By Coach Shelby Schmidt *
Note from the Editor: I am subscribed to the “Running and Schmidt” blog by Coach Shelby. A few weeks ago she wrote a funny post. It was funny only because it was real, and somehow reflected the true nature of every morning runner out there. Every runner will be able to find a little bit of him/herself in these random thoughts. I am publishing her post with her permission.
Feel free to contribute with your own thoughts in the comments section. Enjoy!
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There are countless tihngs that go through the mind of morning runners. Some, funnier than others (Picture by libreshot.com)
If you wake up at ungodly hours to run countless miles, you can safely fall into the category of \”crazy morning runner\”. You know them, you see them, you are them: we are the ones with headlights, neon vests, half opened eye lids and enough coffee in us to fuel a small rocket.
Most of us don\’t run with headphones at that time of the morning, for safety, so we have A LOT of time to think. Have you ever run more than three miles without headphones? I don’t love it. It allows me to have WAY too much time to think and my mind is like black hole with no end in sight.
While my endless thoughts just won’t stop, every once in a while, I come up with some gems that I can’t help but share.
So, with that being said, I present you:
Internal Morning Running Thoughts
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WHY am I up this early!?!?
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When does the time change for it to be brighter earlier? (Then repeats “spring forward fall back” and try to do math at 5am to what time it would actually be).
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Passing the same house you did earlier but now they have lights on: “Ohhhh look who’s awake now.”
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Seeing someone’s garbage/recycle full to the top: “Damn! did someone have a party?”
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When you see another runner like you crazy enough to give up sleep: “Did we just become best friends?”
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Seeing a dark object that I can’t fully make out: “Is that a human/dog/ wild animal.”
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When a car seems to be slowly coasting along past every house: “What is that car doing? I’m gonna break out my ninja moves—watch out!!!!! Oh it’s just paper delivery l, carry on.”
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Literally, every time I bump my pepper spray against myself: “Please don’t let me pepper spray myself.”
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Passing houses with lights on: “Doesn’t anyone sleep around here!?!”
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When there is a mound of tree clippings taking up half the sidewalk or road: “Do they have any trees left?!?”
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When anyone comes around a corner, otherwise of the street or basically into existence remotely near me: “Stay awayyyy!”
I know I can’t be the only one to have these thoughts and I’m sure that everyone has their own!
What are some of the thoughts you have?
*Shelby Schmidt is a running coach certified by RRCA. You can follow her in Instagram at @runningschmidt, and read her blog at https://www.runningandschmidt.com/
🙈🤪😂😂😂☕😘😘
So glad you liked it!
So true!
In way way or another, we’ve all asked these questions to ourselves.
When I run early morning I ask myself: why am I doing this? But every single time when i finish I get the answer
Thank you for sharing your experience. I sometimew wonder why I get up so early on a Saturday morning. But when I meet with my friends to start running I forgot I even asked myself that question.
I run early AM as well. I don’t run with music. I rub 100 plus miles with no music. I just run, focus, pray, cheer other’s on, meditate. I agree with Coach Shelby the pepper spray and the cars slowly driving, hmmm are you following me? If I’m running alone.. if I’m with my friend I would tell her, let’s watch out, pepper spray always at hand ready. I pray, run have my pepper spray. Sometimes I say to myself why am I running, I can rest a little more. 😅 anyways!
Thank you for sharing your experience on this subject. I appreciate it very much.