Who Runs Before work?

I run before work. Do some prep work the night before to make it easy on yourself. I put my shoes, socks, shorts and shirts out so I don't have any excuse to not go when I get up. Once you get your running shorts on you're sold. Nothing wakes you up like a morning run. Just get out there and do it. I just have about 4oz. of water. I don't eat anything before running. Unless you're running some extreme distance there's no need to eat first. You should have plenty of energy.

Get some accountability. Tell someone the day before that you're running in the morning and that they should ask you how it went. I use Runkeeper app and I have a "Street Team." People who can see my running activity. I know if I don't run they'll notice so that's even more people who know if I slacked off or not.

I don't really run before work, but I do work out before work. My old roommate and I would wake up together and work out. It makes it easier to force yourself up if you know someone is waiting for you, so I would try to find a friend that is willing to do this with you. Regardless of if you are doing this alone or with someone, it takes a couple weeks of being really tired and getting used to going to bed earlier (Personally, I try to be in bed by 10PM to wake up at 5-530AM), but once your body acclimates to the new time you are waking up, you will have no trouble!

I run three days a week before work. The other three days I workout before work. On my active-rest day I walk/walk our dogs when I get home from work. On my run days (used C25K) I get up just after 5 a.m. and go 2-3 miles. Now that's it's staying darker out longer in the a.m. it's a big harder to get up and out but I've been at this for 2+ years so it's part of my routine and I feel off somehow of I miss a morning run/workout.

Going to bed a bit earlier does help.

I've been running in the AM (usually out of bed and hitting the pavement by 5:15am) for some time now, and have a 50lb weight loss to show for it.

I'm the same as Waffle. I put everything next to my bed so that when I roll over to shut off my alarm clock, my running clothes look at me (extremely judgingly) and say "Get your lazy *kitten* out of bed!" I also don't eat anything before a run unless I'm running for longer than an hour, and even then it's something for quick energy like a quater cup of raisins or a few bites of banana. Make sure you're well-hydrated the night before, and you'll just need a bit of water before you go.

When everything is on auto-pilot, you won't even think about not getting up anymore. I'm usually on my second kilometer before my brain catches up and realizes what's going on, and by then, it's too late!

I also prep absolutely everything before I go to bed. My breakfast and lunch are packed and ready in the fridge, and the clothes I'm going to wear to work the next day are laid out and ready to go (unmentionnables included!).

Some of the people on my friends list are really becoming accustomed to my routine, and expect to see a run logged by me before most of them are even out of bed. I also use Rundouble as an app to track my pace/distance, and quite often I'll post it to Facebook so people there keep me accountable too.

If you want it badly enough, you'll get 'er done. Just find your routine. It'll take some guess & check on your part (what works for me won't necessarily work for you)... But trust me, once you find that routine, you'll feel weird when you don't do it.

Well, since I work 3 to 12mid I find it easy to run before work. Try to find that inner strength and desire to just do it baby. Get a support group or person who can help hold you accountable.

I run before work two days a week and workout the others. I have to get up at 4:30. Yes it is hard. I had to set a goal, like signing up for a race. Currently my goal is a 1/2 marathon in 5 weeks. If I don't get my workout it, I feel slow and druggy the rest of the day. I plan the night before like the others said. Yes I have kids (two boys and a husband) so it isn't impossible. Your body and mind will get used to it. At times, running is more of a mind game than anything. Good luck and see you on the road.

I DO! I do about 3 days a week! I wake up and just KNOW its time to run. It gets in your blood... lol

ESPECIALLY if I have eaten a late night snack... time to burn that puppy off!!!!

I do not eat before I run... unless you're running a marathon or something it isn't necessary. My alarm goes off at 4:50am and I hit snooze once. I have all my clothes set out and my bag of work clothes packed the night before. I also make sure my breakfast and lunch are packed and ready the night before. All I have to do then when I get up is take out the dog, change, and brush my teeth. Then I am out the door. The faster I'm out the door the less time I have to think about it! You got this

I DO I DO! :-) sometimes it can be hard to get up and do it, but once i'm done i feel soooooo much better. load your i-pod with songs you love with quick beats, it'll get you moving! :bigsmile:

I run before work. I get up at 4:00, take the dogs for a walk and then head out for a run. I've tried running at night and it just doesn't work for me, too many things end up getting in the way. At 4:30, there are very few distractions.

I run before work...it's hard at first, to wake up and exercise, but once you get into the habit it gets easier to go to bed earlier and wake up naturally earlier....going to bed a little hungry helps me to wake up early. You will be glad when you are not in the mood to go run in the evenings and realize "hey, I already worked out, so anything else I do this evening is BONUS"
Good luck!

My runs usually happen around 5am, I've been known to wear my running clothes to bed! I get up at 4:30am, eat a small snack...like a banana...stretch, shoes and out the door I go! It does take getting used to!

Do you all warm up before running in the a.m.? How do you work the stiffness out of your body before a run?

I used to run before work (then my schedule changed and I have to be to work at 6 a.m. so that is no longer an option) BUT when I did-it was the best way to start my day! I always felt so energized and ready to go by 8 a.m.!
As said by another poster, I made sure everything was ready to go the night before for my lunch and work clothes and work OUT clothes! I can't tell you how many times I would lay in bed and argue with myself...
"I don't feel good"
"yes you do, you are just being lazy"
"I am too tired"
"No you are not, you are just being lazy"
"I think it's too cold(hot, windy, rainy, etc...)"
"No its not, you are just being lazy...now get your butt out of bed and just do it"

As far as eating, I would down a glass of water and a tablespoon of peanut butter for the shorter runs. If it was going to be a longer run I might grab some energy bites of some sort (Gatorade makes some that are really easy and portable)

I have also found an energy drink that has a good amount of caffeine is beneficial too, but it can have a laxative affect so I use that sparingly!

It is mostly a mind game-you can do it, just talk yourself into it. I miss the early morning runs with the birds and flowers....afternoon/evening runs just aren't as much fun for me :grumble:

As others said, get ready the night before.

I used to drive to the gym and be there when they opened the door at 5, run for 10 min, workout, then run for 30-45 min. The problem is that I have calls starting at 7am many days so this does not leave much margin.

During the nice weather of summer I started running to the gym (short route-15 min), workout, then run home (longer route-30min) This is AWESOME! unfortunately it is now getting cold in the morning and it will start raining soon.

I set my cloths out the night before, get my work cloths and gym back packed, and have my breakfast (cereal and spoon) in container and milk in a separate container. Lunch is also packed and ready to go.

When I get up, I fight the urge to stay in bed and know that every min I drag is one less min I have to get there before the gym opens, which means one less min to work out. Once I am up and dressed, it is much easier to motivate and keep moving.

If you are just looking to run then you may have more flexibility.

My advice is don't have flexibility, tell your self you must do it and you must follow a schedule, there are NO outs.

if I miss a workout or I get moving late, I feel disappointing all day and normally end up doing something later in the day to make me feel better.

Working out is not supposed to be easy. The more you do it the more you want to do it, occasionally you will want to not do it, but you will always feel bad about what you missed. GOOD! use that motivation.