Becoming a Morning Runner

Not too long ago, back in October. I HATED morning running. I hated the way I felt stiff and tired at the start. I hated how sluggish I felt cause I hadn't eaten. I hated how sluggish I felt if I did eat.

Even if I set my alarm and laid out my clothes, I'd hit snooze and fall back asleep. Part of the struggle of getting up is that I work until 10pm (then three nights a week, now two nights a week). But that's beside that point: I could still get up early as long as my activity was sitting, drinking coffee instead of running. So I'd put off the run 'till late morning when I could do it pushing Sophia in the stroller or I'd wait until my husband came home and go then.

Enter winter. Too cold for Sophia in the stroller. Sun sets at 4:00pm. My choices narrowed: sleep in and don't run or get up early and run. So I became a morning runner. It has taken a couple months to adjust. I've been more diligent about going to be early, even on the nights I work until 10pm (getting to bed by 10:30 or 11 on those nights is a victory). I've figured out that what I need to eat: a spoonful of peanut butter and a half a cup of coffee. And I've given myself permission to start slow, which has resulted in finishing fast (negative splits! What every runner wants to do in a race.) Now, when my alarm goes off I'm able to get out of bed instead of hitting snooze and rolling over.

I've noticed that I really enjoy heading out into the dark of the morning, alone into the quiet. I enjoy they way the rising sun turns the black sky to gray, then the gray to pink and the pink to a flaming orange. I like watching people come out of their driveways headed to work. I like passing the kids waiting for the bus. I like watching the day slowly wake up.

But what I love even more is the feeling that at 7:30am I'm done with my run and have the rest of the day to give my attention to my daughter and husband. Becoming a morning runner is as much about logging miles as it is about making time-time for the things that are more important than running. Like dress up.

-Sarah