Morning Runs: 10 Tips to getting up early and Maximizing your run

Morning Runs are an important part of any conditioning while getting ready for a match or Tournament.  Unfortunately morning runs cannot just be any time in the morning because most wrestlers don't have the whole morning to sleep in then run.  They have class or work as I do.  So you must get up early.  Before I share the tips with you I must say going to sleep earlier does not help!  In fact the amount of hours you sleep (unless it is less than 6) have almost nothing to do with your ability to get up.  It's the sleep patterns you develop.  Below are some tips to getting up early which I use as do many of my teammates:
1. Get a routine
Every night go to bed at the same time and Every Morning wake up at the same time.  This will make it easier to get up regardless of how many hours of sleep you get.  Unfortunately in order for this too work best you must do it on the weekends too, at least for the first few weeks, so your body can get used to the sleep patterns.  Also you may be tired the first day or two.  That's all right; you're supposed too.

2.Have part of breakfast before running
No one should run on an empty stomach (unless cutting weight) which is why I recommend eating a little something before your run.  I usually have a Protein Bar at least 20 minutes before the run.  That way I have more energy plus it is a known fact that Protein produces energy as well as muscle.  After the run have something such as a hard boiled egg.

3.Set a Goal
Set a goal for what you will run every day.  This makes it harder to put it off.  Also you can make a schedule in order to maximize your workout say "I'm going to run Five miles today" and if you don't then you'll do 10 tomorrow this is good motivation to keep you running.

4.Put your Alarm Clock out of reach
This makes it harder to keep delaying your run make yourself get up for it.  This way you'll be way less likely to lay in bed hitting the snooze button for an hour.

5.Stretch First
Don't get up and just start running.  This is bad for your instead start out with slow static stretches move into dynamic stretches than start walking for a minute and break into a steady run.  This will make you loser and help you maximize your run.

6.Open a Window
This is very important; especially if you have a small bedroom.  Because during every hour of the day and night what do we do.  Breathe.  Breathing is inhaling oxygen and exhaling carbon dioxide.  Carbon dioxide is poisonous and if your rooms small enough by the end of the night you are inhaling poison.

7. Drink Water
As soon as you wake up drink water anywhere from 5-8 ounces should be enough because in the morning you wake up dehydrated anyway.  While your at it splash some on your face.

8.Get someone else to wake you
If you have this advantage you should take it.  If someone in your house is up earlier then you let them wake you up.  Or get a friend to call you this almost always works better than an alarm clock.

9.Improve your run
Run as hard as you can and read up a little bit on running.  I know this sounds silly but if you learn how to run right you can get sooo much more out of it.  My personal favorite is this.  It includes DVDs with instructors who show you how to get the most out of every run.  Just set aside a few hours to learn how to do it.  Not the type for DVDs Check this great book on maximizing your run out Here.

10.Get a motivation to run
In order to do anything you have to have some motivation.  Do you want to win that tournament or show off in try outs.  whatever it is get one.  This is one of the most important aspects of running.

So Follow all the tips above and you should be running every morning pretty soon.  Remember set a goal and accomplish it.

Enjoy,
Jake