The Early Bird Gets The Worm: A Guide To Working Out In The Morning

It's 4:30 am, your alarm goes off {and if you have an iPhone it probably has a motivational label, like you can do it,  your running shoes are calling your name,  OR believe you can}, you are perfectly snuggled into your bed, with you comforter oh so comfortably embracing you like a cocoon {your bed is never more comfortable than when your alarm goes off for an early morning workout}, its dark outside, and you hit snooze several times.  To run {go the gym, yoga class, etc} now OR later, that is the question...

I am here to tell you:

I have always been a morning person, in the sense that I have never been able to sleep in past 7 or 8am, even as a teenager.  Now, with my schedule, the only guarantee I have of getting in a workout/run is if I do it first thing, as in 5am, in the morning.  I have fallen in love with my early morning workouts and I can't think of a better way to start my day!

Here are a few of my tips to becoming a morning runner:

Lay your clothes out the night before  or if you feel the need to, sleep in your workout clothes.

Set multiple alarms and if that doesn't work, you might want to consider an alarm clock on wheels; nothing like chasing an alarm clock through the house to wake you up.

Find workout/running partners there is something about knowing that someone is waiting for you and holding you accountable, and that you are doing the same for them.

Do NOT text your workout/running partners in the morning it always ends up going something like this, "I'm tired, not sure I want to run this morning." "Yah, me too...maybe we should cancel and run later??" "Ok, sounds good" And then the run never happens...

"I regret getting up early to workout" said no one ever.

Go to bed early its definitly easier to get up, the earlier you go to bed.

Set the timer on your coffee pot to brew either before you workout OR to come home to the fresh smell of coffee, whichever you prefer.

There is no excuse to not get in a workout during the day I all too often hear people saying they just don't have time to workout; but let be honest, you're not doing anything else at 5am,  so why not workout??

You CAN do it if you choose to!

A lot of people ask me, "How do you do it!?" {referring to me running in the morning}...but its really just a matter of making the decision to do it! I will not say its easy, but I am always so thankful when I get up in the morning, and regret the days I don't! There is no better way to start the day, than with close friends, great conversations, and a solid run, all followed by a cup of coffee and some quiet time, before things get moving and grooving.