There are those out there who have no problem getting up and getting out there at this hour. (I hate you all). I am not one of those people. I am a night owl. Always have been. My mind and body don't like me much when I don't sleep till at least 7. And the older I get, the more I seem to need a half hour in bed after the alarm before I can actually get up. In the past, of course, I have managed to do it, and often for years at a time. Still could never get used to it. Even Topaz this morning looked at me as I turned on the light and said in his non-verbal cat kind of way, 'are you out of your freaking mind? it's 0-dark-thirty..I'm going back to sleep'. At least he didn't growl at me.
Anyway, I digress. So how do you manage it if you aren't naturally 'gifted' to get up early? Especially as you try to get into the initial habit? Here are a few ideas:
1. Go to bed early. (really).
<Insert obnoxious buzzer sound>. Thank you for playing, we have some lovely parting gifts for you. No. This is not what I did. I did not go to bed till after 11 last night thanks to a Coaches meeting in Timbuktu. Okay, Woodstock, but it's really far for me! I know, I know. This is a tough one, but seriously, it's so obvious and common sense, and we often overlook it. And the reality is, it's bloody hard to fit everything in when you go to bed at 9pm. But 5am would feel like 7 if I went to bed at 9 instead of 11. (I swear I didn't intend for that to rhyme. I feel like Dr Seuss right now).
2. Have a workout buddy who is also as crazy as you.
This one actually does work. At least if you are like me and feel super accountable to promises you've made, no matter how much you don't want to do them. I will be late for my own workout but never late if I've promised to meet someone. Go figure. (that's another blog post all on its own). Sadly, I'm out of available crazy friends at the moment. But try this one - it works on so many levels - not just getting you up at 5.
3. Have an early breakfast planned with a great group of friends.
Ding-ding-ding-ding-ding! We have a winner. Yep. This was the one that worked today. Ok, there was a little more to it - that is a little willpower that won out the battle knowing that if I didn't do it before breakfast, I wouldn't do it, and the fact that I had two workouts today. But. That being said, thanks to Marc and Keith for a great breakfast this morning. And I was only 10 minutes late. And though Anne didn't actually make it to breakfast, thanks for not bailing until AFTER my run. ;)
So I didn't actually get up till 5:25, but I did get up, and I did do it, and I also managed to get my 2nd workout in as well. Much to my surprise I found that I like fartleks in the pool! Who knew! And the 9-miler this morning was good, and as a bonus for getting up early, it was relatively cool.
It's a tough slog sometimes fitting it all in, but always worth it. Once I get that first mile under my belt, I wonder why I made such a fuss about it. Funny how that's a lesson we have to just keep learning over and over. At least I do.
Alrighty. It's after 9 and I have to go to bed so I can get up and get riding before 7. (Hey, it's Saturday. There is no 5am on Saturdays. It's a Canadian Law.)
So get up and get going. Happy training,
Kat
No comments:
Post a Comment