Early morning running and quality workouts (Read 955 times)

Up to this point, I have done little in terms of "quality" workouts - speedwork, hills, etc. However, I'm starting a Pfitzinger half marathon program next month and it will require me to do speedwork, tempo runs, hill repeats, etc. The vast majority of my runs are done early in the morning. That's not too bad when I'm running at an easy pace, but between the cobwebs and a general lack of energy at 5:00 in the morning, I am kind of thinking that the quality workouts will be more difficult to accomplish. I've tried to do early morning tempo runs in the past and it seemed more difficult to maintain the pace. I *could* try to switch one or two runs to the evenings after my kid goes to bed in order to avoid the early morning blahs, but I also have issues with reflux if I have eaten before I run. That can be very, very unpleasant.

Does (or did) anyone else have this problem? Did your body eventually adjust to doing the faster paces early in the morning or would I be better served trying to figure out a way to do those runs in the evenings?

Krystal, I think you'll learn to adjust if you give the early morning quality workouts a shot.  You're gonna have to warm-up before those workouts anyway, and I've found that those first few easy miles are enough to shake the cobwebs.  Getting enough sleep should help with energy levels (but I'm one to talk, since I've had less than optimal sleeping habits during training, e.g. going to sleep at 11 or later, then getting up at 3:30 for a run).

I always run better in the early morning than I do in the afternoon or evening!  That said, it's very important for me to warm up for at least 2 miles before doing any quality at all.  I do one mile easy, followed by one mile of easy running punctuated by strides.  That gets me going enough that I can do intervals or a tempo or whatever.  

Up to this point, I have done little in terms of "quality" workouts - speedwork, hills, etc. However, I'm starting a Pfitzinger half marathon program next month and it will require me to do speedwork, tempo runs, hill repeats, etc. The vast majority of my runs are done early in the morning. That's not too bad when I'm running at an easy pace, but between the cobwebs and a general lack of energy at 5:00 in the morning, I am kind of thinking that the quality workouts will be more difficult to accomplish. I've tried to do early morning tempo runs in the past and it seemed more difficult to maintain the pace. I *could* try to switch one or two runs to the evenings after my kid goes to bed in order to avoid the early morning blahs, but I also have issues with reflux if I have eaten before I run. That can be very, very unpleasant.

 

Does (or did) anyone else have this problem? Did your body eventually adjust to doing the faster paces early in the morning or would I be better served trying to figure out a way to do those runs in the evenings?

It's in your head. You'll get use to it. I love running first thing in the morning. Maybe that is why I don't mind. As long as I have my cup of coffee and take care of my business after the coffee I'm good to go.

It's harder to do workouts in the morning but you can get used to it. I also find that in early morning workouts I am slower at the same perceived effort than I would be later in the day--however this doesn't seem to affect race performances. Doing the work is what matters, not whether you can hit the same paces at 5:30 in the morning that you could at 5:30 in the evening.

I agree with spaniel, in that progressions are a good workout alternative for when I'm tired.  

Almost all my weekday runs start pre-5am. I can say is that its really hard. Every morning I ask myself, "self.. what the hell are you doing? See that warm cozy bed? What is wrong with you." This internal monologue repeats through the w/u.

The combination of colder temps and early morning make a longer w/u necessary. Right now a 15 min jog w/u would be min and slow progressive strides are required. Even after that, when the workout does start, its really hard to get the body moving. I almost throw out the first few reps as they are always very slow. Just think of it as poor mans altitude training. 

To compare the two.. In warm weather afternoon workout, the first few reps would feel easy then slowly build into the typical workout grind. A cold weather morning run, the first few reps feel like I'm working really hard with cement shoes on. But, by the halfway mark of each workout, they are pretty much the same. 

The biggest advantage I've had in morning workouts is that I tend to hit paces right on or a little on the slow side. Afternoon workouts, I tend to go too hard and end up needing more recovery time before the next workout. I think its helped with consistency and not getting down on myself for poor workouts. I mean, if I'm up and doing this stupid running thing, I might as well put in the effort to make the run worth while. And if the workout fails, its ok b/c I did the workout. And good or bad its a victory. 

Any run after late morning feels awful to me!  I must be some anomoly, because everyone else seems to think that afternoon runs are a lot easier.  I've always found them perfectly miserable, even in the winter when it's cold in the afternoon. 

I often run early in the morning, but I do find that it also takes me longer to warm up, which is why I prefer to do quality in the afternoon/evening. Sometimes I take a warm shower before heading out the door. I used to think that helped, but it's probably all in my head.