That house with a lonely light on at 4am (or earlier)...that's my house. The stars and the moon still light the sky. The tree frogs and crickets still make the music in the air. That's the time of day I become productive.I'm really more of an afternoon runner. But heat, humidity and a busy schedule have driven me to change the majority of my training runs to the pre-dawn hours this summer. Three, four, five days a week you can find me out on the pavement before the sun crests the horizon. It's at least an hour or more until my family will even think about waking up.
What I'm learning about myself is that I can be very productive as a runner in the early morning hours. I'm still faster in the afternoon, probably because I'm better fueled at that point in the day. I'm still more loose. But in the morning, I'm more focused and alert in the silence. I'm more in tune with my body. I love watching the sun begin to peak above the trees or the edges of the water. I have also found camaraderie in the morning run. (These things don't seem to exist if you run at night...like after 9pm).Dare I say, am I becoming that elusive unicorn called the morning runner?
This week, on a couple of early morning runs, I had a number of critter
encounters too. I crossed paths with a family of raccoons, came face to
face with a large buck. Sadly, I didn't see my normal morning friend,
the fox that lives in my neighborhood. I can almost always count on him
checking out my run. Alas, he was absent. During the week, my morning runs all radiate from my house, so I have limited options for routes. I can run to the high school. I can run to the State Park. I can go in and out of the neighborhoods skirting the waterfront.
But the weekends, the early mornings on the weekends are for exploring the best spots for sunrise over the Chesapeake Bay or the many rivers and creeks around Annapolis. Running through Bay Ridge, Greenbury Point, across the Academy Bridge, City Dock...there are so many great options. If you haven't experienced one of our sunrises, you really should.
So, if you, like me, are not much of a morning runner, give it a try. You might learn you actually enjoy the torture of a 4am alarm ringing at your bedside. Happy trails!!!
2015 miles to date: 753.45 miles
Observations: My body is currently firing on all cylinders. I've got now pain, no twinges, nothing. How long this lasts is the only real question. This past month I did a 30-day nutritional cleanse that rid my body of all the processed, fatty food I'd been feeding it. I've even give up caffeine and am feeling more energy and alertness. As I'm ramping up my mileage toward marathon season, this has been helpful in achieving my goals. I just need to stay committed to leaving out the coffee, tea and soda, and skipping the easy boxed food for meals I prepare from fresh ingredients.
