Summer running

Five tips to become an early morning runner

June 11, 2019 by Michelle 54 Comments

For this week’s Tuesday Topics, Kim and Zenaida have invited everyone to share their Summer Running Tips. For me, summer running is synonymous with early morning running!

I recently made the transition back to early runs, so I thought I’d re-share a post I did a couple of years ago offering some tips on how to become an early morning runner.

Becoming an Early Morning Runner

This post was originally published on June 23, 2017, and updated on June 11, 2019.

Now that summer is officially here, and temps are on the rise, I’m back to running early in the morning to hopefully find some of the cooler temps of the day. I’ve shared before some benefits of early morning running, so today I thought I’d share some tips on how to shift your clock to become an early morning runner.

Get some sleep: OK let’s start with the obvious – if you want to get up early, you’ve got to get your zzz’s, so of course, that means you’ve got to get to bed at a reasonable time.

Be prepared: Layout clothing and gear the night before – eliminate the need to stand in a dark closet fumbling around for something to wear or skipping a run because your Garmin is not charged!

Lose the snooze: Put your alarm clock out of reach! If you have to get up and out of bed to turn off your alarm, then you’re less likely to hit snooze.

Ease into it: And speaking of that alarm, I’d recommend starting slowly. Don’t set your alarm that first morning for o’dark thirty right off the bat. Ease your way into the early morning hours by shifting your wake-up time back over the course of several days.

Find a buddy: Knowing that someone is waiting for you will get you out of bed. You never want to leave a friend hanging.

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What’s your best tip for becoming an early morning runner?

Filed Under: early morning runs, Friday Five, Summer running, Tuesday Topics

Trying to Embrace the Heat

July 2, 2018 by Michelle 27 Comments

Coming off of last weekend’s 10K, I felt like I needed to back off just a bit to give my cranky hip & hammy a break, and Mother Nature quickly obliged by sending the temps and humidity sky high. Nonetheless, I did get some decent workouts in!

Monday – Kickboxing class
Tuesday – Still feeling the effects of Monday’s class I took a pass on my morning run but enjoyed a great 4-mile walk with my friend E. I also got a much-needed massage!
Wednesday – 3 miles on a somewhat cool-ish morning

Thursday – Rest day
Friday – Yoga
Saturday – 5.5-mile slog-fest followed by 4 hours or so working on our new patio project
Sunday – More hours baking in the heat working on the patio – Yeah starting a landscaping project given the weather forecast may not have been our smartest move, but when I’m enjoying a cocktail on it one evening soon it will be worth it!

I have learned to master the front loader!

This week also wrapped up the strong Abs & Arms Challenge hosted by Rachel. I really liked the timed vs. set number of reps approach and definitely felt like my arms especially benefitted.

It looks like the heatwave we’re in will continue until at least Friday, so there doesn’t seem to be much choice except to get out as early in the morning as possible and embrace it. As I was slogging through my run on Saturday, I started playing this mental game of trying to list off things I was grateful for instead of listening to the whining in my head. As I made a list in my head the one I kept coming back to was “I’m grateful I can choose to do this.” Yes it was miserable out and yes I was moving ridiculously slow, but given the alternative of not being able to run at all, I’d take it every time. I’m going to try to hold on to that thought this week!

I’m joining Holly and Wendy for the Weekly Wrap.

How are you holding up in this heat?

Filed Under: Summer running, weather, Weekly Wrap

Runfessions – July Style

July 28, 2017 by Michelle 25 Comments

It’s the last Friday of the month…so you know that means it’s time to join Marcia for runfessions! So let’s get to it, shall we?

Runfession #1 – OK let’s just get this first one out of the way….I runfess that I’m turning into a weather whiner. This summer’s humidity is kicking my arse. I know I’m not alone in this…but I am just so over it!

Runfession #2 – My next race, the Wicked Half, is now just 7 weeks away so I runfess I probably need to start doing “long runs” of more than just 6 miles.

Runfession #3 – I runfess that I may have picked a goal race in November in part to avoid heaving training in this heat.

Runfession #4 – I admit that I haven’t done a great job lately of paying attention to my eating (or the summer cocktails). Well, good grief people I got on the scale the other day and hmmm let’s just say my “lack of attention” was really showing! I runfess that I’m not surprised – I can feel I’m carrying a little extra weight on my runs – time to clean up the snacking.

Runfession #5 – I runfess that I have been stalking the Skirt Sports website as the new patterns are rolling out for the fall. I picked up these Gym Girl Ultras the other day, and may or may not have a few more items sitting in my cart waiting for check out (luckily I have a birthday coming up soon!).

Use code FWC20 for 20% off your Skirt Sports order!

This week's #FridayFive is all about the #runfessions! Join us and share yours! #runchat Click To Tweet

There…running sole cleansed and I feel better! So tell me, what do you runfess?

I’m also linking up with Rachel from Running on Happy and Lacey & Meranda from Fairytales and Fitness for the Friday Five link-up!

Filed Under: Runfessions, Skirt Sports, Summer running

Weekly Wrap – Feeling the Heat

July 23, 2017 by Michelle 37 Comments

Yeah, this pretty much sums up this week’s workouts! Another heat wave hit the Boston area this week, and by Tuesday I had given up even bothering to open the weather app on my phone. The workouts were a little all over the place, but here’s how it went down.

Monday — Since I ran Sunday and was planning to hit the track Tuesday, I took Monday as a rest day. I had dinner with a friend I hadn’t seen in months and we had an epic catch-up session that may have involved a couple of pomegranate martinis. So good, but so not the “hydration” to have before track day 😉

Tuesday — Suffice it to say I didn’t get to the track, but I did get an ab/hip/leg workout in.

Wednesday — 90% humidity had me seriously questioning the whole running thing, but I eked out 3 miles.

Thursday — Another lower body strength workout followed by a massage!

Friday — I had planned to make up Tuesday’s track workout, but for some crazy reason I woke up at 3:30 in the morning and I was wide awake brain racing! Uggh. After lying awake for what seemed forever, I must have finally fallen asleep and promptly slept through my alarm. I didn’t have enough time to get to the track before work so it would have to wait.

Saturday — Finally made it to the track! I was determined not to skip this workout and it was my best of the week!

Sunday — Saturday’s long run became today’s run. Since I was still feeling the effects of a busy Saturday and I knew the humidity was supposed to finally relent a bit, I opted to sleep in and take on my run in the afternoon. It was still a heat-fest but having my husband along helped keep me going, and we made it through 6.2 miles.

All-in-all, not a bad week. We’re getting a ton of rain tomorrow and then cooler temps (relatively speaking) will be rolling in. I’m looking forward to getting a break from the steam bath!

I’m linking up with Holly & Tricia, and this week’s guest host Darlene.