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Photo Courtesy of Tambako the Jaguar (Flickr)

Let me just first say that I am a night person.  Until a few weeks ago, I would only be awake at 5 a.m. if I was up studying or enjoying a Guinness or two, or twelve.  I am more awake at night than any other time of the day, so that is when I would schedule my workouts.  A few months ago I was finding it harder and harder to find time to exercise regularly.  I love running, but even with my crazy passion to run long distances every weekend, it’s always a constant battle to squeeze short runs into my work week.  Despite this dilemma, I recently signed up for the Flying Pig Marathon in Cincinnati, Ohio in May of 2010.  This will be my 2^nd marathon and let me just say, I am insanely excited about this race.  Not because it’s in Cincinnati, or because I get to miss work to go running, but because it’s an opportunity to focus on a ridiculous goal for the next 6 months. 

My first marathon was a near disaster in many ways, mostly because I had no idea what I was doing.  I almost injured myself multiple times and I stumbled across the finish line with misery written all over my face.  I finished 30 minutes later than my goal time and I watched a group of high school girls finish ahead of me with smiles on their faces.  Ouch. 

This next race is going to be different.  It already is.  I already have an awesome training program laid out in advance that is way bolder than the last one and I actually have time blocked off to ensure I run when I need to.  That’s where 5 AM kicks in.  I realized that the only way I will ever be able to get the training I need, will be to force myself to do it.  I have two alarm clocks in my bedroom, despite my wife’s complete disapproval.  The first alarm on my night stand goes off at 5:00, which I promptly turn off.  The second alarm, which sits on my dresser across the room, goes off at 5:01.  In that minute between 5:00 and 5:01, I usually lay in bed with terrible fear and anxiety.  I know the second alarm is coming, and I know I don’t want it to.  I’ve been trying to time it so that I get up and turn it off just moments before it scares the hell out of me.  At this point I’m out of bed, mostly awake, and realize I have no choice but to run because there’s nothing else to do at 5 in the morning. 

It’s really cold at 5, much colder than the rest of the day.  Fortunately, the cold air is great for waking me up and keeping me moving.  Within minutes, I am awake, amazingly energized without any caffeine, and oddly excited to be up running.  No one in Nashville is awake before the sun rises except farmers and Starbucks employees.  I usually have the roads to myself, which makes the experience even more freeing.  I limit myself to a 30-minute run so I have time to do a quick yoga routine, grab a shower, breakfast, and prep for work.  I don’t run every morning, but I do as often as I can.  This lifestyle is still a new transition but it seems to be working wonders.

Running at 5 a.m. is awesome because of the calm.  It’s one of the only times during my day where I’m really at peace with my life.  No business, no checklists, no traffic, no obnoxious distractions, just the simplicity of putting one foot in front of the other.  Running is blissful.  Despite the pain and difficulty of getting out of bed or physically challenging myself to complete a 4-mile run faster and faster before 6 am, that time is mine. 

By the time I get to work at 8:00, I’m already energized and ready to take on the challenges I know I’ll be facing.  I’m generally happier, hungrier, and more willing to do things I would otherwise find an excuse not to complete.  Running makes me a better person, and doing it at 5 a.m. just makes my day that much brighter!

Let me know your thoughts on running, working out before work, or if this kind of a lifestyle seems completely crazy!  I’d love to hear some stories that make mine seem silly.  Until next time, good luck on your ridiculous goals and stay positive!

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Jeff Sanders

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