Morning workouts rock

We swore up and down we'd never, ever, ever,  get up early willingly again in college on the way to practice. But somehow the internal alarm always goes off. And lets face it, time is a commidity, and sometimes you can only find it at 5 am. But there are tons a benefits to getting it done early. And sometimes, your only option.

I would love to say I have this glorious life where I work my 40-hour week job and get off with infinity time to train while my husband takes care of my kids. However that is far from my reality. As much as I am thankful, unfortunately, my husband works evening shift as a nurse so I am essentially a single mom Monday through Friday evening. And the reality is I NEVER work a 40 hour week, sometimes up to 50, balancing two suplemental jobs. So, I have no other option some days. And if you're a triathlete like me, doubles are pretty much nonnegotiable.

As a result, I learned to love and accept the morning workout as a reality. Yes, the 425 alarm sucks sometimes, especially when you know you are going nonstop till 930 that night, but the end result is worth it. It's a great feeling to know you got that your workout is done, and you feel great all day. And working out is proprioceptive input (which releases serotonin – your feel-good neurotransmitter), so you feel great all day. So it's pretty much win-win.

The big debate is the home workout versus gym. I do both-heavily favoring one depending on the time of year and situation. During triathlon season/summer months, it's always best to beat the heat and get on the road before it gets warm and busy. I'm also blessed to have a treadmill and bike trainer just in case the hubby is  working over or going in early.

But I am a HUGE fan of the gym in the morning. So many pros...

• Drive time is pretty much cut in half 
• Drive time also provides ample coffee time
• Regulars. They got your back. They spot you lifting, they chat minimally, (because they know you don't talk in the morning), and they inform non-regulars you are the farthest thing from single when they ask
• No line at Dunkin for the occasional post workout coffee

Ultimately, morning workouts give you more kid time, (if it's not a doubles day). Even though I know sometimes you have no choice, But knowing my kids at daycare all day, I try to avoid putting them in gym daycare. Let's be honest, gym daycare is a crap shoot. Once they came and got me after 11 minutes for Jude. Seriously. Did you even try to engage her?!

Try it. Once, twice a week. Never tell yourself you are getting up Monday-Friday. That's just setting yourself up for failure. It takes three weeks to create a habit...and what a great habit to create. And if you hit snooze once in a while. It's ok. Sometimes we need that extra hour and snuggle time : )