There is no best time to run. You could run in the morning, noon or night and it would be just as beneficial to your health and fitness. However, there are a few points you should note of such as training too close to your bedtime will make it harder for you to fall asleep and so on.
Let’s look at 5 variables that you should factor into your decision when deciding when to run.
1. Your schedule
This is the most important factor. If you’re exhausted at the end of the day after work, it can seem like a Herculean task to drag yourself and go for a run. At times like these, it’s best to wake up earlier and run before you start work. Get it over and done with.
If you’re a stay-at-home mom, you may be hard-pressed to find time away from the kids to go for a run. It’s even tougher if you have a young baby to care for. In this situation, having a treadmill at home will help and you can do a quick 15 or 20-minute run while the baby is sleeping.
Whatever the case may be, the goal here is to find a time that fits in with your schedule. If you keep skipping your running workouts, you need to find another time to do them when you’re feeling fresher and more energetic. Here you can discover why running is so effective for Weight Loss.
2. Before your carbs
If you’re trying to lose weight, timing your run before your meal will be very effective. When you consume carbs after a run, the body uses up the fuel from the carbs more efficiently and they’ll be less likely to be stored as fat.
It’s best to consume all your carbs for the day at one meal and a run should precede the meal. So, plan your runs to coincide with your carb meal for the day.
3. Early in the day
The earlier you train, the longer your body will be burning calories. This is especially true if you engage in high-intensity interval running which will put your body in fat-burning mode for 8 to 10 hours after the workout.
If you train in the evening, the moment you go to bed, your metabolism will dip, and the effects of your workout will taper off. By running early in the day, you’ll be giving your body a lot more time to burn calories and fat.
4. Over the weekend
If you’re hard-pressed for time, engaging in high intensity running 3 times a week is enough to help you to lose weight and boost your stamina. You do not need to run daily. In fact, it’s advisable not to so that your body has time to rest. If you’re eating at a caloric deficit, you will lose weight. The running sessions are just to spur your metabolism and accelerate weight loss.
So, if you’re busy during the weekday, you only need to set aside one of those days for a run. The remaining 2 sessions can be done over the weekend when you’re freer. You can read here how to improve your stamina with running
5. Lunch breaks
You can easily go for a fast 20-minute run during your lunch break at work. A shower after that and a quick meal and you’re good to go. You don’t need to spend an entire hour eating.
Sneaking in a run will give your body a sudden boost of energy because of the endorphins released during the run.
At the end of the day, the best time to run is when you find the time to run. The pointers above are just to guide you. Nothing is set in stone. Be consistent and strive to improve on your personal best each time.
Over time, your excess fat will melt off and your stamina will be at a level you never imagined possible. Running is one of the best forms of training. Use it often.
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This website is written by a regular human. I am not a Health Professional. Please get professional medical advice for your specific health needs.