Happy Monday everyone! I hope you all had a lovely weekend and you’re now ready to kick off this week in the best possible way with my five tips and tricks that will help you get your butt out the door too!
I love Mondays! :) And YES, I do love Mondays thanks to my ‘pretty new’ morning running routine. Just so you get the idea, I said ‘pretty new’ as I wasn’t ALWAYS a morning person. Oh, not even a bit! :)
As a busy-bee (that’s how I like to call myself), squeezing in my summer running routine (at least 4 times a week) can sometimes be tough. Therefore, a few months ago I decided to embark on this ‘impossible-mission-to-me’ and master my morning running routine.
After a few months of running early in the morning, I have come to the conclusion that by running in the morning, you’re more likely to develop better running habits, keep yourself in a ‘fit shape’, and an overall positive attitude.
So here are my five practical tips & tricks you can work on, beginning as early as tomorrow morning.
1. Set more than 2 alarms
In the first couple of days, you should try to set up multiple alarms – I mean at least two or three, starting with half an hour before you want to get up.
I know how tempting can be to hit the snooze, but when you bombard yourself with a few noisy-as-hell alarms (try even the music you HATE), you’re very likely to get pissed off and wake up. :)) Not to worry, you’ll thank yourself later (hopefully, you won’t think of me in that miserable moment). :)))
Bottom line: I also found this one very challenging!!! If I did it, you can do it too! :)
2. Lay out your gear the night before
Only a few weeks ago I realized that laying out everything (shorts, t-shirt, sports bra, etc.) the night before is a constant visual reminder of my goal.
So take a few minutes the night before you run and check your gear in this order (don’t get out there half naked and scare away the other runners or make them ‘chase’ you,LOL): 1. shorts, check; 2. sports bra, check (if you are a girl, you DO need one); 3. t-shirt, check; 4. running shoes, check. And so on.
Bottom line: This one saves on hassle and is a visual reminder of the contract you’ve formed with yourself regarding your morning run. It reduces the friction to get you started.
3. Crash relatively early
Relatively??? :)) You got me here – this one is my weakness and I’m still working on it. I’m a night person and my body decides it’s ready for sleep, usually after 12 am.
However, after 9 pm I try to turn off the TV (this one is actually pretty easy to do as I am not into TV that much), close my laptop a few hours before going to bed, shut off all the devices around me (phone, watch, iPad) and grab a book or kindle (it depends on what I read). OK, I admit it – it works most of the time, but not always! :)
Bottom line: Find your own schedule that will help you go to bed earlier than normal.
4. The fuel before running (eating and drinking)
I know this is controversial, but I for one can’t actually run without something in my stomach.
I usually get up around 6-ish (after I hit the snooze at least two times), have a cup of still water at room temperature (sometimes I add a Vitamin C in it), have a small bowl of granola – my fav recipe here – with 1/2 banana and Greek yoghurt, and head out of the door at 6.45 am.
When I ran out of granola, I basically have a banana with yogurt or even mozzarella.
Regardless of whether you’re in the eating/non-eating camp before the run, a glass of water is ALWAYS welcomed as you’ll be dehydrated from the night before.
Bottom line: Try it both ways and see what works for you best!
5. Keep in mind the results
I never expected that by switching my running routine from after work to before work it would affect my mood throughout the day, but I SWEAR it has!!! And my boyfriend can confirm it! :) Not kidding!
So how it works in my case: Before getting out the door I feel sluggish, but once I’ve sweat out all the weariness and I am back at home, I seriously feel HAPPY, energized and refreshed.
Maybe it’s the endorphins, or maybe it’s the fact that my day ahead looks full of positive possibilities – whatever it is, makes me feel good about myself!
Bottom line: If you’re struggling to find the motivation, just remember the ENERGY and HAPPINESS you will feel afterwards.
So running is many good things—it’s fulfilling, satisfying, challenging. Of course, running is pretty hard, but setting out to do something hard and following through can be immensely satisfying. And that’s the point, right?! Anyway, I really hope that my tips & tricks will help you get started!
If you have any further insights, please leave a comment. I’m ALWAYS open to improving my morning running routine.
As a note: I ALWAYS spice up my running routine by including speed intervals, hills, sand, long runs, and short runs, and run on different surfaces and in new places to keep my muscles guessing and continuously strengthening. I also include other forms of cardio as well as strength training (I love the body-pump class from HealthCity and TRX ) since muscle mass burns more calories and speeds up my metabolism. As it’s another topic, I will leave it for next time.
Great tips! I will be using these as I get back into my morning workout routine!
Nice! :) Thanks, Sarah! I REALLY hope they work for you too. :) Xoxo
Good honest tips!
Thank you, Chris!
This is very helpful, especially because I am going back to my morning routine as well.
Perfect timing for this post, thanks for that! :)
You’re welcome, Otilia! :) Let me know how it goes. And good luck! :) Xoxo
Great post, Cris!
You really motivated me to go back to my morning routine. Recently, I abandoned it :( I used to do yoga or jogging + some exercise.
I am very happy to read that I am not alone in eating before exercising! If I don’t eat, I feel sick and dizzy. So, I have to wake up earlier and to have something to drink and eat.
O and about the water: if you feel extremely weak, I recommend a bit of honey in hot water as first thing in the morning. It helps if you have low sugar or low blood pressure.
WOW! Thank you so much, Velly! :) I will definitely try the honey in my water. Good luck with getting back on track. Keep me posted please. Wish you a beautiful week. :) Xoxo
That’s some excellent advice! I usually prefer to work out in the morning. It’s such a great start of the day, though getting up can be quite a challenge. Laying out clothes and shoes the night before is actually a really big help (no excuses) :)
Thank yooooou! :) Xoxo
Really great tips!! What most works for me is setting a goal though. Running for being healthy won’t cut it. I can talk myself into it as much as I want I get bored and will stop doing it. But with a challenge behind it I’m all in :D
Thank you, Howie! :)
I love working out in the AM before my brain wakes up – so when the work out is DONE….. My brain then wakes up and is like, wait, you worked out?! OH SNAP!
Thanks, GiGi! :) And THANKS again for stopping by. I work out too. :))