When I switched my running and workouts to early in the morning, I figured it meant I had to go to bed earlier, take care of myself and my rest, which I did.
Posting about sleep last week made me realize, because sometimes you need to blog about something to even know it’s happening, that eventually life happened, and more often than not I found myself going to bed much later than I should.
Sometimes it was justified, a dinner out, a birthday party, the good things in life.
But many times it was just to do house chores, foam roll, watch TV, or be on the computer. Not that those things aren’t necessary, but they shouldn’t come on account of my sleep. Going to bed at 10:30 PM, as early as that seems to many, is late when you wake up at 4:30.
So I’ve made mental note again that I need to make more of an effort, and for the past week I’ve been going to sleep at 9:00 PM every night. And that’s cool. Even if it isn’t.
This morning was a very easy run, and I actually enjoyed it.
Tuesdays are always easy run (10K/6M) day. However as much as I know easy runs are necessary, I don’t like them too much.
This morning though I had a nice run, my legs were still tired from Friday’s long run, Saturday’s relatively hard run, and Monday’s HIIT, so I welcomed the easy pace and just ran for 8K/5M (yes, easy and short) enjoying the music and thinking about my day ahead. Average pace 5:22 Min/KM (8:37 Min/Mile).
30 minutes of abs at the gym to boot, and headed home early enough to make myself a salad for lunch, and get the kids to daycare in time.
Do you take your lunch to work or eat out?
I usually take lunch to work with me because it’s my main meal of the day and I really want to make it healthy. Salads or pasta with lots of veggies are my go to lunch.
2 Cups 'N Run 
We get to bed early in our household, between 9 and 9:30, as well because we need to be at work early. We always pack our lunches the night before. I prefer knowing what I’m going to have, plus it saves a lot of money. We try to make enough for dinner so we have leftovers. If we don’t, I make a salad and grab some protein at our hospital’s caf to throw on top.
Good planning is everything. I try to take care of my lunch the evening before as well.
I used to get lunch out every day but now I usually bring something – it’s usually healthier and it definitely saves $$
Yes, both good reasons!
Definitely take lunch work to when I can; I used to always buy but now everyday I take lunch I put $6 into my savings account as that’s the amount I would spend as a minimum on lunch at work. I really only started doing it at the beginning of this year and already saved enough money to buy a new tablet computer which I otherwise couldn’t have afforded. Next aim is to save up for a new tri bike by end of the year 🙂
That’s great! Even though I take lunch with me for health/convenience reasons (not having to deal with going out or ordering in), the thought of spending money every day on lunch weighs heavy too.
It’s so hard for me to get myself to bed at a decent time. In fact, I should be sleeping right now. I did start wearing an eye mask, and it really helps. But only when I have it on, which I do not at the moment.
I have enough darkness that I don’t need it, but I’ve considered wearing ear plugs.. They kind of bug me though.
So runs in the AM are still hard for me, but an Ab routine I can handle. I’d rather run at midnight (which I’ll do in the heat of summer) than wake early. It’s dumb, I know,
And I nearly always bring a lunch to work. I don’t get much time between meetings to get out and about!
Whatever works… It’s really hot here during the summer and I know a lot of people run late at night.
Sleep has been the missing link in my workouts for the past few months and since I started making an effort to sleep the right (or wrong) side of midnight, I can see a big difference in stamina. Well timed blog post!
They say sleep is such a big factor in workout preformance. I work out early so I don’t feel as tired even if I didn’t sleep enough, however Im beat by the afternoon.
I always take my lunch, usually brown pasta with chicken and a tomato-based sauce. It’s the only way to be sure I get the nutrients and energy I need.
I love taking salads to work, then I know I got my veggies for the day.
I need 7 to 8 hours sleep to feel well-rested. Any less and I just feel tired all day.
Same here! I aim for 7.
Love going to bed early especially being married to a diary farmer who thinks that 5:30am is a sleep-in 🙂 I try and take my lunch to work – much healthier, more filling and it’s more economical 🙂
That’s good that you have your husband push you in the right direction!
I run in the early morning and I’m going to try to end my night owl ways and start going to bed earlier. My terrible fatigue following the daylight savings time switch has shown me the error of my ways.
I’ve been dragging missing sleep hours for such a long time, it was time for me to take action!
I am such a night owl – going to bed early is the hardest part about running for me (especially in the summer!). Working from home, I always have food available and typically make something or have leftovers. Occasionally I’ll go out, but the nearest place is a 15 min drive away, so it’s a really good deterrent!
I used to be a night owl… I loved the silence of being up late at night. Now I enjoy that silence early in the morning when I wake up.
I wish I could go to bed early, but it always takes me forever to fall asleep! I take my lunch with me because I’m always hungry and panic if I don’t have food!
That happens to me with snacks, there are days when I don’t take any, thinking I can hold it until lunch, and then I’m ravenous by 9 AM.
I love going to bed early! I also always pack my own lunch as I only have time to take my dog for a nice walk during lunch break. Soon we’ll run at lunch time as it is now warm enough and not yet too hot for her wait for me in the car.
That’s a cool lunch break!
Ugh, I reallllly need to do this…….I get up at 5:45-6:00, not 4:30, but still, any time I get in bed before 11 is an absolute miracle, which is general is just NOT enough sleep.
I hear you, for me even going to bed at 10 feels late.. Not at the time I go to bed, but the next day when I’m exhausted by 4 PM.
Nice! I usually go to the gym for lunch. Or run if it’s not too hot.
That’s even better!
Fabulous run!!! 😉 😉 I eat at home for lunch because I’m an author so my office is home! 😉
That would be my dream come true, working from home!
Yeah, it is pretty great!
I’ve been going to bed at 9pm for a while now and I’m pretty sure it makes us cooler.
I hope I can keep it up too. It’s hard to fit everything into that time slot, although no doubt worth it.
So you’re definition of an easy run make me sick… 🙂 That kind of distance and pace are things I’m hoping for at this point. 2 miles at about 11:30/mi is what I’m at and that’s pushing myself a bit… But good for you all the same! 😀
Celebrate where you are. Not everyone is (or needs to be) at the same level. You’re doing great!
Definitely, I do enjoy where I am, hope everyone does.
Thank you. You are right, the definition of “easy” varies greatly among runners.
You will get to that distance, it’s all about training and getting your body used to it, slowly.
I always take my lunch. It makes it a lot easier for me to know I’m getting a healthy breakfast and lunch when those are things I’ve prepared at home. It gives me more flexibility in the evening, which is definitely when I need it.
Same for me, I like to start the day “right”. Even buying a salad is not the same as one I prepared at home.