6 tips to make getting up for morning workouts easier

If you’re not a morning person, you’re going to struggle as a triathlete. You don’t necessarily have to do morning workouts, but every now and then, you’re going to have no choice but to get up when it’s still dark out so you can fit a swim, bike, or run into your busy schedule. It’s never fun waking up early, but we have a few tips to make it a little less painful.

Drink a glass of water

Put a glass of water next to your bed before you go to sleep. When your alarm goes off in the morning, drink the whole glass. You’re going to be dehydrated after your sleep, and this will work to remedy that before your feet even touch the ground. The effects won’t be immediate, but by the time you start your workout, you’ll be feeling well-hydrated and ready to push your limits.

Eat something

You don’t have to eat a lot, but even a small snack will go a long way in helping you feel energized for the day. This is also a good chance to practice your pre-race meal strategy. Eat what you’d like to have before a race and see if it works for you. If it does work, that’s great, but if not, you have plenty of other morning workouts to figure out what does.

Know what you’re wearing

Lie your clothes out the night before. This might feel a bit like you’re a kid getting ready for his or her first day of school, but it’s going to be one less thing for you to worry about in the morning. It will be easier for you to get up knowing that you don’t have to make any decisions, you just have to roll out of bed and into your clothes.

Have a plan

If you have to do an easy run, know where you’re going. If it’s a swim workout, have a set figured out ahead of time. If you’re doing an indoor trainer ride, plan what you’ll listen to or watch to keep yourself entertained. Once again, the fewer decisions you have to make when you’re tired, cold, and groggy, the better your morning is going to go.

Give yourself a carrot to chase

If you really struggle to get up in the mornings, you might need to give yourself some sort of incentive to wake up and do the workout. Come up with a treat  (whatever that may be) to give yourself once you have completed your workout. Maybe it’s a hot bath before work, maybe you promise yourself a coffee from your favourite cafe, perhaps you’ll make pancakes to enjoy after your workout. Whatever it is, it will be beneficial for you to have something to look forward to when your alarm rings.

Go to bed early

This is pretty obvious, but if you have an early workout planned, don’t stay up late. This might be easier said than done, but try your hardest to get to bed at a reasonable hour. It’ll make getting up in the morning way easier.