Kraemer says:

I posted this on my blog this morning, but I figure this forum as a larger audience, so I'll post here as well.

My original motivation for running was fitness. I’m much heavier than I should be and was discouraged about getting winded more quickly than my kids. I wanted to loose weight and get fit. I’ve lost over 20 pounds since Christmas 2007, and I can probably run father now than I ever have before (sad state, but true). But, I’ve seen other benefits that I wasn’t anticipating.

Since my college days, it’s been very hard for me to wake up before the sunrise. Come to think of it, its often hard to get out of bed after sun-up as well. I’ve always been most mentally and physically active at night. I’ve wanted to become a morning person, but it hasn’t ever come naturally for me.

The 3-times weekly goal of keeping my running schedule is now motivating me to get up early (anywhere from 5:30am to 6am, depending on family schedule for the day), get out of bed, get my shoes on, and go. As soon as I am actually up out of bed, the rest comes relatively easily. Only once in over 100 workouts have I retreated back into bed after leaving the house before finishing my morning time or distance goal.

Being up that early, running through my neighborhood before the sun comes up has been a refreshing way to start the day. It’s rewarding to see the duck pond in the stillness of the dawn and to hear the roosters crowing from the little farm a few streets away. The mood and sense of the streets around my home are calm and comforting as they transition from darkness to the warm shades of the early morning. This morning I could hear the local high school drumline warm up with rudiments and paradiddles. It wasn’t just another welcome sign that football season is here. It was nostalgic to think back to when I was practicing beside my friends before school.

All of these external events have been in the neighborhood since well before we moved in. But I wasn’t able to experience any of it from the comfort of my own bed. Because I am out in the neighborhood instead of curled up under the covers I’m able to see, hear, smell, and touch all these things. Besides the larger goals of fitness or accomplishment of completing each small step on the way to a marathon, I’m able to enjoy more fully the area where I live.

If I keep this up, I might even turn into a real morning person.

How about you? What pleasure or benefits have you found while running that you weren’t expecting to find?

PS: I'm just getting started, so when I run, it should probably be interpreted as "jog" or even just working out. I'm expecting to increase in both speed and distance as I work towards the ultimate goal of completing a marathon when I'm 40.

 tanned_va lter says:

Mark, I know what you mean perfectly.
I'm 45 and start running (jogging) on January 1st this year; never run before.
I've lost 25 pounds since I start and sensation I have is great.
I run in the early morning as well, and that's great for many reasons, most of them you have pointed out. It seems to me that after my run I have more energy to handle a new day, probably because of endorphins realesed, our natural dope :-)
I know that in winter it's harder, because of temperatures and rain and even snow. But I didn't give up for weather reasons last January and February, and hope you will resist during the next freezing season.

 Kraemer says:

Thanks for the encouragement! Indeed, it will start getting cooler in the mornings here soon. There's typically a period of 6-8 weeks when the temperature is just right. Then Winter arrives and I'll be shopping for cold weather gear. Its encouraging to know you didn't stop. I will strive not to stop either.

 petergarner says:

Cold weather gear in Dallas? I think you must be playing fast and loose with the word "winter." ;-) Ever try running at -20C? Now THAT calls for cold weather gear. LOL

But on a more serious note, I too have come to love the early morning runs, especially in summer, when I can jump in the pool afterward to cool off. Can there be a better way to start the day?

Great, inspiring, post.

 RunnerGirl77 says:

Early morning or late evening...I'll take a run at either time! If it's not a Long Run, it means that I probably won't have to fiddle with things like sun block lotion, which is an added plus.

Winter...in Texas? LOL, yeah, very different from up North. I remember one Long Run I decided to do while my bf was skiing the Keskanada in Ottawa, Canada. It was -10F. Yes, you read that right! At the twelve mile point, I wanted to pull my gorget up over my chin, as I was feeling numb. My fingers couldn't find it; the only thing I could locate was this hard, frozen thing around my neck. Yeah, that was my gorget. And those funny bits that were blocking my vision from time to time were mini-icicles that were forming on my eyelashes!

Seriously though, if it's colder than what you're used to running in, it's winter, no matter if it's 3F or 33F. Sorry folks, when it comes to temperatures, I'm metric-impaired. Course distances, well, that's another thing..

 PotatoHead says:

Kraemer, welcome to RunnerPlus and thanks very much for a wonderful post! I think you captured perfectly why many of us run. Probably the best -- and most unexpected -- pleasure I get from running is simply this: for an activity that I hated for most of my life, it's amazing how GOOD I feel after a run. I really look forward to my running days and really miss it when I can't run. And I can honestly say that I feel that way even when I have one of those Humbling Running Experiences :-) (see forum topic by that name)

 WileBEERCoyote says:

Kraemer, thanks for this topic.
May I add something I remember?
While running with BeepBeep during last autumn we made a special sound experience. In the early morning ths sun was just over to come over the horizon. No wind and a little bit chilly. The leaves from the trees were piled just beside the narrow asphalt path through the park. Those leaves were already dry and they got moved with the wind we created with our running bodies; we did not touched them. It was a very delicate sound and experience surrounded by the silent park environment.
One of those benefits of an early morning run.
BeepBeep and me, we started running in March 2007 and still love that decision. We can use the treadmill in the basement if the situation outside is disturbingly cold or rainy.

 Kraemer says:

Great memories, Wile. That's exactly the kind of moment that inspired me to write this morning.

Thank you everyone for the warm welcome. I can see that this community will be a great inspiration.

 flipya says:

Great topic Kraemer.   

The 'aha' for me was when we went to visit my in-laws in Toronto. We've been going up there for 8 years now - and I still didn't feel like I knew the city at all. This trip I had started running a few months before, so I actually got out. Running through neighborhoods and parks, inhaling the fragrances as I passed restaurants and coffee shops, nodding/waving to the other runners, recognizing where things are in relation to each other - all things you just don't get flying by at 45 mph.

 beerRahn says:

Hmmm...back when, I hated getting up in the morning to run.

These days, I don't mind. It's definitely peaceful out, and unfortunately, I usually get distracted by the sunrise and stuff. (Wishing I had my camera setup or wanting to do some night photography.)
And it's definitely nice that my mind is usually clear. (Although sometimes I don't know what's going to pop in there, as evidenced this morning when I broke out in song.)

(Also posted to your blog, so you'll see this twice. Cause I know everyone loves blog comments.

 Evan326 says:

I'm fairly new to running, only about a year with a 4 month gap. The best thing other than looking/feeling better than I have at the old age of 23, is how relaxing it is. I'm generally an angry and irritable person. I now look forward to being able to run after work when it's really pissing me off. I'm not sure if it can change my personality, but it at least has helped me to control it a little better.

 kitnkabdl says:

I am 40, overweigt, and a new to running - about 2 months now. I recently ran my first race(5K)-very emotional experience to finish my first one. The very next weekend I did the Susan G walk with my daughter and I just signed up for my next 5k for October 11th.

I have been threatening to run in the early morning too, but I don't want to get up and I'm nervous about running alone. This morning though, I did it. I loved it... and will do it again tomorrow! I ran about mid-morning today and if I do it tomorrow, I will have to leave my house at 4:30am. I think it will be more peaceful and I'll experience what you did!

 alew2 says:

Great topic and great job to all that have posted in here. I started running after a long absence in order to get in shape. Besides, I missed it. I work nights so I have to run in the mornings. I actually prefer to run in the mornings although I will run in the late afternoon/early evening. It's a great way to jump start my day!

 Emikasmum says:

Just stumbled upon this topic - how refreshing it is! You've all inspired me to give early morning running a try, although it means I'll have to get organised enough to get to bed early the day before. I'll let you know how it goes...

 Steve1967 says:

Mine occurred yesterday. I normally don't go out before the sun comes up (safety) but yesterday was a long run day for me. I was onto the trail around 0545 and made it to the beach around 0615. As I was turning around the slough which was as still could be, had just started to pick up the sunlight and was low enough that it picked up the entire color spectrum.

I almost stopped to enjoy the view but it was a sweeping turn so I could enjoy it thoroughly. As I continued past it, the cranes started to wake up and all the little creatures getting their daily routine going. It set the day for me, I had a great day and it seemed like even the toughest decisions were made just a little easier.

Morning runs +1

 kitnkabdl says:

So... 2 days later.. I love running in the mornings. I live in the city and it was sooooo incredibly quiet! I saw a skunk.. he didn't see me and he was very cute! I felt so energetic for the rest of my day and tired by 9pm! PERFECT! My son went with me and encouraged me the whole way!

WOO HOO for running in the mornings! Exhilerating

 teknotron says:

I also live in the city and love running in the morning. No traffic! I can safely run across on red lights without slowing down. And the sidewalks are not crowded.

The parks are quiet and still cool with morning mist. Before the sunrise, I can see the skyscrapers downtown still light up but everything is quiet as if I was watching a still photo of downtown at night. Then, slowly on the run back home I see the sunrise, the dog walkers, and the cyclists heading to work.

The best part of running in the morning is how I feel the rest of the day. I feel very little stress those days. I walk slowly to the metro (subway) on those days. If the metro if full, I'll calmly wait for the next train to come. It feels like walking meditation. Don't worry, be happy.

On days that I don't run, I'm the guy who's walking fast, bumping into people, and jamming himself into an already full metro wagon. Yes, that was me. Sorry about that.

 Smiler says:

Another great post,teknotron,in a very inspiring thread altogether. My weekend runs are at 7.45am - not the crack of dawn exactly- but they set me up for the rest of the day. This morning a young deer ran across my usual trail, just a few feet in front of me. I rarely manage a pre-work run as it seems too much to go out in pitch dark and cold at this time of year, and I like to run on trails rather then on roads - but maybe I'll work up to it...