Shhhh, the birds aren't even awake yet
I went out for another 4:00 a.m. run this morning. As strange as it feels to type that, I have to say I really don't mind the early morning running. I'm the sort of person that will get up early and as long as I don't have to talk to anyone for a good hour or two, I'm fine. Some may even say cheerful, but they shouldn't. Because that would violate the no talking rule. And yes, you should know that rule.
I was thinking about this today, when I was running and breathing in the cooler Fall-like air. (No, I am still not prepared to be in full-on Fall. Yes, I know that's ridiculous. I don't care.) I listened to my feet hitting the pavement and thought about how I really do love that early morning time. It feels so private, like it belongs only to me. I have a few friends that run early, but with people. I do like running buddies but something about that time on my own just makes it better. No traffic, no beating sun, no exhaustion from the day yet. Just me and my half-asleep brain which, if you haven't noticed, is when it's at it's best. The brain is just better before it's awake and in full Analysis of Life and All It Contains mode. Like what you'd imagine a "normal" brain to be.
So back to my propensity for quiet in the morning- I love it. I guess I just need the time to stare down the barrel of a full day. When I was a teenager, still living at home, I used to wake up early to read the paper. Often, my mother would wake up and begin talking to me. This is normal for her in the morning. So there she'd be, having an entire conversation with me about the dentist and hockey practice and the dog and there I'd be, staring at her hard enough to generate enough will to cease her voice with my mind. It would usually take a good ten minutes for her to look at me and say "okay, we'll talk about this later." I'd nod and go back to my Cheerios.
I'm lucky that this was just my mother, who has been willing to let me be me my entire life. What am I supposed to do when someone doesn't get this? I think it's reasonable, but then again, it's my rule. And I don't have many rules. Be kind, be willing to learn, work hard and, for gosh sake, DO NOT EXPECT SERIOUS CONVERSATION FIRST THING IN THE MORNING.
I need to find a nicer way of saying that.
21 comments:
You know, when I read what you have to say about running that early in the morning it always sounds so beautiful and peaceful and lovely. But then my alarm goes off and I just roll the hell over because my bed/ also beautiful and peaceful and lovely!
Still, one of these days I'm going to get my ass up early enough to give it a shot!
Oh, me too. I need to run to wake up. Eric wakes up all cheerful and chatty, but over the years, he's gotten used to the morning me. He just waits till I've been up a while before he expects me to talk back. It works.
4AM is the norm for me and I have to say that the 20 minute drive to work is a godsend because I'm a morning person meaning that I like to be up and at it in the early hour. However this doesn't include talking or listening to others. Ya in the morning...if you know what's good for you, you best leave me alone. :)
I walk every morning at 5am. The alarm is set for 4.55. I find if I don't go, my day is just not the same (in a bad way) and the extra time in bed is not worth the trade-off.
I nod and sometimes say hello to passers by and I imagine we share a secret that those people home in bed will never know.
I now walk most of the 6kms with a buddy, who I meet along the way, but the time I have by myself is essential if I am going to be civil to anyone for the rest of the day.
There are definitely times I could do with a sign at work telling people to go away and come back after 10am... When you work out a nicer way to say it, let me know!
I would love the early morning run just because of knowing there'd by no one out there to watch me run or try to talk to me.
there is definitely something very serene, very personal about the early morning. i can do mornings too (okay, perhaps not 4am morning, but 530 im good), but i agree, i kinda like the time to myself. that's why i enjoy my morning ride to work so much. it's basically the only time all day long that i have just to ME. and i freakin crave it every day.
you runner you! im so impressed. too bad we didnt live closer or we could bust out some road races together.
I'm up at 5am in the morning, but I'm getting ready to goto work. Even then, I can't work out or run in the morning. I just don't have it in me. My body isn't ready for that, this early in the morning. I do most of my running late in the evening/night.
The angry stare of death is really the best way to convey the - I will not speak for the first hour I am awake (I know this because I have perfected it as well).
I have gotten my ass out of bed at 4:30 for the past month - so I know I can do it, but I still am not really into full sentences into the 6:30 hour. Now as for enjoying it - that is a different story for a different time. I have to say though that Magoo has been getting up at that time too, to run, and he has been spewing those same crazy notions you do - about the peace, quiet, etc.
Oh, I so know exactly what you mean. I had a roommate that was chatty in the morning, I so didn't want to talk to anyone...I need that hour or so from waking up to being sociable (which is why I like getting into work early, by the time people are here, I'm ready to be sociable). And early morning runs do have that interesting feel to them. I like watching the sun come up, I like the quiet, I like on occasion seeing deer and fox in my city neighborhoods (yes, I have seen both on morning runs), but I just have issues trying to get up most days. (I'm also the same way after work, I need decompression time)
I'm going to guess your college friends no not to chat you up in the morning hours.
I echo your thoughts on the early morning running sensation... sort of. I feel the same way about late night running. I hardly ever get out before 10pm. Just like you stated though, I feel like it's my time, my time to reflect on life and all that other stuff.
I'm so not an early bird.
Oh, for the record I'm not a fan of running buddies. Something about pacing and strides just makes me too incompatible with others. It's MY time. Okay, leaving you alone now.
There is nothing like an early morning run..you may not really be ready to get up, but once you're out there and it's just you and quiet, it's really an amazing experience.
"Because that would violate the no talking rule. And yes, you should know that rule"
I think my cat has been hanging out with you. She has a very strict no talking or noise policy in the morning or evening.
that sounds like a pretty nice way to say it. you have to speak up for yourself and your needs. i like quiet in the morning though i can chat it up with the best of them. exercising first thing in the morning is so Zen to me. i love it.
definitely can relate. BTW, where are you running that early? on streets?
I'm totally an early morning work outer...but I'm afraid of running outside that early.
I don't think it's unreasonable to tell people to shut the hell up in the morning. I can start talking immediately if necessary, but I can respect someone's need for quiet.
I AM finding the first thing in the morning workout tougher than I thought it would be. I am just not as limber in the morning as I used to be and everything hurts. I'm much better after a few cups of coffee and once my limbs get moving. But I love the idea of it still and am rather envious.
I think that is completely reasonable!! I feel that way after work... let me BE for 30 minutes... I just need a break from people at that point... to, in my own way, similarly, wake up (again).
Aren't you so very very glad the rest of the world isn't up and running with you at 4 am? Peace for you in the morning, girl......Don't let anybody rock it!
Wow, 4am? If I'm up at 4am it is far more likely that I haven't been to bed yet. The only reason I would ever wake up that early would be an early race, or an early flight. On those rare occasions, I have noticed that the world is rather pleasant at that time of day. I however, am not. It doesn't really matter when I wake up. I need 2 or 3 hours to just sit and gather my thoughts. I can't even stand to listen to the radio in the morning. I never could understand the popularity of morning radio programs that involved a lot of talking.
I do enjoy evening runs, but I tend to go out too far, and then I'm alone on the trail in the dark, wondering where the cougar and the bear are hanging out.
Anyway, I promise never to talk to you early in the morning unless we've been up drinking all night, and then I'm pretty sure it won't be serious conversation ;)
I am exactly the same way. Now if I could just train people around me to know this. I think I have Hubs trained, but everyone else? Yeah...not so much. guess that's why they get "the glare" first thing in the morning, huh?
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