The Running After-Glow
My alarm went off too early this morning. It was still dark out, I could sense the chill outside and Mr. rUnladylike didn’t even stir beside me.
I had slept for less than 6 hours when my iPhone began to chirp. I shut it off and stayed in bed under the warmth of the covers with my eyes closed. Three minutes ticked by. I drafted a text message to my running partner in my head:
I’m so sorry but I’m not feeling well. I’m not going to make it this morning. SO SORRY!
I laid there for about 5 more minutes, knowing I couldn’t – and wouldn’t – send that text. She was counting on me. I was counting on me. And if I stayed in bed, I wouldn’t experience the running after-glow.
The running after-glow is that feeling of accomplishment, victory, empowerment and happiness you feel after getting up (too) early to go running in the morning. It’s the “damn, I’m so glad I did that” feeling. The “I’m ready to conquer today” feeling. The “I just gave myself a 25th hour in the day” feeling.
After 8 chilly miles with my running partner, my stress melted away. I felt stronger. There were no regrets about getting up early.
Every time the alarm goes off when everyone else is still sleeping and the city around you hasn’t started to move, remember the after-glow. The first 10 minutes are incredibly painful, but your eyes stop burning and your body stops needing the snuggly covers pretty quickly. Running in the morning becomes way more important than a few more minutes in bed. I have to remind myself of this every. single. day.
The after-glow is an incredible high that carries me for hours. It’s what gives me the strength in knowing I did what I said I was going to do. It seems simple and silly, but there is power in that after-glow, and there is power in choosing NOT to do what you want in the moment, but rather what you want most.
Do you have a hard time getting out of bed to go running in the morning? What tips do you have for not hitting the snooze button? Do you ever experience this running after-glow?
Comments
Great read. I have been getting up early to run before my internship. Cold, dark, solo miles. But, it is so worth it!
Great job Tammy! It is SO much harder to do it alone now that it is getting so much colder. I hope we can run some miles together this fall/winter! xo
I don’t usually hit the snooze button, but I do silly things like sit in the car for 30 minutes just being nice and toasty instead of getting out. True story from today.
What makes me go – because I have to.
The woods are lovely, dark and deep,
But I have promises to keep,
And miles to go before I sleep,
And miles to go before I sleep.
I love that passage Smitha. Beautiful! Thanks for sharing and nice job on your morning workouts! xo
I’m a new runner, so this helps for the future!!
What do you eat before moderate-distance (too) early runs? My issue is there’s not enough time for solids (I’m super prone to side stitches), if I down a Gu first thing I get GI issues since I am rolling out of bed and hitting the road before my body realizes what’s happening, so I can’t figure it out. Any advice would be greatly appreciated!
Hi Amber! This is a GREAT question. Before early morning runs like my 8-miler today, since I only got up about 30ish minutes before, I ate a pack of Clif Shot Bloks (200 calories). A GU or 100 cals or so of race fuel should digest quickly and not cause too much havoc on your stomach (think of it in the same way as you’d consume some fuel 30 minutes before a race before your warm up to top off the tank). Of course, in an ideal world I’d eat more than an hour before of real food, but when this is the case, I still to fuel like this with some water. If I’m running 5 miles or less, sometimes I don’t eat anything, but I feel 100 times better when I do. Eating and drinking too much, too close to a run is typically the culprit for side stitches. Let me know how this works for you! xo
LOVE this: “There is power in choosing NOT to do what you want in the moment, but rather what you want most.”
I don’t start training for my next race until the end of December, so it’s so tough to wake early to run when I don’t HAVE to (and when my bed is sooo cozy and warm). But I always feel so good afterward when I do, and it does make a difference for my future goals. Great post!!
Thanks Devon! I’m right with you. I’m not training for anything either, and sometimes that makes me feel lost, but my goal is to try to maintain 25-30 miles a week, which gives me something meaningful to shoot for in additional to barre and weights. Hope you are doing great! Enjoy the break! xo
I just love the running afterglow (and the endorphin rush!) Getting up early is so much better than the regret of not getting it done!
great post! i’m sure it was hard to get up, but so glad it was worth it!! 🙂 i’ve definitely hit the snooze before! its so hard to get up when it is cold outside – i usually run after work so its a little different for me. and LOVE the after run glow!!
Thanks Audrey! I definitely think post-work running is the same. It is hard to want to go running after a full and stressful day. Evening running still brings that same effect because it would be so much easier for us to go home and not do it. Enjoy your evening after-glow 🙂 xoxo
I’m telling myself in situations like that:
Ready
Set
Go!
It’s simple, but it works
Love that Gabrielle. It truly is just mind over matter 🙂 xo
My training partner lives an hour away but works in my city so she’s already left when my alarm goes off. Canceling on her would be just mean.
If I consider snoozing, I end up going through my schedule and realize that it’s now or not at all. Not at all is not usually an option. I give myself an out, though, and say that “just” 3 or 4 miles is OK but know that I’ll do 5 or 6 anyway.
I got the afterglow when I was training a lot. Now, I just feel like a person.
The glow is what keeps me getting up at 5:30 am every day to run! It’s so worth it and by mile 2 I forget all about my bed!
You stated this perfectly! As hard as it is to get up early, there are few things more rewarding than being out in the peaceful, calm, almost zen like conditions early morning runs can provide. Just about all my runs are done during the early morning hours, when everyone is still asleep in their beds.
Thank you! I think I need to suck it up and give myself 25-30 mins before early runs vs 10 mins like I’ve been doing. I’ll stick to my Gu’s with some added time! Thanks again 🙂
As the winter sets in it gets SO hard to leave the warm bed! After every workout I like to take notice of how great I feel and to remember that feeling when I just want to stay warm under the covers. Usually I can motivate myself with remembering the after glow feeling
Ahh that after glow is the best and always reminds me that getting up early/getting off the couch/going as soon as I get home from work is always worth it. I like when I have someone counting on me because it makes it 10 times harder to cancel because I always feel guilty if I do!
I am glad you went!! I am sure it was totally worth it! Plus you have a training partner! I would die to have a training partner!
I think to myself just get up you will not be disappointed!! Sometimes i think i will just re-set my alarm and do it later but in that case i usually can’t go back to sleep anyway and just get up!! It is harder in the winter because it is so dark and cold but i can usually drag myself out of bed!!! 🙂 I think i sometimes after an after glow?!
I recounted this in my head a million times this morning-and off I went for my run! Thank you for the inspiration and pushing me out the door.
I’m so, so glad it helped Erin!!! Great job on knocking your run out early! Happy running! xo