Thursday, November 15, 2007

IF THE ONLY TIME YOU HAD TO WORK OUT WAS AT 4 AM....


Would you? That was a question I asked at a work cocktail party the other night. Disclaimer: I do not usually attend these things, because I had better things to do with my evenings, like watching Wheel of Fortune or Jeopardy or something. :D But this was a "first annual" of something or other and I felt obligated. Also, I didn't want to be the topic of conversation if I didn't go. :)

I don't know why it is at these things that the women always sit around complaining about husbands or significant others. A woman who works in my practice area was complaining that her husband always had to "run." I remember hearing her mention he ran before, but not much has been said since so I pretty much forgot about that. Her complaint wasn't so much that he ran, but that he gets up at 4 am to run. Why does that bother her, I asked? The reason of course was that it disturbed her sleep. And since he only runs on the treadmill, she can hear that as well.

And while I pretty much knew the answer to the next question, I asked it anyway. "Do you ever use the treadmill?" "Heck no! I'd have to get up at 4 am too and there is no way I would get up at 4 am just to exercise." "Can't you do it later, or can't he, like after work?" "No, my only time would be to get up early and I'm not going to do that. And he just likes to exercise in the morning."

So that got the whole ball rolling on whether anyone would get up that early if that was the only time they had to exercise.

"I would," I said. And while I don't make it a regular practice to get up that early (other than the last couple of weeks it seems), I have gotten up that early for races and that early and even earlier to get in a run or workout if it was necessary. Like when training for a marathon or something.

"That's because you're crazy!" several people said.

Am I?

So I said that exercise was important enough to me that if the only time I had to exercise was at 4 am (or get up to exercise), I would. I might not be as enthusiastic about it every day if I had to get up that early all the time, but I know I would do it.

The general concensus from the rest was that they wouldn't.

So my question to you is would you?

17 comments:

Born To Endure said...

Oh yes, I have and would totally get up that early if that was the only time I could.

jahowie said...

I would have to. I am a night owl so I prefer to workout after work, but if I absolutely had no choice, I would get my butt out of bed.

Ann (bunnygirl) said...

I would and I have. But the real question I would have is why that would be the only time available in the first place.

And yeah, the fact that women seem to mostly gripe about spouses and swap kid stories is why I prefer to hang out with the men when I go to a party. Unless they're talking sports, of course.

Bill Carter said...

In a heartbeat... You've read my blog before and you know how dedicated I am. I would work out at 12am, 2am, 10pm, whatever.

Flo said...

Absolutely. As it is now, I generally get up at 4:45 am to workout. Vickie, you asked the wrong group this question ;)

Lori said...

I am the worst in the morning, but without a doubt would get up for a run at that time (hopefully I could actually do 5 a.m. instead, but still ;)) It is actually one of the reasons I am most looking forward to the kids getting older, so I can leave them in the house asleep and go for a run or bike ride :)

Marcy said...

LMAO I already do! It sure as hell beats doing after a long day of work or running after the kids. I personally would rather have my nights open.

Unknown said...

Hard question. I can't imagine that being the only option. I can't imagine getting up that early. But I also can't imagine NOT working out.

Fe-lady said...

I would- I have- I will again!
And "pah" to the naysayers...they just wish they had OUR discipline!

Fe-lady said...

Oh- and to answer your comment/question about numbers ini 55-59- there were only 12 TWELVE ladies in US (2 from Hawaii) that completed Xterra events last season!

IronWaddler said...

I have , do, and will. It is so worth it.

zanne said...

already do. most recently this morning!

SWTrigal said...

I really don't think so unless I was 20 years younger and had no kids..

Bob A said...

I already get up between 4:30 and 5:00, depending on how long of a run I have planned and how early I have to be in the office. 30+ minutes earlier would be tough, but I would probably do so.

UltraMamaC said...

when i do my 8-10 milers during the week, I *have* to get up that early or I don't finish in time! That's what happens when you're SLOW! but, I've also been known to run at 11:30 so I could count the mileage and meet goals for the month, so maybe I'm not a good test case....

Nat said...

(Hi new here, from Nancy's pseudo non-runner blog.)

When I trained for my marathon I ran about 3/4 of my weekday runs in the morning. So of course, I'd get up at 4 to do it. I speaks to commitment I think.

Cindy Jo said...

I hate getting up that early on race days, but if it was my only option I would certainly take it.

I also usually hang with the guys for the same reason (spouse bitching, kid stories) and I love to talk sports! Plus I usually drink as much as the guys do. Of course the women usually get pissed at me, but the guys are usually so much easier to deal with!