*Spoiler alert: There is no 'right' answer here, but a good case for both. So, whether you are a natural night owl or an early-bird here are some reasons why you should run when it feels good (and fits your schedule).
Pros for Morning Runs:
- You get it done and have the rest of your day to focus on all the other things you have to do, feeling good about the fact that you already got your exercise in.
- Mornings might be the only time in your day when you can realistically squeeze a run in.
- The endorphins and adrenalin that flows through your body post-run can wake you up, put you in a good mood, and set the tone for the rest of day. It never hurts to start your day on the good foot, literally! [LEARN MORE ABOUT HOW RUNNING CAN IMPROVE YOUR MENTAL WELLBEING HERE]
Cons for Morning Runs:
- You may be less productive for the rest of your day because you are tired, sluggish and sleepy because you’re not wired to be up and active at that time of day.
- You may have to get up earlier than you really want to, because you will have to run and then still go through your morning routine after the run and as a night owl despite being tired you may not be able to get to sleep early at night.
- It might be so early that you aren’t hungry (I know I’m not) and therefore unable to “fuel” properly before your workout which will affect the intensity of your workout.
Pros for Afternoon/Evening Runs:
- You can workout when you want, and don’t have to miss any critical sleep time.
- You will have eaten at least 2-3 meals and 1-2 snacks and consumed enough water to be adequately “fuelled” giving you the energy you need to do a complete or more intense workout. [LEARN MORE ABOUT NUTRITION BASICS, HERE]
- You’ve been on the move all day, so your body is warm, active, and limber from the day reducing your risk for injury, cramping, and/or susceptibility to aches and pains.
Cons for Afternoon/Evening Runs:
- Your work and/or family schedule may not accommodate afternoon or evening runs. You might have to stay late in the office putting in that overtime, or you are on the hook to pick the kids up from daycare and then you want to spend quality time with them and by the time they go down, you are pooped and running is the last thing on your mind.
- Depending on your profession, you may be exhausted by the end of the day and do not feel physically up for running at that point.
- If you can’t tolerate treadmill running, it’s dark and not all paths are well lit, which makes night time running more challenging.
Think carefully about the times of day when you feel the most energised and when you feel tired. Are you a natural night owl or an early-bird? Do you feel lucid and raring to go in the morning, or does the night life give you that extra spark of energy you need to power through? Once you can ascertain these things you will be able to deduce the time of day that might naturally work best for you.
This article originally appeared on Runkeeper.
