If you’re what we call a post-work prancer, you’ve probably noticed your runs getting a little darker this week. With the clocks falling back an hour, getting out the door after a long day just got tougher. But here’s the good news: that same time change gives those morning runners a boost. If you’ve ever thought about switching your routine, here’s why the first week of November is the perfect time to do it.
More light, more safety
This one’s obvious, but worth repeating. If your usual routes take you along trails or narrow shoulders, a little extra daylight is your best friend. You’ll see the road/trail (and what’s on it) more clearly and deal with less traffic than during the evening rush. There will be fewer trip hazards, fewer headlights and just more of you and nature.
Mornings are warmer than you think
Sure, it doesn’t feel that way when you crawl out from under a warm blanket into a gust of 20 km/h bone-chilling wind to the face, but temperature-wise, morning runs this time of year are usually warmer than evening ones. After sunset, the temperature drops fast, while morning sun helps warm the air just enough to make early runs more pleasant as you progress.
Get in a cold-weather rhythm
As the days get shorter, so does the time to squeeze in your training. If you’re eyeing a spring half-marathon or marathon, establishing a morning routine before the holiday chaos hits can help you stay consistent for the new year when motivation and daylight are both in short supply.
Fewer distractions, more discipline
Morning runs rarely get derailed by last-minute work emails, social plans or end-of-day fatigue. The bottom line is, you might groan over the colder temperatures through the first mile or two, but once you get it done, you feel like you accomplished something before the world even wakes up, and sometimes that small win carries through the rest of your day.
