Happy mood | Improves Sleep | Improves productivity | Decreases stress | Creates good habits
We already know that running is an amazing asset to health. Therefore, it doesn’t matter too much what time a day you run as long as you take the time to go do it. Still, there is always a better time than another. Experts have been suggesting that are more benefits if we run in the morning.
It’s not all about the general health benefits like improving aerobic fitness, stronger bones and muscles, healthier heart, and so on. Running in the morning is mostly about our mental health, our mood, and energy throughout the day.
My Story ✌️ ✌️✌️
I will confess that I had a hard time waking up in the morning to go for a run. I was feeling miserable, tired, and weak, but even with that feeling, I still woke up every time that alarm went off at 6 am.
I knew I have to do it; I knew it was better for my health and better for my training. My motto was and still is: “Doing what I have to do when I have to do it, whether I want or not” because I am committed to the process. What I am saying is that even if you are not a morning person, make it a priority to get it done.
Once it becomes part of your routine, everything will feel much easier. Whether you are like me and struggle to get out of bed or are a morning person, here are some benefits of running in the morning I experience.
5 benefits of running in the Morning (before sunset)
1. It sets your mood for the day.
You might not notice at first but running contributes to your mood throughout the day.
Running provides a wide range of neurobiological rewards. One of them is known as “runner’s high”. For a long time, researchers have suggested that the inner harmony feeling is because of the endorphins, which are hormones released in our body during low or high-intensity activities, but that’s not all.
Recent studies propose that endocannabinoids (eCBs) are also an important player in creating the “happy feeling” process. In these recent studies, physical activity has been shown to increase serum endocannabinoid levels in the brain through an expression of endocannabinoid receptors.
This has shown to have numerous benefits including but not limited to a decreased chance of depression, improved memory, increased brain activity, and reduced brain inflammation.
2. Improves night sleep
Sleep is one of the best recovery tools I know of.
Whether someone is an active person or not, our body needs 8 to 10 hours of sleep every night. The recovery process that happens during sleep has its own health benefits that we will discuss separately in another article, but the main idea to take from here is that in order to feel energetic, productive, and recovered for the next day, you need to have a good night sleep.
Lying in bed for more than 20 minutes to fall asleep is not normal. Having a hard time sleeping at night can be due to many factors such as stress, depression, a health condition, a chaotic schedule, physical activity too close to bedtime, and many others.
But in this article, we strictly talk about how running influences the quality of our sleep. There are many people out there who can’t fall asleep after evening workouts (I am one of these people)😔😔
Therefore, it is recommended to plan these high-intensity workouts in the morning to avoid disrupted sleep.
Studies have suggested that running in the morning also plays a role in your sleep quality and psychological functioning.
By waking up in the morning every day, you’ll force yourself to go to bed earlier, most likely at the same. This will create a routine. Our body loves routine. This routine will significantly improve the quality of your sleep.
3. Improves productivity
Many things happen in our bodies when we exercise. The body calls on the glucose, the blood is pumped into the muscles, chemicals are released (endorphin, dopamine, glutamate), and hormones are changing.
Everything works together in perfect harmony to give you the best running experience. Researchers have found that people who exercise in the morning are more productive throughout the day, have better reaction time than on the non-running days, and have a better global cognitive function.
4. Decreases the levels of stress
It is well documented that running decreases stress levels. Running in the morning is an extra boost for your mental well-being.
Just picture a cool, calm morning and a beautiful sunset. Nature is still asleep. You can hear your breathing with every step of your run. It feels so peaceful.
That’s how running in the morning feels. Calm, peaceful. It takes away the tension and negativity. It prepares you for a new day. You’ll feel relaxed and accomplished.
5. Creates good habits
I briefly mentioned above that running in the morning forces you to go to bed earlier. This duet brings countless benefits to your mind and body.
You know exactly what you have to do after the alarm went off. You must go for a run. That leaves no room for procrastination or other distractions. This routine can help you maintain a healthy lifestyle, manage your weight, achieve your running goal, and sleep better.
How to Wake Up Early for Morning Runs
Yes! Exactly! It is so easy to read online or watch videos on “the benefits you’ll get when running in the morning. But, the truth is in reality it is so difficult to wake up at alarm cool when you are in mid of sleep (especially in winters)
I have come up with this method that surely will help you in starting your day with running.
1. Be Honest With Yourself.
Look, we already know if we’ll be doing it or not. Sometimes we know we are faking that and we won’t be waking up in the morning. and, it’s just making fools to our minds.
If you go this way. Seriously, it’ll never gonna happen. No matter how much you set your goals.
2. Set a Punishment
Decide a punishment for yourself. It can be any amount that you’ll donate if you do not wake up. Obviously, the amount should not be in a few cents that it’ll be easy for you to give a penalty.
Also, it should not be too much but something that might disturb your daily budget and that’s it.
We all think differently, for some motivation will work, for some punishment.
3. Put your Alarm Clock Far
It is difficult to break the momentum of sleep. But, if we disturb ourselves even for 3-4 seconds we get out of our sleeping zone and may remember our commitments for running early in the earning.
People say: My alarm is on my phone, Buy an alarm clock, it just cost $10. Or set your phone away.
It must be that away from that you can hear its ringing but not too close that you can snooze it with a hand. Make sure to put it at a place where you have to jump off the bed (take 1 step).
The time you’ll be taking to make it snooze, you might have recalled your promise for running.
Will it get easier if you run daily?
Whether you’re a first-time runner or a seasoned athlete, there’s no doubt that running can be tough. But does it get any easier with time? For many people, the answer is yes. See if how to make running easier.
As you build up your endurance and strength, running can become less of a physical challenge and more of a mental one. Of course, this doesn’t mean that running is always easy.
There will be days when it feels harder than others, and there will always be a certain amount of effort required. But as you get more experience, you’ll likely find that running becomes easier overall. If you’re just starting out, don’t get discouraged if running feels tough at first. It takes time to build up your endurance and strength, but it will get easier with time and practice.
What about running in the afternoon or evening?
The benefits presented above are specific to running in the morning. Running, in general, has far more benefits for our health and wellbeing.
Some people might prefer running in the afternoon or in the evening either because of work schedule or just personal preference.
The advantages of running later in the day are that your muscles might be more flexible; it gives you a break from work (some time for yourself to clear your thoughts), and it might make you feel safer. The disadvantages are that it might be too hot at that time of the day or too humid; you might feel exhausted from work, and it’s easier to skip it.
Whether you run in the morning, afternoon, or evening, you made time to go out for a run and that’s an accomplishment. Everyone has a different schedule and routine, find the time of the day that works best for you. The time of the day when you enjoy running. Running is supposed to make you feel better, not give you trouble. 😊
Hi there, my name is Petronela, and I am professional runner training in the United States but competing for Romania. I fell in love with running at the age of 14 when a stranger put around my neck a very shiny $3 dollar silver medal. Fourteen years later and I still get the same goosebumps when I win a medal.
The reason I am running is a true passion like it was when I was 14, the only difference is that small pressure to maintain the status of a professional runner, win races, and hit the times. That requires commitment, hard work, healthy choices, sacrifice, and many good pairs of running shoes. In my running career, I wore more than 1000 pairs of shoes, and my poor feet had the challenge to get used to them as many times.
I have a Master in Public Health Education and Promotion, a 4:34 indoor mile PR, a 4:13m 1500m PR, and 2:05 in the 800m. I run around 70 miles per week, and I am mentally preparing to run a 5k soon. The shoes I run in are one of the most important parts of the training process.
Nowadays, experts have developed amazing shoes that significantly impact and improve people’s athletic performances and because they are available to everyone for purchase, it is important to know which one is the best pair the shoes for you, to achieve your specific goal. That is why I am here. To share with you a little bit of my knowledge and expertise about shoes.
I hope you enjoy it!