Editor's Corner: Early Bird or Evening Chick?

There are two kinds of runners: early birds and evening chicks. As with any dividing line, there are bound to be a few ambidextrous souls in the mix. But for the most part, I think runners pick a side and stay there.

Personally, I’m a p.m. lady. After 15 years of running, I can probably count the number of times I’ve set my alarm for a pre-dawn run on my fingers (and maybe toes). But last weekend my aversion to solo long runs overrode my disdain for early mornings and I agreed to tag along with a few friends for a 5 a.m. workout.

Setting my alarm clock for 4:15 so I could meet my buddies on time felt a little insane. However, by the end of the run, I gained serious respect for the early morning run.

Some excellent perks. . .

1. Escape from the sun. When you live in Florida, the sun is everywhere. In the summer, that flaming ball gets oppressive. As my brother would say, “it feels like a punch in the face.” Running in total darkness brought pleasant relief.

2. Sunrise! How often do you see that?

I was finished with my run, home and showered before the time I wake up on an average Sunday. Pretty incredible to have the whole day in front of you—even if you have to take a 15 minute nap in your car in the Whole Foods parking lot (small price to pay).

And one lesson. . .

Wear reflective gear! Honestly, I know better, but I wore a plain black tank top during the run. This is never okay, and very irresponsible.  Next time, I’ll make sure to lay out my neon vest the night before. 🙂

I want to know, what’s the earliest you’ve ever gone out for a run? Would you rather run crazy late or crazy early? Let me know by commenting below or hit me up on Twitter @JessieSebor!

P.S. Congratulations to Andrea Mason Howell who won yesterday’s subscription giveaway! Please email us your mailing address (editorial@womensrunning.com) so we can send you your gift!