Throughout University and Masters studies I used to wake up at 5-5:30 am for my runs. When I got a job I did the same. Once you get into a routine is difficult to get out of it, whether that routines is to sleep in or jump out of bed, put the kit on and get out the door.
If you find it difficult to get up in the morning but you would like to, remember it’s about building momentum and then it gets easier to wake up early in the morning for your workout or run.
Now that I have my own business my running times are different. Sometimes I have clients from 7 am so I don’t do my own run as well, other time I do them. I don’t need to wake up very early. However, between 2012-2014, I used to wake up at 4:30 am to go training with my coach. I still have early morning runs though, they are the best.
The truth is that if you really want to do something you will, no matter how difficult you find it. Then you build momentum and it gets easier.
Here are a few of my tips and tricks to wake yourself up in the morning and get out that door:
- have your kit ready, even the shoes, next to your bed – if you have to look for your shorts at 5 am chances are you will just go back to bed, wake up and put the kit on
- have you water and bar ready – have them ready the evening before, next to your kit
- alarm – if you are a heavy sleeper, have an alarm that could wake the neighbors, not one that will put you back to sleep
- far far away – if you can, put your alarm far from your bed so you have to get up to turn it off
- move – if you find it difficult to wake/get up, start jumping around, do 5 press ups, anything to get your body moving and wake you up, you don’t need to do a full workout, just to move – it works wonders
- the evening before – it would be best to prepare your work clothes and bag before you go to sleep so you don’t feel under pressure in the morning, sometimes this can put us off running
- weather – know the weather the evening before so you know what to prepare for
To have a quality sleep the most important advice I can give you is to avoid stimulating your brain 1-2 hrs before going to bed. No tv, computer, social media, phone movies etc, your quality of sleep will significantly improve just by avoiding this.
She specialises in working with runners, beginners and advanced, who want to run faster, further, with less effort and fewer injuries. This is done through natural movement fitness and running technique and mechanics drawn from the many disciplines Alexandra has studies throughout the years, including long distance running.
Since 1995 she has explored how the body and mind works. She has done this through using many different sporting techniques and working with a wide variety of highly respected coaches. Throughout her Martial Arts career she has achieved 5th Dan Black Belt in Karate Shotokan, runs her own Karate club and is IJKA 2017 triple World Champion, 2016 WMO Martial Arts British National and European Champion. She still competes at an international level.
It is through these learnings, and drawing inspiration from respected natural movement names such as MovNat, IdoPortal and POSE Method of running among many others, that she has created The Merisoiu Technique and has established her own unique transformational programs that incorporate thousands of years of knowledge with Natural Human Movement.
Alexandra’s mission is to challenge the status quo of how to achieve the truly strong, fit and powerful body a runner needs to perform at their best level. This is done through building strong, lasting foundations in the natural outdoor environment; reducing the risk of injuries and educating people on the power of the fundamentals of natural human movement and running mechanics.