, my energy levels, and hence my times have been WAY down. For example, I went for a run before work a few weeks ago and it took 40 minutes of pure struggle to complete a course which I completed last Friday in a tick under 33 minutes. Has anyone else experienced this? Is it something I could train my way out of? Any thoughts or advice would be appreciated… |
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| view log Treehugger. |
posted: 6/2/2008 at 11:21 PM |
Yes and yes. Sad to say, the only way to get better at running in the morning is to run more in the morning. 
You might want to experiment with eating something small half an hour or an hour before you go, though I don't think it's necessary. Make sure you drink something before you leave, and just stick with it for a week or two. I switch to a morning run or two per week come summer, and it's pretty horrific at first but after a little while it feels almost pleasantly fuzzy, and I am NOT a morning person. |
| Los Angeles Human Race 10k : Done! |
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posted: 6/2/2008 at 11:37 PM |
| I have the same problem. My legs always feel very heavy in the morning. My blood sugar and blood pressure are lower, I'm sure, than in the late afternoon. I hate mornings! But Squeaky is right-- the only way to get better at it is to do it. |
| C25K/OHR Group//Ex-smoker support//Run with Pride: runwithpride@att.net |
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posted: 6/2/2008 at 11:44 PM |
Maybe it's just what you get used to? I'm NOT a morning person, but that's when I run. When I try to run in the afternoons now, it's much harder for me - I feel very sluggish.
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| Maine Coast HM, September 21 |
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| view log Cheeseburger in Paradise |
posted: 6/3/2008 at 12:13 AM |
| Yeah I have the same problems at any races as well. I work nights and sleep all day so my "morning" runs are usually at 3pm. But when I do any 5ks or anything like that and they are held at like 8am, my body just doesnt function then (eventhough I havent worked the night before usually). Its very frustrating but I dont really have any other options so I just suck it up and know that its gonna be a struggle. |
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posted: 6/3/2008 at 12:13 AM |
| I'm an afternoon runner, but try and do my weekend runs in the mornings so that my legs remember how - it doesn't always work but i normally manage to do it for my long run. The key for me is eating breakfast, YRMV. |
Training is futile... i've seen the error in my ways...
Bring on the Monkey! |
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XCRunner21 |
posted: 6/3/2008 at 12:24 AM |
| I agree with what everyone has already said, but when you say you feel sluggish, does that mean your legs or your entire body? If it is your entire body, then i would you are not getting enough sleep. If it is your legs then just do what everyone else said, try switching 2-3 of your runs per to the week and it will go away |
Goals:
3 mile- break 16:00
2 mile- break 10:00
1 mile- break 4:45
Run my first Triathlon- done
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posted: 6/3/2008 at 2:00 AM |
| Quote from jamesatkinson on 6/2/2008 at 11:11 PM: OK, I’ve been running now for about 4 months, with probably 90% of my runs in the evening or late afternoon after work. The problem is that I’m training for a race which, like most races, will be held in the morning. The few times I’ve run in the morning, my energy levels, and hence my times have been WAY down. For example, I went for a run before work a few weeks ago and it took 40 minutes of pure struggle to complete a course which I completed last Friday in a tick under 33 minutes. Has anyone else experienced this? Is it something I could train my way out of? Any thoughts or advice would be appreciated…
Well - it seems to me that 4 months is still a fairly short time for running. Looking at your training log, I think you could be getting in more miles too.
I do almost all of my running after work b/c I leave for work around 0530 each day - but - I feel most able to race in the mornings. In fact, my last race was at 7 PM and I felt terrible before the race. I turned in a fast 5K for me but I think I would have done better in the AM.
I suppose you could easily experience things differently than I have. See if you can get out for runs more often during the week and give yourself more time - maybe a yr and reevaluate.
hmmm - you don't do a training run the afternoon/night before a race do you? That would hurt my time. I usually do not run for 24+ hrs before a 5K.
Good luck - hope you can shake this issue - almost all races are in the AM. |
John
www.wickedrunningclub.com
I run to forget who the President is... |
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posted: 6/3/2008 at 2:18 AM |
| You are not alone James, the only solution I've found is to get up really, really early on any race day (not that I have a lot of experience racing, just a few) so that by race time I've been up and about for 3 or 4 hours. |
| Beer, now cheaper than gas! |
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posted: 6/3/2008 at 2:38 AM |
I run only in the morning because if i don't.
1. I am less likely to do it later in the day.
2.If i run in the evening it is hard to go to bed before midnight
I find if you walk for 10 minutes or so it helps to get the blood moving and makes the run much better. |
Clark
2008 Goals
Run HM under 2hrs done-1:50
Run First Full Marathon Sept 14th 4:00
Finish all home projects---ya right
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jamesatkinson view log |
posted: 6/3/2008 at 10:15 AM |
Jeeez this site is good! Thanks for the advice, all. Good to know it's not just me.
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posted: 6/3/2008 at 11:41 AM |
| I'm a morning person and hate running at night. When I do, I usually feel I have no energy. However, I'm going to try to do some of my long runs in the afternoon. When I run in the morning it's usually much cooler and I often get end up racing in hot weather and don't perform well. |
| veggies on the run |
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Mr Inertia view logHeck of a Guy |
posted: 6/3/2008 at 12:21 PM |
| Race day adrenaline will count for quite a bit. My last race was done on less than 4.5 hours of sleep and I got a huge effin PR. It's not easy hit the starting line and not feel energized by the excitement and vibes at a race. |
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| view log 2009 Goofy Trainee |
posted: 6/3/2008 at 2:33 PM |
| Quote from Mr Inertia on 6/3/2008 at 12:21 PM: Race day adrenaline will count for quite a bit. My last race was done on less than 4.5 hours of sleep and I got a huge effin PR. It's not easy hit the starting line and not feel energized by the excitement and vibes at a race.
I agree with the adrenaline factor. My first race was the Disney World Marathon, and after only 2 hours of sleep (due to my kids), I had to wake up at 3AM, take a bus to the starting line, and wait there until 6AM for the start. I had plenty of time to stretch, eat a decent breakfast, take care of nature, and listen to the rock band in the parking lot. By 6AM I was wide awake and pumped up for the race. |
| Turn off your mind, relax, and float downstream... |
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posted: 6/4/2008 at 12:43 AM |
| Yeah I had the same problem, started running mornings on the weekend and the problem vanished after 3 or 4 runs. |
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