The above picture is of the many alarms on my phone. Never mind that the times all end with sevens, no real reason behind that; but they do represent my various wake up times for morning running.
If you would have told me eight years ago that I would want to wake up before I needed to just to workout, I would have laughed hysterically at you on my way to a box of donuts. Before kids, my wife and I would stay up late watching movies or she would go to bed and I would stay up playing Madden or Assassin’s Creed for hours. Then we would sleep in to the point where we’d have to set an alarm if we wanted to make it to breakfast at McDonald’s. Now if we start a movie when the kids go to bed around 8:30ish (wishful thinking most days) I’m snoring before Andy Dufresne walks off the bus into the Shawshank prison. As far as sleeping in, running at dark o’clock has taken care of that for me. Times have changed and so have I.
There are many reasons why I prefer to run in the morning. Here are a few of those reasons:
– It helps me clear my mind and think about what I need to do that day. On many occasions I have come up with a creative idea on how to present a complex chemistry topic to my students while on a dark o’clock run.
– I do not want to miss time with my family. I get up early so I can be done with my run and home in time for breakfast. I mean, my wife is getting better at them but daddy’s pancakes are still the best.
– The sense of accomplishment that I ran a number of miles while most of State College is still sleeping is a nice way to start the day.
– I get my miles in before life happens. Evenings are pretty much consumed by various band practices, Cub Scouts, or mandatory bike rides to Orchard Park. Trying to run during the school day is pretty much out too. In that rare occurrence when I don’t have any tests or labs to grade, it never fails that a student strolls into my room right before I try to sign out to ask for help with stoichiometry calculations or needing to make up that one test they missed a month ago.
– The weather tends to be the most bearable in the morning*.
*Except for State College this summer when every morning from June until mid September had morning temperatures in the 60’s with 137 percent humidity.
– Two words: second breakfast.
– Have you every seen a sunrise in Happy Valley? If you haven’t, you’re really missing out.
Photo by Diane Swauger
Sometimes I wonder how I became a morning runner. At this point, I’ve done it so often that I don’t even consider running at any other time of the day. Friends have asked me how they can become a morning runner. Here are a few things that have worked for me:
– Set an alarm. Or many alarms. And put it somewhere that requires you to physically get out of bed. I learned this trick from my dad when he would have to get up at 4:30 a.m. in order to make it to a job site by 7. I asked him once, “Why do you put your alarm on your dresser and set it to Froggy? You hate country music.” His response, “Why do you think I get out of bed so quickly?” Touché, dad.
– Lay your clothes out the night before. The less thinking I have to do in the morning, the better. The same goes for pre-running food and drink.
– Find a friend to join you on the run. Knowing that you have to get moving in order to meet a friend helps to keep you accountable. It is also much more enjoyable and safer to run with someone at dark o’clock.
– Speaking of safety, make sure you find a safe area to run. I recommend running on campus. The sidewalks are well lit and even if there is snow or ice, OPP is out there busting their tails to clear and salt the sidewalks at very dark o’clock. If you time it right, you might be able to run with ROTC students on campus. No one in their right mind would do anything stupid around those future soldiers.
– Also be sure to wear the proper safety gear. This should include a headlamp so you can see where you are going and, more importantly, a reflective vest so drivers can see you.
Just like running in general, running in the morning is certainly an acquired taste. But for all of the reasons listed above, I absolutely love it.
So if you think you do not like running, walking, working out, etc. in the morning, I am proof that you can change that mindset. As Dr. Seuss would say, try it, try it and you may I say.
October’s Races
October 6 – 8:30 a.m. – Nittany Valley Running Club’s Youth Cross-Country Meet #3
One of the many community outreach projects from the NVRC. The cross-country meet is for kids 14 and under. There are age appropriate races from 2K to 4K distances. Races are free. (Parents must sign a waiver.) Ribbons to all participants. Races will be held at Oak Hall Regional Park, located at 120 Linden Hall Road.
https://www.nvrun.com/index.php/racing/kids/youth-cross-country-program
October 7 – 7 a.m. – The 19th Annual Tussey Mountainback 50 Mile Ultramarathon and Relay
Most sane people choose to run this as a relay and make a fun day out of it. I, and more than 50 other not-so-smart runners, voluntarily chose to run the whole thing. I will say the course is beautiful as you get to run on mostly gravel roads around and through Rothrock State Forest. The whole event is one of the most well-organized races I have run. The 11 aid stations are well stocked with hydration and food for the ultra runners and there is a post-race BBQ party.
https://www.tusseymountainback.com.
October 21– 8:30 a.m. – End of the Road Marathon and Half-Marathon
I ran the half-marathon last year. Running the old PA turnpike, including the tunnels, is a very unique experience. Oh, and there are no lights in the tunnels, some of which are a mile long. This means you need to wear a headlamp. It was still a very memorable race, especially when I passed a guy in the last mile to finish fourth overall.
https://triviumracing.com/event/eotr2018/
October 28 – 1 p.m. – Give ‘em 5! Run For Veterans
If I can still move after running the Mountainback, I’m hoping to run this one. Held at the Bellefonte Middle School, this NVRC benefits the Veteran’s Assistance Fund.
https://www.nvrun.com/index.php/racing/club-sponsored/give-em-5-runs-for-veterans
Other races can be found at https://www.nvrun.com/index.php/racing
