What time of day should I run?
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Today, I am going to discuss the pros and cons of running at different times of the day. For many beginners, and even seasoned runners, ‘what time of day should I run’ is a frequent question.
When is the best time to run? In this article I hope to answer this question, or at the very least give you some information to help you decide what’s best for you. Though in all honesty, I must confess to being a daytime runner. I seldom run before 10 AM or after 6 PM. This is my personal preference, but putting this aside I will objectively strive to discuss the merits of running during each part of the day.
Many folks enjoy running early in the morning.
I often see runners at 5 AM and 6 AM, when the air is cool and the streets are quiet, and the sun is barely blinking its eye above the horizon. I can understand the attraction of running at early dawn.
It is peaceful and quiet and serene. Arguably, as there is very little traffic to be concerned with it is also fairly safe. Additionally, running when it is cool and the sun is barely above the horizon protects you from overheating and possible heatstroke, especially in the warmer months.
However, living in Calgary up in Canada, the winters are long and harsh and it is frequently -40°C before the sun rises. This climate creates additional concerns such as frostbite and slippery, icy roads and pathways.
Running in the middle of the day much like I do also has its benefits.
I consider the middle of the day to be anywhere from 10 AM to 3 or 4 PM. As I am not a morning person, my body is stiff and takes a while to warm up once I am awake.
In the winter months with the sun shining on you it is also a beneficial way to get some vitamin D.
Also, during this time there is no peak hour traffic to contend with and so safety is not too much of a concern. In the summer months however, the middle of the day can be extremely hot, which can cause dehydration and perhaps heatstroke.
How about running in the evening or late at night?
I would suggest not running between the hours of 4 PM to 6 PM (unless you live in a rural area), because the amount of smog created as traffic congestion peaks.
From 6 PM onwards the traffic lessens and the evening is cool which allows the body to run at peak performance. Once again, running at night can have its challenges, especially if it’s dark. It is of paramount importance to wear reflectors and brightly colored clothing.
In the cold winter months however, running at night can create the same difficulties with exposure to cold and slippery conditions as can be found in the early mornings.
Whether you run the end of the day or at the beginning of the day, the choice is yours.
I don’t think there is any ‘best’ time of day for every runner.
In fact, I sometimes run at different times of the day, depending on my mood and/or work and family commitments. Personally, I love to run when it is warm outside as it doesn’t affect me detrimentally. Other runners prefer to run when it’s cooler in the early mornings, or early evenings, and this is fine as well.
So, whatever time of day you choose, it’s the right time of day for you. Just be aware of some of the safety issues and any other concerns that might be particular to that time of day.
Bearing this in mind, any time of day can be a terrific time for a run.
Yesterday, I went running at 01.30 am.. I love running at night
Interesting points. Where I live, the sun is pretty strong in the couple of hours around noon, so going for an hour long run is tiresome. I usually run in the mornings because although I am still somewhat stiff, running wakes me up
Every now and then I do run at night, and those times have been really enjoyable.
Definitely agree with all the safety issues you mention. Safety should be priority number 1 for all us runners.
It does not really matter what time of day you run, you should run when you are feeling good and fresh.
I run all hours of the day it might be 4am before work when i am feeling good although it might be 9/10pm before bedtime i might go out! Listen to your body and when it says BOSS are you ready and have nothing else to do LET’S HIT THE ROAD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! That is how i do it and i run 5 days a week, a short run is 5-10 miles and a long run is 15 miles!!!!!!!!
By the way, if you are not up for a run or you are feeling down you should have a rest day cause you probably deserve it!!!!
I run in the morning, coz its easier for me to do this at the start of the day instead of at the end of the day. I’ve done a couple of night runs before, some under a pouring rain, and its also good. But nothing beats an early morning run to start my day! In my part of the world, the sun is always out on most days, so its good for heat training and such. It also gets me conditioned for running events that are usually held very early in the morning.
I like running early before the sun comes up. Makes me feel like I have accomplished something even if the rest of the day doesn’t go so well.
Very good question — and good answers! As a daily “streak runner” who hasn’t missed a day of running in over 3 years, I can’t afford to be choosy, but of course we all have our preferred times. Your blog post inspired me to blog on the same question: http://www.nancyshohetwest.com/lifes-a-streak-run.php (Jan 28 entry).
All interesting comments, however, what governs my running time (other than general energy levels) is the idea that all energy should be put into putting one step in front of the other, not cooling the body from the heat of the sun, or cold of winter. By doing this my muscles get the best work out possible from the training session.
There are plenty of other times I can train my body to deal with heat or cold. Why should we at the same time as training our legs?
I remember reading articles about wearing a sweat suit for training, I think it was regarding bicycling, but it’s all the same, basically it said that the suit just bought on exhaustion fasting, reducing the effects of the training session.
I would be really keen to know what other think about this theory
Let me know if you agree with this or not?
Working from home allows me to run at any time and I like to break up the day for going for a mid day run, pre lunch works up a hunger and also wakes you up for the afternoon
how about running when it rains? Regardless of the time od the day
My answer would be any time that works for you. Some people want to start a new program and decide they will get up ealier. If you’re not a morning person, you’ll just feel tired and grumpy. Run when it works for your schedule and your energy. I run at 5:00 am most days because that’s what works for my schedule and because I want to beat the Texas heat out the door.
Practically speaking, morning running only requires you take one shower per day. Saves time and you get it out of the way!
I went around 2 clock in the morning no biggie just couldn’t go to sleep