I use to work at a local running store, and I didn’t have to be at work most days until 9:45 a.m. But the thought of getting up around 7 a.m. to go for a run never crossed my mind.

See, I’m not a morning person. Although, I’m more morning than some other people. 

I’ll wake up early for two things: race day and the beach.

But I’ve recently started a new job, which allows me to run after work. It’s just been so scorching hot that I flat won’t go. 

I’ll make excuse after excuse. It’s too hot. I’m too tired. Work was stressful. Tomorrow. But we all know how that goes. The pattern of bad behavior wins again. 

I have this awesome running friend, who when I have crazy ideas or requests she just says yes. 

So we’ve started running at dawn a couple times a week. And let me tell you. I feel liberated. 

  
I’ve seen many a sunset in my day because running at dusk use to be my thing. But the older I get I find it hard to go to sleep after exercising late in the day. 

  
But this morning’s sunrise was absolutely perfect. 

And it felt so good to get in a 3 mile run before 6:15 a.m. 

  
Here are my stats for this morning’s run. Started out slow, but the pace got progressively faster. The humidity was killer, and the fact that it was 80 degrees at 5:30 a.m. was disheartening. 

But I survived.