As y’all read this I am either on a plane or happily enjoying lower humidity out on the West Coast. I am in the Seattle area for a few days taking part in Oiselle’s annual bird camp for the team (essentially adult running camp) and I will share all about the fun once I’m back in DC. In the interim, we have a fun Friday Five topic this week: running tips! I’m sharing five tips on becoming a morning runner. I don’t run in the morning all the time (my track workouts are in the evenings) but for long runs and MOST of my weekday runs the morning is it. If you aren’t a morning person (I’m not), I hope you find these tips helpful! Per usual, I’m linking up with my girls Cynthia and Mar for the #Friday Five. You can read our linkup rules here. Please, please, please follow the rules! Note that if you don’t play nicely, we will delete your link. Have a wonderful weekend!
I’ve talked about this a few years ago (in an old post that I need to update), but thought it was worth revisiting. And just in case you aren’t convinced in the benefits of running in the morning, I included a (#nofilter) picture from the start of my long run last weekend. How beautiful is that sunrise? I hate waking up early but to see God’s glory displayed like that is completely worth it in my humble opinion.
- Find an accountability partner. For me this is absolutely CLUTCH. If I am not meeting someone to run early in the morning, chances are HIGH that I will not get out of bed. I know it’s terrible that I’m willing to cancel on myself, but it is what it is. That’s why I make sure to SCHEDULE pretty much all of my early morning runs with other run buddies! It works.
- Go to bed. This one can be hard as well. However, after a few days of early wake ups, going to bed does get easier!
- Lay out your clothing and gear. I always have to do this. I’m just not with it enough at zero dark thirty to make sure I have everything I want for the run. Setting everything out just makes it easier and saves me time.
- Reward yourself. I do this in a number of ways – either with the promise of my favorite breakfast or a sweet new piece of Oiselle gear or by saving up a story so I can tell it to my bud while we’re running. Whatever it takes, y’all.
- Set more than one alarm. I actually don’t need to do this anymore but I used to. Now one 5am alarm is enough and I often wake up before it goes off. But if you are just trying to get the hang of morning runs, you might want to set a few alarms so when you turn one off in your sleep, you won’t miss your run!
What kind of running tips are you sharing today? What is the best running related tip you’ve ever received?
Getting to bed at a decent time is the hardest for me, but getting my run completed the first thing in the morning is the best! Luckily I have lots of early riser running friends that hold me accountable and make getting up so fun! 🙂
Debbie @ Deb Runs recently posted…Running Tips Not To Be Overlooked
And then you get to shoot awesome sunrises with your go pro!!
These are great tips! Going to bed at a decent hour, getting enough sleep and laying out my gear are definitely ways I’m able to stick with my early morning wake up calls to run! Now if I could just find someone in my area to run with at that hour, I would be a happy camper! Have a great Friday, Courtney!
Angie @ Pace with Grace Blog recently posted…Friday Five Link Up ~ 5 Running Tips
You could have written that just for me! I am not kidding you…today I took my 7 mile run at hotter-than-heck thirty and it was the most difficult run I’ve ever run! I ate too much prior to the run and it was JUST SO HOT! You are so right about the planning! The only way to get my butt out the door early is to promise someone else I’ll be there! Enjoy being out on the west coast! I love love love that area of Washington!
Love this post. So true. Even as I sit here typing just past midnight I am reminded that I should be sleeping because I need to run early. lol
Have a great weekend.
Haley recently posted…Five Tips for Running with a Jogging Stroller
I need to find a running buddy! That would have solved my problem for this week! Oh and going to bed early is always so hard!
I don’t think I will ever become a morning person. I’m that one out there running in the middle of the day when it’s sunny and humid just so I can sleep in a bit longer. But laying things out the night before is a great tip. I do that for my classes I teach at the gym.
I am definitely a morning runner and agree with all your tips. Morning for me though is 8 a.m. I have never run in the dark or earlier than 8. Probably because I can not find a running buddy for that time. Its too early for French people !
karen – Fit in France recently posted…Friday five : Running tips
Laying out clothing is definitely something I need to work more on! I’ve found myself plenty of times scrambling around in the morning trying to find something for a run or race. Actually last eek I could not find my second racing flat so I ended up wearing old ones!
Hollie recently posted…Five Things I’ve Learned From Running
Give yourself an incentive–like having a buddy, or getting starbucks rather than yucky coffee after. Have something to look forward to! And YES go to bed!
Susie @ SuzLyfe recently posted…Five Tips for Optimal Muscle Recovery for Runners
Yes! I love this!! Great idea and list. It’s definitely doable. I don’t feel like myself when I don’t get my workout in in the morning. I encourage it!
Lara @ Uptite Mamas recently posted…Friday Five – Five Running Tips
I am so not a morning runner but I have so much respect for those of you that are. The running camp sounds like a great experience. Have fun! Thanks for the link up
Deborah @ Confessions of a Mother Runner recently posted…5 Things You Should Never Do Before A Race
thanks deborah – we’re headed out to meet some of the team soon! have a great weekend!
These are all great tips! Even though I am more of a morning runner, I still always lay my stuff out the night before, I’ve tried the morning routine and I am always bound to forget something! I actually almost forgot my watch yesterday morning – the most crucial item!
I think going to bed at a consistent time helps ease the transition process of waking up earlier in the morning.
Krystal recently posted…Running Tips to Know!
yes, going to bed at a consistent time is SUPER key!
i have to set multiple alarms ANY time i have to wake up early, not just running haha. it’s so difficult for me to get up and run in the morning, and i think the best tip i ever got to motivate myself to do so was making sure i have something so yummy waiting for me in the morning that i HAVE to get up. food is my motivation for everything 🙂
brittney @ corral b recently posted…friday five: tips for new runners
i hear you on that, lady! hope you are adjusting back to chicago well!
I”m such a morning person that I don’t have trouble getting up early! But try to get me to do an evening run, and I”m a mess!
Wendy@Taking the Long Way Home recently posted…Book review: Marathon Journey, An Achilles Story
evening runs are really hard for me as well. plus i have all day to talk myself out of it!
Being a morning runner comes naturally to me, but I’ve definitely had to try to convince some friends of mine to become morning converts. 🙂
Rachel recently posted…5 Key Running Tips [Friday Five]
it takes time to make the switch!!
I’m a morning runner on the weekends, so my Friday nights are early to bed, early to rise.
Lesley recently posted…Advice for Runners
oh yes. i wake up at 5am every saturday – friday nights are boring in my house!
Have fun at camp!!! Love Seattle.
Great tips. I think like anything else, once you get into the habit of morning running, you basically get up and go no matter what!
Erica @ Erica Finds recently posted…Friday Finds: 5 Reasons to Try HIIT (from The Fit Foodie Mama)
so true. but if i’m not meeting someone, i’ll STILL talk myself out of super early runs, haha.
I’m a morning runner through and through, so thankfully getting out of bed for a run comes easy. We live in a very hot city too, so early mornings are often the only bearable time to run!
Enjoy your running camp – sounds wonderful!
Karien @ Running the Race recently posted…Five tips for getting non-runners to understand (and join!) you
thanks. and yes, in the summer morning running is a MUST!
Great minds think alike! I just drafted a post about morning running that will go live next week. Love these!
These are great tips! I wish I lived in an area that was more suited for running before the sun came up…aka in the dark. It’s not too safe here so I would never want to do that, not that hubby would want me to anyway.
I guess if I was running with a buddy in the dark that might be better.
Amy @ Running on Faith and Coffee recently posted…Five Ways to be Race Ready | Five on Friday
Getting up early on the weekends is tough, I have a running buddy that I meet on Saturdays who keeps me accountable!
Janelle @ Run With No Regrets recently posted…5 Tips For Your First Mud Run
There are two things that get me out of bed for a run: a race I’ve paid for and my running group. Accountability really is huge! I also think laying out clothes/gear is important. It makes the morning better. I wish I was a morning person, but it’s hard! I do feel amazing after an early run, but I also feel really nice in bed. 😉
I love your tips! Morning running is my favorite because of the sunrise, the cooler temperatures, and the feeling of success all day long 🙂 I have mastered most of your tips by now, but I take it a step further when I know I am running long really early in the morning: I sleep in my running clothes haha!
Laying out clothes is a must for morning running!! Also a nice breakfast reward isn’t so bad either! During morning runs I am thinking about what kind of smoothie I’m going to make afterwards or what breakfast sounds the best!
Kaleigh recently posted…5 Running Tips
I am a total morning runner. My hubby is the opposite. lol My tummy just doesn’t tolerate afternoon or evening runs well. PLUS when I get it done first thing in the morning nothing can get in the way. It’s done! How cool is it that you get to attend an Oiselle event! I really like their mission. And their cute bird tanks! After all, I am “flying” feet in faith lol 🙂 have a beautiful weekend Courtney!
Jess @flying feet recently posted…Friday FIVE Speed Racer & Thank You!! 🙂
Great tips!!
I am NOT a morning person but since having kids, I have had to become on to get my workouts/runs in before they get up. The sunrise runs are the BEST aren’t they?!
I have to do better at going to bed on time, laying out my clothes and having my workout plan set.
These are all great tips, Courtney! I can’t imagine NOT running in the morning, anymore, but I do remember it being a tough transition in the beginning. Planning and having everything ready definitely helps me save time! Hope you have an AMAZING time at Bird Camp, girlie! I’ll be living vicariously through your pics and posts!!!
Tara @ Running ‘N’ Reading recently posted…Everybody Rise by Stephanie Clifford
I’ve found laying my clothes out to really help the morning process. Getting out of bed is hard enough, so having clothes ready to go makes that groggy getting ready easier at least. I’ve been slowly getting myself back to morning running, which has been really nice.
John @ run. geek. run(disney) recently posted…Five Justifying Running Tips | #FridayFive
Totally agree on the reward! For me, morning runs are rewarded one way; coffee! Seriously an amazing coffee, or brunch to go with that coffee 😉 gets me out of bed!
Kathy @thepandapost recently posted…5 Things Friday
I love running in the mornings way better than in the evenings but with my school schedule, I don’t have time to get a run in once I’n back tk teaching next week. Just too much running around so I’m left to running after work except for my long runs on the weekends.
Melanie recently posted…Tips for Starting A Run Streak
Yeah, I’m not much of a morning person on workdays so I switch it up. I do morning runs on the weekend but evening runs on the weekdays. For my morning runs, I definitely follow your tips and it helps a lot.
Chaitali recently posted…Friday 5 – Running Tips for new runners
I LOVE running in the morning. The weather is beautiful and you get your run in before the days’ distractions interfere!
Christine recently posted…Ragnar Packing Tips
My husband and I always each set our alarms. You never know when alarm will malfunction and decide to not go off!
Kathryn @ Dancing to Running recently posted…Friday Five – 5 Tips for Running While Pregnant
I am not a morning runner, and someday hope to be. I know if I had an accountability partner it would be so much easier, but I don’t right now. Someday I will become one. …someday:) Great tips!
Annette @ Sweating Through Life recently posted…Friday Five: Running 5ks
Laying out my clothes and having to meet someone are the biggest motivators for me. I can’t let anyone down and can’t be trusted when I’m half asleep to remember things!
Fab tips – I need a new weekday 5:30-6:00am running buddy! Hopefully will find someone from the different groups.
Jennifer recently posted…Out of the Office
Ugh. I want to be a morning runner so bad. I’ve just got to figure out a way to go to bed earlier. One of these days I’ll get it together!
Cecilia @ MommiesRun recently posted…Giveaway For A Cause!
Yes, that is the ticket!
All great tips. Despite them though for some reason this training cycle I can just not get my butt out of bed!!
Number 1 is most essential for me.
If I having someone there waiting on my I am perfect.
If not…snooze…snooze…
Abby @ BackAtSquareZero recently posted…isaacmizrahi.com
I love early morning runs. These are great tips. It helps me to have a plan for what I’m doing so I don’t keep hitting the snooze button while I “decide”.
Coco recently posted…Grand Canyon Hiking At The South Rim
Yup…for me the key is just going to bed early! I am much easier to drag out of bed after 7-8 hours of sleep instead of 5-7. And I have to agree, there is almost nothing better than seeing that sun rise/beauty in the morning. Makes it all worth it.
Victoria @ Ice Packs + Races recently posted…Training Recap: Navy Air Force Half Marathon Week #7