Learning to Love 6am...

Today I finally took the plunge and got up at 5:45am to run. Since starting a new job at the beginning of June, finding the time and energy to run regularly has been a real struggle for me. Late summer is the busiest time of year for my office, and a late night at work has become more the norm than the exception. Running during my lunch hour is unpredictable, tough to schedule, and sweaty. Nights when I'm not at work get filled up quickly with social commitments or (if I'm lucky) sleep.

Eventually, I came to the realization that the only way to get my training schedule on track would be to run in the morning (something I've known for years, but have managed to deny until now). Early in the morning, as I'm typically expected in the office by 8:30am. I, however, have never been much of a morning person, as some of you may or may not know. When that alarm goes off, I'm the queen of the snooze button, and I'm never much of a conversationalist before my first cup of coffee or 9am (whichever comes first).

Today, however, I rolled out of bed, threw on my sneaks, and was out the door on my way at 6am. I'm not even entirely sure I was awake until my first half-mile was over. There are good and bad things about 6am, though I have to say, I'm starting to think the good may outweigh the bad. There's less traffic on the roads I travel. It's cooler in the morning. Sunrise light looks a lot like sunset light if you hit it at the right angle. Everything else in the world is just waking up, and there's a kind of peaceful quiet before the bustle of the morning rush begins. Plus, when I get done, it's 6:30am and I have the whole day ahead of me!

Now just two things remain to be seen:
1) Will I fall asleep at my desk, snoring and drooling at 4 o'clock?
2) Will I be able to get up at 5:45am every day for the next 5 months?

We'll just have to wait and see.

--RSF