Since I started running almost a year ago, I have tried morning, afternoon and evening runs. And, regardless of when I run there always seems to be reasons why I should have run at a different time. Several of my Twitter-mates recently discussed the times they prefer to run and their responses varied across the board.
With no definitive reason to run at a specific time of day, I searched the internet to answer the question, "When is the best time for me to run?" I guess I should not have been surprised to learn that science does not have an answer to this question. The best time to run typically depends on your circadian rhythm: if you are a morning person you probably prefer morning runs; if you are a night owl you may prefer afternoon or evening runs.
In the article When is the Best Time to Exercise?, Elizabeth Quinn says you should be aware of the following research:
I tend to be a person who exercises consistently when I run in the morning. However, my work schedule sometimes dictates that I run in the evening which feels better but is more difficult to do routinely. The bottom line is, what's important is that you DO run; and not when you run.
With no definitive reason to run at a specific time of day, I searched the internet to answer the question, "When is the best time for me to run?" I guess I should not have been surprised to learn that science does not have an answer to this question. The best time to run typically depends on your circadian rhythm: if you are a morning person you probably prefer morning runs; if you are a night owl you may prefer afternoon or evening runs.
In the article When is the Best Time to Exercise?, Elizabeth Quinn says you should be aware of the following research:
- Late afternoon is best for exercise because our body temperature is highest.
- Strength is greater (by about 5%) in the afternoon.
- Endurance is greater (by about 4%) in the afternoon.
- Injuries are less likely in the afternoon because we tend to be more alert, our body temperature is higher, and we muscles tend to be more flexible.
- Morning exercisers are more consistent, i.e., morning exercisers are less likely to find something else to do other than exercise.
- There's no clear evidence that shows evening exercise adversely affects sleep.
I tend to be a person who exercises consistently when I run in the morning. However, my work schedule sometimes dictates that I run in the evening which feels better but is more difficult to do routinely. The bottom line is, what's important is that you DO run; and not when you run.
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