Forums >General Running>Thinking of switching from morning to evening running...
Fight The Future
I've been an early morning runner for the last 7 years, but now I'm thinking of changing to be an evening runner. In part, this thought occurs after a conversation I had with a neurologist/sleep specialist friend of mine, who claims that evening exercise provides much better S3 something or other quality sleep. Also, though, I'm getting a little tired of waking up at 3:30 every morning. Would be nice to sleep in a bit more. But I don't want to lose social time with my family. On the other hand, I could stay up later if I slept later and see them then....
When do you evening runners eat dinner? Before running? After?
Interval Junkie --Nobby
Nobody says, "hey, let's go out for drinks" before 9am. (okay, I do know a few of those). That's the primary problem of being an evening runner -- you have less control over your schedule for social reasons.
Otherwise, screw mornings -- they suck.
2021 Goals: 50mpw 'cause there's nothing else to do
I'm a morning runner and pretty much always have been except for a brief strecth after my son was born. It pretty much comes down to what works for you, when can you fit your runs in and what you are willing to give up. Quite frankly I don't care what studies say. I like to get my runs over with first thing in the morning so I don't have to worry about anything unexpected popping up in the evenings. I like to spend time with my wife and son whan I get home from work and not have a run looming over my head. Sure, I sacrafice a little sleep but I would probably get the same amount of sleep if I were to run at night because I would not be able to start my run until about 8:30ish and would go to bed later anyway. Besides, there is less traffic on the road in the wee hours of the moring (except for the crazy newspaper delivery drivers...I mean seriously, who still reads the paper?!)
an amazing likeness
Specific to your question - during the week I run primarily in the evening after work (7pm-ish), dinner after run.
Acceptable at a dance, invaluable in a shipwreck.
I generally run mornings for many of the same reasons previously stated. Add to this in the summer, the temps are more agreeable.
Regardless of time of day, I run on an empty stomach and eat afterwards. I try to schedule my runs immediately before a meal (or schedule the meal immediately after a run). Often the dilemma is whether to eat first or shower first. Food usually wins.
Dave
#RunEveryDay
If I have to run in the evening, I'll eat post-run instead of before. I'll also make sure I have a decent snack mid-afternoon to carry me through to late supper.
Half Fanatic #9292.
Game Admin for RA Running Game 2023.
I run evenings. I eat dinner between 5 and 6 and run starting anytime between 7:30 and 9, depending on what's going on in life. I'm a night owl, so I wouldn't be sleeping at night anyway, and I don't do well trying to run in the mornings (I tried once and it didn't go well. I keep saying I'll try again, but...). The downside is that it's VERY easy to let life get in the way and not get the run in. I also rarely participate in any of the dailies because by the time I finish my run, all the weirdos who got up at 3:30 in the morning to run are already asleep (or in the case of my east coast friends are just getting up).
No act of kindness, however small, is ever wasted.
Break on through
If there is an hour or two of daylight when I get home, I'll run before dinner. Otherwise I'll eat dinner first, since it's going to get dark anyway before I would finish my run. If I'm running before dinner, I have a small pre-run snack.
"Not to touch the Earth, not to see the Sun, nothing left to do but run, run, run..."
I run after work. I am lucky that I get off work at 4 and am home by 4:45 most days. So if I don't screw around, I can start a run at 5-5:15. I usually eat a snack around 3:00. It's just DH and I, we eat dinner around 7 most nights.
I am not a morning person at all. Some people I work with work 6:30-2:30, which would allow lots of time for running, but I'd be a zombie.
I run at different times throughout the week from mornings to afternoons to evenings depending on my schedule.
For an easy run, it really doesn't matter to me when I eat, sometimes I run on a full stomach, sometimes not. I've even logged a few runs at 10:00 or later after dinner and drinks and getting back to the hotel when I'm out on the road with a crew.
For quality runs I do try to schedule them before a big meal.
Age: 50 Weight: 224 Height: 6'3" (Goal weight 195)
Current PR's: Mara 3:14:36* (2017); HM 1:36:13 (2017); 10K 43:59 (2014); 5K 21:12 (2016)
jfa
I prefer to get into work early, so i have been an evening runner.
About dinner, I recently went through an extended marathon training program basically eating a big breakfast, decent lunch , and small dinner. Usually dinner would be some yogurt, fruit , chips, something like that. That left a precious few calories left for a beer or 2. That way, you're not getting real filled up on food right before bedtime.
The saying goes:
"Eat breakfast like a King,
Lunch like a Prince,
Dinner like a pauper."
Worked well for me but it did take a lot of discipline and will power because often I just wanted to pig out.
not bad for mile 25
Nobody says, "hey, let's go out for drinks" before 9am. (okay, I do know a few of those). That's the primary problem of being an evening runner -- you have less control over your schedule for social reasons. Otherwise, screw mornings -- they suck.
Mornings are awesome, running when most of the city is still asleep. No way could I be as regular if I tried to do evening runs. That said, going to bed at 9:00 is sure a reinforcement to my old codger creds.
I would rather run in the morning. It takes me 20 min. to get to one of the best sunrise spots anywhere.
I don't like to run in the afternoon because I am tired from work but after supper and everybody is asleep I run.
Get a headlamp and reflective vest.
I do my runs during the week in the late evenings - anywhere from 7:00 PM to 11:00 PM. I usually have dinner and then relax for about an hour before I work out. Yes I do need to deal with being tired after work and other evening events, but since I have a running streak going I can usually find a way to get my runs in so I do not break my streak. I have tried to do my runs in the morning, but find they are not as productive because it takes me longer to get warmed up and moving. I do my weekend runs at various times during the day with the majority being in the morning.
Joggaholic
I run at night during the weekdays, dinner starts around 6 and run starts around 9. Sometimes it's harder to fall asleep running so close to bed time, also drinking so much water after running makes up get up at night.