Early Morning Runners: How do you motivate yourself?

popat89

I have thought time and time again that I would wake up early and go on a run.
Now that I live in the southern USA in the desert the coolest time of the day is from 5am-7am.

If you are a morning runner, how do you motivate yourself to get up and go? I need some tips and tricks

jesterx888

For me, the hardest part is just getting up. If I can do that, the run is not hard at all. I get up at 4:30, out the door by 5:00, showered and on my way to work by 6:30.....

Sometimes I just have to kick myself and keep telling myself if I dont do this, nothing will change.....Sometimes its the workout tracker that motivates me....If I dont go run, my workout tracker is empty and thats a little depressing....

I love the early morning runs when I am out there by myself before most people are even thinking about getting out of bed. Its a nice mental wake up for me. Once you get into a routine, its not too bad. Good luck! Enjoy the journey!

dorseykm

When I first started, my goal was to be up & out the door within 10mins. That way I could start my run before becoming fully conscious where I could talk myself out of it.

popat89

Thank you for the advice! I usually run at night around 8:30 but in the summer time it's still high 80s and it's hard to wind down after a run and get right to bed. I'm trying to run 7 miles for the first time tomorrow morning. I know it will be so rewarding if I can just get myself out the door - thanks again for the tips

mrkennethjay

Music! Get a tune that will get you pumped.

jackieatx

Tell yourself you can have breakfast when you get back, haha. I walk/jog, I'm not running yet, but that's what gets me up and at em. The promise of food.

lauleipop

I have never been able to jump this hurdle. I will run in 95-degrees in the afternoon before I'll get out of bed a single minute earlier than is absolutely necessary to make it to work on time. Kudos to you for trying to make this happen.

gooiyw

A big mug of coffee (with milk) for me. That way, I can't go back to sleep. LOL!

Lollyvoddy

When I first started, my goal was to be up & out the door within 10mins. That way I could start my run before becoming fully conscious where I could talk myself out of it.

^This. It totally works. And early nights, don't try to burn the candle at both ends.

love22step

I didn't have time to run this morning, so I ran at 5 p.m. this evening. The heat was enough motivation to make me to want to run in the mornings! Early morning runs are definitely the way to go on hot, summer days.

Enigmatica

I'm in the Phoenix area, so if I don't run early in the hot months, I don't get to run. I don't need to motivate myself - the dogs are happy to be the chief motivators and personal cheering squad from the moment my eyes open. Their enthusiasm for the morning run is quite contagious, lol.

michellekicks

Yep. The heat is motivating me too. I have to do my long run at 7am... that's the earliest I go since my husband is a night owl and the earliest I get to bed is midnight most of the time.