Today someone asked me how I first motivated myself to get up early and how I resisted rolling over and just going back to sleep. My biggest motivation is getting my workout in while not stealing time away from my family...so I run while they sleep. The second biggest motivator is knowing that I have people counting on me to meet them, and I would never disappoint them because they count on me as much as I count on them. I won't lie, I slept in a couple times. Once I set my alarm to PM instead of AM, but as soon as I got a wake-up text from my friends on the porch, I thew my clothes on and was ready to run 5 minutes later. I also set my clothes up the night before so I can even get ready in my sleep if needed. And a couple times I had to cancel because I got the stomach flu during the night, and honestly, I mostly cancelled because I didn't want to infect anyone else. Finally, I like to get it done early because I am a master at talking myself out of a workout later in the day. I have too much work to do; my kids need me to spend time with them; it is too hot; I am too tired; and the list of excuses could honestly go on forever.
Because of how lucky I feel to have two coaches helping me to achieve my goal of completing a hundred-mile race, and because I know how amazing it feels when I have finished one of my morning workouts, I am issuing a challenge to all of you--Yes, EVERY ONE of you! Because I love numbers, and because we have a pretty fun number day coming up, I challenge you to do 5 miles (or 5 km) at 5:05am or 5:05pm on May 5th, which also happens to be 5/5. No excuses, you can try an early morning workout for one day and see how you like it, and I will be trying to add an evening one at 5:05pm since this is my challenge time.
If you can't head my way, please comment on my blog below, post on my Facebook wall, post on the 0 to 100 Mile Hero page, or for my Fit Fifty friends, share your work-outs for May 5th on our group page.
I am calling you out! Stop just thinking about working out and take this day to start your new workout routine. There is never a perfect time to start. There is always a reason to put it off. But I say there is no time like the present. Get your workout on and do 5 miles (or 5 km) on May 5th--and if you can swing it, try to get out at 5:05 am or 5:05 pm just to make extra special! I am looking forward to hearing all about it! Your turn to share!