I have recently returned to structured training following a foray into ultra endurance events, including Ironman Italy and Mudcrew’s ARC 50. Since getting back into the swing of things, I have struggled to convince myself that training first thing in the morning should be a priority. My general reasoning for this is that if double days aren’t an integral part of a training block, then why not enjoy an extra bit of time in bed?

Despite this approach (i.e., laziness?), I have managed a couple of early morning sessions over the past two weeks and have reminded myself of the benefits. The aim of this short blog is to share a few: (1) reasons for why you should consider training first thing in the morning, and (2) top tips for how to get yourself out of bed.

Why train in the morning?

1. Exercising first thing in the morning can result in a sense of achievement that translates into the working day, in terms of improved productivity. Being able to “tick off” a task before even thinking about the day ahead is particularly satisfying.
2. During the summer months, banking an outdoor exercise session on a sunny morning is likely to help improve your mental wellbeing. Due to how serotonin and melatonin work in tandem, morning exercise may improve your sleep quality too.
3. As a more practical point, training in the morning does allow you to complete a double day, if required. If not required, then training early frees up an evening to prioritise other activities – win-win!

Top Tips: 

1. Set positive intentions the night before. For myself, this means changing the phrase “I might train in the morning” to “I will train in the morning” and only setting one alarm… instead of five. Being clear with yourself definitely makes it easier to get up and go, even if you do have other times in the day to train.
2. Laying out your favourite ASICS kit the night before is also a useful way of making your life easier when getting up in the morning. This may include making sure that your running watch is charged and that you write down any important session details.
3. As with plenty other aspects of day-to-day life, routine and consistency can make things more manageable. Completing a morning exercise session at least once a week should improve how easy you find it to wake up and get out the door.

Hopefully this short blog helps you add some early morning exercise into your training – just don’t beat yourself up if, like me, you can’t maintain an 100% record!