CHRONORUNNER

I’ve been a runner for about 6 years. I didn’t pass my first 3K until the ripe age of 21. Because of this, I’m still toing through the waters, figuring out how to run.

What’s the best food before?

What’s should I wear in the cold?

When should I go?

Well, I’ve heard many opinions: My old crush (PAC10 Player of the Year) told me a run at 10:30 at night isn’t ideal.

There might be truth to that.

I don’t see too many people running at that hour.

But does that mean running at 10:30 is wrong?

What if you just woke up from an 8-hour nap. What if you flew from Denver to Malaysia and that’s biologically when you would run in your home-time-zone?

I’ve thought all of these before, and created this list. It’s my personal and researched opinion on all 4 of these strange Running scenarios

4AM

Okay, so it was the night before I officially moved out of my Alberta St House in PDX. Alberta is THE SHIT, art-stores, boutiques, and a million bar/restaurants. I was gonna miss this place… and I was NOT sleeping.

I had so much adrenaline, anxiety, curiosity and fear of my new pad. One thing was sure. I wasn’t going to bed.

So I got my shoes on, threw on some warm gear, and in 5-7 minutes, I went from in bed tossin’-n-turnin’ to on the block, running.

Biologically speaking, there are people who naturally stay up until 4AM or so. There are also people who start their bio-clock at 4am so they can be in full swing come 8am. Some people (like me) are SLEEPING.

But this run was amazing. I had the entire block, street, and city to myself.

If you ever want to be truly alone in a city, run at 4AM. You’ll see a whole level of the urban lifestyle in a new way. And best of all, as you go past every house, knowing there are people sleeping in every house, you get an immense sense of satisfaction. You’re out running, while they’re sleepin. Ben Franklin would be proud.

6:58 AM on a Saturday

This one is pretty standard among early risers. The trick to this one (again), is DON’T THINK. You wake up (maybe on the couch, maybe on the floor). You forgot sleep in your bed. You look out the window and see …a ...sliver of light out the window. You’re gonna move over to your bed anyway for more sleep.

Instead, throw on your running shoes, charge your phone for 5 minutes, and then hit the pavement. You’ll shock your body into full wakefulness. Your metabolism will begin first thing in the morning. Your fat will be burning all day. And you’re still leaving people in the dust. NO ONE is awake on Saturday morning if they don’t have to be.

YOU CHOSE to Be. That’s why you rock.

NooN

This one is weird for one reason: Lunch Time.

If it’s the middle of your workday, you have to make a choice: Do I Eat? Or do I Burn?

The question MUST always be: What does my day look like ahead?

If you’re afternoon has work+kids+appointments+soccer practice+band rehearsal… eat some food. Fuel your body.

If on the other hand, you have an easy couple of hours left before work ends, or the rest of your day is Netflix and Chillin’, go on a run and get some fresh air.

Couldn’t hurt.

2AM

I’ve done this a couple of times. It’s not my favorite, but you’ll definitely enjoy yourself about 5 minutes into it. I’ve done these workouts/runs about 50-50.

50% stone cold sober

50% leaving the bar that’s 1-2 miles from my house. (This also works on a bike).

This 2AM time is really an end of the night activity. You’ve just spent a few hours at a party, at a wedding, or just out having a great time. You’re a little tired and you’re not quite home yet. The walk back is an hour easy. the run back is around 20 minutes.

Scientists may disagree, but I say, go for 20 minutes. It’s fun, you might be inhibited (so you’ll get a fun kind of runner’s high) and best part, you get home sooner.

PRO TIP: Understand that if you’re drunk or high, your elevated blood pressure will increase your inhibition. If you’re drunk, it’s not the end of the world to get your heart pumpin’. If you’re on uppers, calm down, COOL IT, and call an Uber. Exercising on uppers can be really dangerous, even if you’re young an fit.

2 words: Hardened. Arteries.

Whatever your time of run is, remember one thing: enjoy it. You’re healthier in that moment than 95% of your friends.