Confession time: the first 10 minutes of every workout I do – running, strength training, cross training, you name it – are sheer hell. I spend the whole time just going through the motions while one long “UUGGGHH” drones on silently in my head. It takes a good 10-15 minutes before I’m feeling the burn, sweating it out, and reaping the benefits of the whole fitness thing.
This is especially the case when I work out in the mornings. I simply cannot drag myself out of bed, get warmed up and get an efficient workout in less than like 2 hours, and I’m not losing 2+ hours of sleep if I don’t have to, dammit. By the time I get in a groove, I need to start cooling down, showering, and getting ready for my day. First world problems, I know.
Having said that, I keep trying to fight the system by waking up early for a morning run every now and then. And while these runs are always technical successes in that they are runs that take place in the morning, I can still safely say that I hate morning workouts.
Every time I try to run before work, I only manage to get about a half hour (or 2.5 miles) in before the morning routine has to start, and then I’m exhausted for the rest of the day. Sure, it feels good knowing my workout is done, but the pros don’t really outweigh the cons there.
But of course that sunrise was really something to see, and I would have missed that if I slept in.
I know what my problem is: I need to build it into my schedule just like everything else to make it a habit. Once my body realizes this is the norm with more frequent sessions, it won’t be so bad. But until then, I’ll tough it out and try to enjoy myself.
I also battled the “first 10 minute scourge” this weekend when I did my favorite HIIT workout in the living room Saturday morning.
Back when I first started working out in 2004, I relied heavily on group fitness classes to stay motivated. Looking back, I’m like 90% sure the strict start times and “follow me exactly” routines were the sole reason that I was so successful back then. Working out on your own time, by your own rules, and doing your own made up routine? It’s really hard to stay focused. Especially when you’ve got a nosy cat and a husband watching Bob’s Burgers and laughing in the next room.
I would do one set and get distracted by the mailman or the cat or my own short attention span, but I finally managed to struggle through the full 40-or so minutes (burpees included)! The humidity outside was a real killer, but I felt nice and accomplished afterwards – even if my legs and glutes were screaming for mercy.
And that’s the happy, sweaty truth I have to keep reminding myself of: even though the first 10 minutes of every workout suck a pretty big windbag, the last 10 minutes are probably the most rewarding and blissful moments of my day. And SO worth fighting through that wall to get to 🙂
How about you? Do you suffer from the same affliction? How do you conquer the first 10 minutes?
It’s funny, I’m the exact opposite. For me, the first 10 minutes I’m like “Woo! I feel awesome! I could do this forever!” And then I settle in to hating everything for a while, and then I actually warm up and feel normal, and then it’s time to be done, haha!
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Lol you’ve got a whole other step in there, that’s fascinating! I love comparing notes like that 🙂
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YES! I agree 100%. The first 10 minutes of any workout are the worst. But you get through that and usually you’re golden 🙂 If I’m really struggling to get going…I tell myself I can have a glass of wine when I’m done. Funny thing is when I’m finally done, I usually don’t need that glass of wine anymore 😉
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Amen! A little bribery never hurts!
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I’m totally exhausted just reading your morning routine! Keep up the great work.
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The first 10 minutes are ALWAYS the worst. But I eventually settle in, get through it, and usually enjoy it at the end. I love morning runs, it took a while for me to get used to it, but it’s so nice to have it done.
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See I think that’s what I’ve got to do – the actual working out is rough, but the benefit of getting it done first thing in the morning is what makes it really worth it!
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Yes to this!! I feel the exact same, especially when I workout in the morning. I usually just tell myself to make it 20 minutes. If I want to quit then I can. And I almost never do!
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good point! I have to do the same thing – I’ve also found that new music helps. I’m too busy focusing on that to realize it’s sucking, lol
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My rule of working out has always been never trust the first mile or the first 10 minutes of a workout. They always suck and it never gets any better. If I can get through and stop trying to talk myself out of it, my workouts are always worth it. If they still suck after 10 minutes, I try to push through another 10. And if they still suck after that, I go home and try again tomorrow .
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Amen! The first mile is a LIAR! Sometimes I even find the first 2-3 miles to be rough, depending on the distance I’m running! You’re right though, it’s almost entirely a mental thing!
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Gorgeous sunrise! I think it’s always hard to get started, esp with a pre-dawn morning run.
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Yep – the bed just feels SOOO much more comfy before a pre-dawn run!
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