I'm led to believe that there are people who really enjoy exercise. Who actually look forward to it, in fact are addicted to it. I am not one of them. Dance is my exercise of choice because it is so fun I don't really notice I'm exercising at all. But at the moment I'm only managing one dance class a week and if I intend to keep up my chocolate intake (which I sincerely intend to do) other exercise is required.
I also understand that there are some people who leap out of bed early in the morning full of joie de vivre. Again I am not one of them. I eye my alarm with a mixture of horror and loathing as cheery breakfast radio announcers spring to life. Inevitably I spend at least 5 minutes contemplating excuses as to why I can just have a lie in. How really I don't need to get up. My knee/back/neck hurts. It is probably too cold/dark./scary outside. But eventually reality wins out, I lever myself out of bed, put on my walking shoes and head out for a solid 20 minutes hard work.
Some people report a feeling of euphoria after they have exercised. They talk about how great they feel, fighting fit and ready to face the day. The best I can say is that I feel awake, ready for a shower and later in the day, completely deserving of my post lunch chocolate hit.
However despite my grumble bum attitude to early morning walks, there are a few things that I really do enjoy about being up that early. I get to see the sun rise, lighting tiny droplets of dew on the grass like a million fairy decorations. The world has a still quiet, calm, stillness to it. The air is cool and fresh and delicious. Sleepy animals, kangaroos, cows, birds, the occasional rabbit, poke their heads up to watch me march by. The few people I pass say hello, but mostly it is just me and the rhythm of my footsteps. It is a quiet time, a peaceful time, almost like meditation and despite my initial early morning bad mood, I do finish my walk feeling calmer and more centered.
And then of course there are those blissful mornings when I wake up to rain - no one could possibly expect me to go for a walk in the rain could they?
If I've had a good night's sleep I can bounce out of bed with the best of them. Unfortunately those mornings are few and far between, particularly given how muggy it seems to have been overnight in Melbourne lately. When I wake up really not wanting to get out of bed I have to remind myself that 2 happy, exercised dogs = a lot less mess in the backyard when we get home - partly from the obvious of them getting to go to the toilet and partly because when they're bored they decide to tear apart things like the towels or their mattress!
ReplyDeleteOh I can bounce out of bed, but apparently my bounciness only kicks in after 8am, at 6.30 it is much more grumbling than bouncing. I have to say it would be lovely to have a dog to walk, but for now I just have to be content with taking myself for the walk.
DeleteHmmmmm, try doing it at 5:30 then :) It takes a very early, good night to make that work!
DeleteCheezyK 5.30 is never a good time of day! Unless there is a PM involved. And a gin and tonic.
DeleteNope, even 5.30 at Macchu Pichu was not a good time of day.
I love both kinds of morning - the ones where I can go out for a run and the ones where I can sleep in and leave the rain outside.
ReplyDeleteSSG xxx
Sydney Shop Girl blog
Good on you SSG for embracing running - as well as the wonder of a rainy morning lie in!
DeleteThis made me smile :) I'm definitely an early riser, and firmly in the exercise camp - and the solo, morning exercise camp, so quite far away from your later-in-the-day dance camp ;) This post does summarise some of the things I do love about it, namely the waking up, improved mood, and those early morning sights and sounds that are so different to the hectic pace later in the day.
ReplyDeleteThe calmness is lovely, but I think I'm forever going to be a reluctant riser. I have to admit, the excuses won this morning - but I am going dancing tonight!
DeleteI admire you for getting up in the morning and going out (You deserve heaps of chocolate for that!). These pictures are beautiful. I've not seen the sunrise here in Canberra. I celebrate getting to the office before 10am! I exercise (30mins yoga and 20mins core work) and walks up Black Mountain, but never ever in the morning. But getting photos like these ones might just get me out of bed one of these mornings!
ReplyDeleteThis time of year is quite gorgeous early in the morning. Most mornings this week have been about 15 degrees and the sunrise is beautiful. Give it three months time though when it is pitch black and freezing and getting up is soooo much harder.
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