Winter woes

[ju-ju-]

Every day this week I have set the alarm for 5.45, woken, seen it was still dark and changed my mind.

Anyone else struggling with the Summer/ Winter transition?

[Tomas Marathon]

I tend to do my during-the-week running after work rather than before (I like my bed too much and don't enjoy getting up early). It won't be long before I won't be able to fit a 14-16 km run in after work without carrying a head torch - and while that is a totally fine solution, it's extra faff and I know that I will find it harder to motivate myself to get out there. Not long after that it'll also get hard to fit just a five miler in during daylight hours.

On the plus side, I am fortunate enough to have a treadmill in the garage, so when the weather gets totally horrible I do have a 'plan B'. But it's more dreary and less fun than to go out on the lanes.

So while I'm not yet struggling, I do very much expect to be so in a few weeks time.

[ju-ju- Marathon in reply to Tomas]

thats what I have been doing but I am better at running in the mornings!! I just need to charge up my head torch!!!

[C3PO Marathon]

I'm not struggling yet either - when it comes to running. I don't mind setting out when it's dark and seeing the sunrise. On the other hand, I'm not as clever as you, so I never set out terribly early.

I always struggle in general at this time of year. It used to start in late August, but now I'm not too bad until October. Then it's tough knowing that I have 5 dark and cold months ahead of me.

[ju-ju- Marathon in reply to C3PO]

gosh yes you have it very dark there dont you? My problem is I have to leave for work by 7.15 so I work backwards!! I am running after work but I prefer the mornings if I can. You are so right, my fave time is running in the dark and seeing the sun come up...I just need to be better prepared and man ( woman)- up!!!

[misswobble Marathon]

I only get up early when I have the hound from hell who always goes berserk to be out about 4.00 am. I find myself waking in anticipation, so I suppose it would be something you would get used to.

I run in the dark with a torch quite happily but try to avoid the longest, busiest road in town.

Treadmill! Nah, never in a million years 😁 Running in cold weather is fine honestly.

[ju-ju- Marathon in reply to misswobble]

That is helpful having doggy alarm!!!! I do prefer Winter running funnily enough, I have just struggled with the transition and mentally thinking its night time as not light. And by the time its light I am on my way to work!!

[Hillrunner2201 Marathon]

Once I've got used to it I don't mind the dark mornings and actually miss them for a bit as spring comes but the transition always takes some getting used to!! Seeing the sun rise on a morning run is beautiful though.

[AdamB Half Marathon]

I think that there's only one response to this: "Winter is coming!" (apologies if you haven't watched Game of Thrones).

Seriously, I found that it was much easier to run early in the morning before I retired. My alarm went off at 5:30, I got up, put my running kit on and got out. After 30 minutes or so of running I woke up and thought "what the hell am I doing?", but I was in the middle of my run by then. The one thing that could guarantee me a sprint finish was to remember half way round that I'd scheduled an early morning meeting for the day.

Now I've retired, early morning runs (and therefore any runs) are much harder. The alarm goes off, I roll over and think "I can always go a bit later" and I go back to sleep. "Later" just doesn't happen. There's always something else that crops up.

I prefer to run early. When you are half asleep you can't remember all the excuses you have for not running