First, let me preface this by saying that Morning workouts are my go-to. They’re my get-it-done. They’re my lifeline. I need them. I rely on them.

People often ask how I “fit it all in”, and there’s a simple answer:

The easiest way to fit it all in is to get the workout done and out of the way in the morning.

I often say that I’m a “night owl trapped in a morning person’s body”, because I have a natural tendency to stay up late. It’s when I get my writing and blogging done, my other “jobs” done, my organize-my-life time, it’s my relaxing time. Evenings after the kids are in bed are my “me” time in many ways.

PS – I’m writing this at quarter to midnight. And I’ve been up since 5:30am for my workout.

Yes, I burn the candle at both ends. No, I don’t need as much sleep as everyone else seems to need.

But sometimes the whole system seems to break down. Ever since my boys were sick last week and I was fighting it off myself, I’ve been out of whack. I haven’t felt like I’ve had my typical energy level. My running feels sluggish, my legs feel heavy.

Lately, I’m struggling to get up in the morning. Lately, I fall asleep at night too early. I’m un-burning the candle at both ends – not getting my “me” time, and not getting my workout time.

WTF.

So when the Morning Workouts don’t happen, that means my “me” time is now –> my workout time. And while I also love getting on my bike trainer at night and sweating out the stress of the day, it means I’ve lost an evening of work, relaxing, or sleeping time. It means that I’m one step behind on everything I have to do.

I’m getting more tired and foggy brained after 9pm than I ever have before. That used to be the time when I hit the writing and other projects with gusto. Or I did an energetic workout. Lately, I feel foggy-brained and sapped of energy.

I’m not sure why – the massive Vitamin D deficiency? The Ironman training? The craziness of my life in general?

The truth is probably this: ALL OF IT.

Things are pretty ramped up at work with a huge trip I’m organizing to Russia in a few weeks, and other major projects all heating up. In my personal life, I have a number of side projects I’m working on that are keeping me busy. In my family life, the kids were sick last week and I was not feeling 100%. Then this week, my youngest had an allergic reaction to peanuts and that derailed some workout time as well. He’s fine, but it was scary and I couldn’t leave his side and was up all night with worry. So I missed the evening workout and then in the morning my run was sluggish. It happened, but sluggish.

Don’t worry – my training isn’t falling apart, and I’m not a disaster. I’m getting in most of my workouts – I’m just not rocking it the past two weeks. It’s more about the way I feel.

So how do I get back on track? How do I feel like I’m crushing it again?

I think it’s not just about about remembering the goal of the race, but also remembering that the training is a lifestyle.

I’m trying to go to bed earlier. This is a sacrifice of my evening time, but it’s important to my overall plan.

I’m cleaning up my overall diet/nutrition- this is a key factor to my energy level and feeling my best. I’ve gotten sloppy about my fueling and I think this is one reason why I’ve felt sluggish. I need to focus on that as a key source of energy and health.

I’ve started to take some vitamins and supplements. I think I’ve been depleting my resources and I’m excited to give my body more resources it needs for the training and for my busy, active life.

I’m organizing workout plans with friends – I used to do track in the morning with a group, I have met friends to swim early morning. If I’m committed to meeting someone, then I’ll get myself there.

I’m glad I have the external motivation of the races I’m committed to, and also my coach Bob to keep me on track. If it weren’t for the goal and the plan, I’d probably be flailing and not just “feeling a little off”.

I’ll check back in next week and – hopefully! – let you know how I’m crushing it again.

How do you get in your morning workouts? How do you maintain your energy level with fitness and life?

The post Morning Workouts Thwarted By Life appeared first on You Signed Up For WHAT?!.