Hi all! First post on here, although I've been lurking for a week or so reading all your stories.
I'm due to do Wk 3 Run 1 tomorrow but can't do it after work as I normally would as I have an evening thing to go to, I don't want to postpone as I feel like I'm on a roll so I've decided to try it first thing in the morning before getting ready for work.
So I'm looking for advice on running first thing. Do I need to do more stretches as I'll only just have got up? Do I eat and drink before going? I'm sure I remembered you weren't supposed to eat right before exercising, but I don't want to be all weak & feeble if I've had nothing.
So many things to consider and I don't want to set myself up to fail by doing it wrong. Am I overthinking it? 😯
Written by
ClarkeyCat
Graduate
To view profiles and participate in discussions please or .
I've always done early morning runs as I think they're great 👍🏼
Firstly, I always set my alarm 30 mins before I head out as I need to have a cup of tea before I can face the world, even if it a little dark outside.
Secondly, a glass of water just to rehydrate my body after a nights sleep and water also kick starts my brain which then tells my legs to move!!
Thirdly, I have never done any exercises other than the brisk walk at the beginning. At the start of this program I was walking for nearer 8 mins as I needed to get to my starting point but as I've progressed I now walk just the 5 mins.
Others on this forum may have different ideas but the ones I've listed work well for me. At least they have up till this point!!
Good luck with your running and keep posting so we can all see you progress 😊
Everyone is different. Some people can just hop out of bed, down a glass of water, put their trainers on and go!
My morning run routine is to have a small portion of cereal (just a couple of table spoons) and a cuppa. Wait for about 45 minutes and drink some water, before getting sorted out to go. So I leave after about an hour from eating. Then just the warm up walk as usual.
I know if I didn't eat anything I would flag, and I know I need a while to let my body wake up before going out. I think it's trial and error until you can figure out what works best for you.
I was really surprised how much I love the morning runs. For me, I just have a cuppa and a glass of water before hand.... then look forward to my cereal when I get back
Me , I drink water, then a cup of coffee and out the door. I never stretch beforehand as I read here not to. After is fine but not before.....
I just get up, go to the loo, put my gear on and go. Quite often I have a drink of water, but breakfast is always afterwards. It also works for me on longer runs at the weekend, but I think I'm unusual. I ran 16k on Sunday on an apple and a chocolate biscuit. But everyone is different and you need to find out what works for you.
It is, however, fantastic when you set out in the dark and the sun comes up. When mist lies over the fields. When the leaves scrunch under your shoes and the air is cold but you are warm. Enjoy!
I think you'll enjoy the morning run - fresh start - really gets you set up for the day - would take advice of others that you need to go to the loo before heading out - all that bouncing around has an effect - and it can be distracting whilst you run if your having to focus on other matters - sorry to be indelicate. Good luck and hydrate.
I can't run (or do anything else) first thing without eating anything. Neither do I have time to wait for breakfast to settle. So I have a couple of biscuits, glass of water and head straight out. Works for me.
Just up, bathroom, dress and out for weekdays. They are short runs.
For Weekend long runs (over 10k) a mug of tea, maybe two and out with breakfast on my return.
If you don't need breakfast normally, you should be fine just going out. Remember to drink plenty as a matter of course and not just when running and you should remain hydrated which makes running "easier". If you eat before going out you will need to give the food time to settle before you run - which you may not have time for? Warm up walk should suffice. Stretch on your return. Trialling various options is the only way to find out what is best for you.
I run in the mornings. Generally I lurch out of bed and manage to get my stiff legs down the stairs somehow - usually sideways as my achilles tendons seem to shrink during the night and don't want to let me bend my ankles. I make a cuppa and then head upstairs to get into my running gear whilst slurping the tea. Some days I seem to faff quite a lot (see my previous posts on the subject) which probably gets me a bit more loosened up. I don't eat.
I do do warm up stretches before setting off using the ones from Runners World runnersworld.com/the-body-s... I had a problem with my achilles, and these dynamic stretches seem dot help prevent repeat injury, but I think there's no particular proof that stretching before a run works.)
Then it's a final trip to the loo... and I'm off. 5 minute warm up walk before every run and a 5 minute walk at the end before stretching out calves, gluten etc.
I think everyone is different in what they do. I don't like to eat straight before a run as it makes me feel a bit sluggish or I get indigestion. I drink the evening before to hydrate, but I can't drink too much fluid directly before running (especially with longer runs) as I'm a woman of a certain age and haven't been as good as I should be at exercising my pelvic floor (no what I mean ).
You'll soon work out what suits you best, I'm sure.
Thank you all. I did it. In the end I had a spoonful of overnight oats and a glass of apple juice and waited about 30 mins before going out. In hindsight I think I could have done without the food.
The first 90 second run felt hard - heavy legs and tired and I was sure I wouldn't manage 3 mins but the first 3 min run felt amazing! I definitely could have kept going longer, it felt like stopping made it harder to run again, the last 3 min run was hard going and my times p/km were slower on this run than the last - but wk 3 run 1 is in the bag!!
I've been enjoying early morning runs since June, partly because it was too hot running during the day! My alarm is set for 5.40. After stretches and a glass of water I'm ready to go by 6am. I usually do 4 miles so I'm back by 6.40. Breakfast comes later. I don't feel hungry at all. Once the icy weather gets here I'll go back to running later in the day. It's now quite dark for the majority of my morning run, so I do one early run, one after work run (3.30pm) and one Parkrun in the week.
Content on HealthUnlocked does not replace the relationship between you and doctors or other healthcare professionals nor the advice you receive from them.
Never delay seeking advice or dialling emergency services because of something that you have read on HealthUnlocked.
).
Early morning run still 🥵 
Food to eat for an early morning run
First early morning run! 😳
Talk to me about Pace 
Early Morning or Evening Running?
