Why are afternoon runs so freakin' hard???

I do 90% of my runs first thing in the morning. Used to be 100% but a new job is getting in the way. Unless I want to run in complete darkness, or on a TM in the gym, sometimes it's just easier to run after work. But every single time I run in the afternoon, a 5 miler seems SO freakin' hard.

It's not even hot yet. I eat a lite lunch hours before. No matter what I do, afternoon runs are just hard. My HR is up for any given pace and I just want to cut it short.

I understand we get in a routine, but I've done at least 1 Pm run a week for a month or so now and no improvement.

Anyone else notice this or is it just me?

I definitely experience high HRs when working out in the afternoon rather than early morning. I'm also not sure why but it is very consistent with me. I think part of it is just that in the morning, you are rested and everything takes less effort. At the end of the day, you've had the stress and experience of the day that takes a lot out of all of us, which then takes a toll on running/exercising.

Well first off you will always have a lower hr in the am do to a good night sleep except for on race day mornings. At least that is what I have found in myself.

Just like you I started a new job this past fall and still getting use to working a Asian shift. I'm to opposite the morning run is now and always has been harder for me. I love running in the afternoon and evenings.

Now to get my mileage back up I have to get use to that morning run!

I think it could just be based on what you get accustomed to. I used to always run mornings and thought other times were harder, but then I switched to running a lot of runs over lunch on days I am in the office mixed with longer runs in the afternoon on days that I work from home, and morning runs on the weekends. After awhile I stopped noticing any difference.

Don't know why, it always harder on me as well.

I run most, if not all, of my my weekday runs in the afternoon. While my weekend runs tend to be in the morning, because they are longer in distance and time. I am not a big morning person and have found that it takes me a good hour to fully wake up and get motivated to run in the morning. I have always enjoyed afternoon runs...

I think with your case, you are not use to the afternoon runs. Give it some time and your body will adjust.

You are awake in the afternoon. You could snooze through the morning runs.

I think 1/week is not nearly enough to establish a routine or become accustomed to the time. I have the same problem, though; I can go on bike rides in the afternoon, but that's only because the first half hour is miserable and it's easier to be miserable on the bike than on your feet.

See, I'm the exact opposite. I struggle with easy runs in the early morning, let alone a workout. I perform much better between 5-7 pm.

It's just a matter of routine. Counting high school and college sports, I've been working out in the late afternoon/early evening just about every day for about 15 years. I'm not sure I could make the switch at this point if I had to.

I wish marathons were at night. I am naturally a stronger runner in the early evening. I think it has more to do with natural biorhythms and metabolism than a morning or afternoon routine because I have run both ways.

Dave-O wrote:See, I'm the exact opposite. I struggle with easy runs in the early morning, let alone a workout. I perform much better between 5-7 pm.

It's just a matter of routine. Counting high school and college sports, I've been working out in the late afternoon/early evening just about every day for about 15 years. I'm not sure I could make the switch at this point if I had to.

Same with me. Morning workouts are waaaay harder and my HR is higher. Not sure why but they just are / it is.

getting out of bed is hard for me, much less running early in the morning! ohhh how I love my bed.

100% afternoon runs are basically brutal for me even a 5 mile easy run seems to expend double the energy. MY HR is noticeably higher, legs are heavier, stomach fuller, etc. Basically, I do not enjoy running in the afternoon, but sometimes it's needed to get in doubles or make up for a missed morning run. But I can tell you that shit is rare!