Now that I’ve done my long run on Friday two weeks in a row, the verdict is in: it’s awesome. You know how sometimes you get more productive when you have a deadline looming? Running long on Friday – a work day – forces me to get up and be a little more disciplined about getting stuff done. I have some minor concerns about just how early I’ll need to wake up when my mileage goes crazy, but for now it looks doable. Today was a 4 am wakeup so I could be out the door at 5 – Mama doesn’t run without her coffee and a little time on Facebook! – for my 16-miler.
For your Friday reading pleasure, here are some bullet-tastic observations about my long, wonderful morning run:
- The moon and the stars were so beautiful in the pre-dawn light that I instantly regretted not bringing my camera. Several times in the first mile I considered pulling my phone out of my backpack, but I didn’t want to stop running and getting myself out of the backpack didn’t seem like something I could do while running, so I guess you’ll just have to take my word for it about the sky. Or get up tomorrow around 5 am and go take a gander yourself.
- Lots of people in my town lose their footwear on the sidewalk. First I saw a lonely little shoe, which was small enough that I suspect somebody kicked it off while riding in a stroller. I’m sure her mother was thrilled about that. About a mile or so later, on a different street, I spied with my little eye a single sock that looked about the same size as the shoe, but was more boy-like so probably not from the same child. And about two miles after that, I found not one but two pairs of those flimsy flip-flops they give you when you’re getting a pedicure. These were near a bus stop and for the life of me, I can’t imagine why somebody would get on a bus barefoot. Gives me the willies just thinking about it.
- Low lighting apparently makes me hallucinate. When I finally ran past the large cable box that happened to have two low flags waving in the wind next to it, I could tell what it was, but for the longest time it looked like a GIANT German Shepherd scratching its ear. I almost changed my path to avoid a dog that huge, but I couldn’t figure out why he would be just sitting there, scratching away for so long. Because he was a cable box, that’s why. Also, a passing car’s headlights caught my glasses at just the right angle that I thought…well, I don’t really know what I thought it was, but it scared the bejeezus out of me. Even though it was much cooler in the dark, I was pretty happy when the sun came up and I could actually see my surroundings.
- I love other early morning runners! I had two runners wave at me across six lanes of traffic this morning and lots more (on my same side of the street) smile and say good morning. Everybody’s happier when they run, it’s a fact.
- I’ve spent too much time in the car lately with my kids. There I was, running along, and I saw a bicyclist heading toward me. Well, at the same time, I also noticed a VW Beetle driving toward me and all I wanted in the world was to punch that cyclist and yell, “Silver one!!” I refrained.
- I desperately need to update my playlist. I remembered just in time this morning that I ran out of music on last week’s long run, so I loaded a bunch of older songs on my iPod before I left the house, but they didn’t really do it for me. I used to rotate songs pretty frequently and buy new ones all the time, but lately nothing’s really catching my ear on the radio or in my Genius suggestions. I did notice, however, that I have not just one, not even two, but THREE songs that feature whistling in them. I’m sure that says something about my musical tastes, but I’m not sure what.
- Just because it was cool-ER doesn’t mean it was cool. When I left the house this morning, the temperature was somewhere in the 60s, which was freaking awesome considering the 100+ days we’ve had this week. By the time I got home, it was only in the low 70s, but that was still hot enough for me to get the whole drenched-in-sweat-tomato-face thing goin’ on.
Why there was a dry spot on my left, uhh, “chest” is a mystery I may never solve.
What are you listening to on your iPod these days? I need suggestions!
What’s the earliest you’re willing to get up (or the latest you’ll stay up) to get your long run in?
Rose @ Eat, Drink, and Be Meiri says
I have an mp3 player I only use to run, and it has some hilariously weird stuff on it. I don’t wear it often, so I’m constantly surprised by the songs. Yesterday I was hit with a song by Jennifer Love Hewitt. I’d forgetten that she ever made music.
Alma says
Wow. 4 a.m. is early. So very early. That’s a great distance though, P. Nice job!
Lancer!! says
Good for you, P! I’m going out for an evening run now. I misplaced my working iPod, but here are some of the albums on my Run (Techno-Trance) playlist: Dig Your Own Hole (Chemical Brothers), Naked Ibiza (Various Artists, 2-CD+DVD set), and the best one: Sunrise Sessions (Jason Dunne). That last one is freakin’ awesome, though I don’t wanna’ over-hype it. And it’s on Amazon, but there are no samples; and I do not see it on iTunes. :-/
-L.
Tortuga_Runner says
16 miles seems so far away right now. I love hearing how happy you were to run so earl and crossing paths with other happy runners.
Laurie says
I miss getting up early to run, I’ve been doing it in the evenings instead… the pre-dawn atmosphere is much different. People that are out after dark are definitely not the same sort as those that are up before the sun.
Here’s an awesome “whistling song” to add into your rotation. 🙂
http://youtu.be/n4RjJKxsamQ
Sarah says
Wow.. I can’t believe you get up that early to run – GOOD for you!! When I was training for my half marathon I used to do my long runs on Sunday mornings, I wouldn’t get up super early, but I’d go as soon as I did wake up…. You can check out my blog at mymostlyhealthylife.blogspot.com, if you enjoy feel free to follow by clicking ‘join this site’ directly on my blog! Thanks so much! Happy blogging!
Char says
There’s so many things on this post that I agree with I was just sitting nodding my head all the way through it. Morning’s are the best time to run. You’re not the only one who hallucinates in the pre-dawn light. Morning runners are friendlier than afternoon ones. Good on you for getting the job done AND on a work day.
Kara says
Usually 4:30am is as early as I’ll get up to run. I’m willing to just roll of of bed and run with no drinking or eating if that means I get some extra sleep 🙂