A Side Ponytail Kind Of Day

Happy Monday!

In case you missed anything from the weekend, let me fill you in:

  • On Friday, I had a hangover. That prompted a fun discussion about drinking, seeking moderation and finding balance in life.
  • On Saturday, I had a great 11-mile run that left me feeling like I just may hit my goal time at the National 1/2 Marathon in two weeks. I also had a delicious brunch at Beauty & Essex on the Lower East Side.
  • Sunday involved a short run, a blogger brunch, errand running and the exciting announcement that my best friend got engaged!

Now that you’re up to speed, let’s talk about Monday.

My guess is that you’re going to be hearing this a lot today from all the early-rising runners out there: It’s dark in the morning again! Boo!

I didn’t make it up for my 5:30 alarm and re-set it for 6 am. I slowly got up, got dressed, did some ab work and faked a smile for you:

The smile is kind of fake, and I'm fully aware that my hair does not look good.

I knew I’d feel good after I ran, so I headed out for 3 miles. I was shocked when I walked outside and saw this:

Sun? Where are you hiding?

I felt good while running and kept a pretty strong pace. As race day approaches, I’m listening to my body more than ever. Today my body said, “Get this run over with so that when you leave the apartment again, the sun will be out.”

Hello darkness, my old friend...
Is anyone sick of these photos yet? Let me know.

I did wake up today with a bit of a sore throat, but I’m really hoping that’s from sleeping with the window open and not because I’m getting sick. I plan to drink tons of water and get lots of rest this week to fight off a potential cold.

Today’s outfit is blue and yellow and polka-dotted all over.

Ta da!

A little side ponytail never hurt anyone, right?

I’m feeling good about this week. My To Do list —both at work and in life in general — is huge and that motivates me.

SOMETHING TO TALK ABOUT: For all the runners out there, are you a morning runner, a lunchtime runner or an evening runner? Why do you prefer to run at a certain time of day? I always feel best when I run as close to waking up as possible. I have a hard time hitting my stride at night, when I’ve got a belly full of food!

Ali

Ali

0 Responses

  1. Love the skirt!! I usually run at lunch time but sometimes I will run in the evening if I am too stressed to leave my desk at lunch 🙂 Most people know not to book anything in my calendar on lunch so I get a good run especially in the Summer where we head for the ski hills 🙂

  2. I sport the side pony tail look frequently! (at least it’s not the HIGH side pony like when we were younger, right?) And I LOVE the polka dot skirt. Where’d you get it?

  3. Cute outfit! I love that skirt!

    I run with a big running group and most of our runs start at night. But we always do long runs really early on Saturday mornings. I’d love to do a few runs in the AM but I go to work at 7 am most days so it’s just not possible.

  4. I’m usually an evening runner unless I can sleep in a little. I’d have to get up at like 4:30 in the morning if I was going to run before work, and that just isn’t going to happen!

  5. I go through phases with running. Sometimes I prefer morning, sometimes afternoon/evening. Lately, I’m loving evening runs with my aunt. I love chatting through the run and unwinding after a long day. Once it gets warmer, I’ll start running in the morning to beat the heat and I love the energy I have for the day.

    PS – Outfit = Adorable!

  6. Nowadays, I prefer to run in the mornings to get it out of the way before work, but if I had more free time (on weekends) I’d choose to run in the afternoon! I feel best when I’ve had a few hours to really wake up, get my body moving, get some solid food in me– around 2 or 3 would be best. Or, I’d run after work if I got out a bit earlier– getting home after 7:30 each night just makes me want to cozy up in comfy clothes with some dinner. If I got out and home earlier, like 5, I’d definitely do more post-work running.

  7. That outfit is super cute!

    I prefer to run about an hour after waking up, but there’s no way I’m waking up at 5:00 am so that I can go on a nice run at 6:00 every morning, so I usually go after work. Fortunately, my belly doesn’t mind.

  8. I’m an after work runner. I can not get up in the morning to run. Plus, there are no side walks and running in the street while it’s still dark is not okay with me. I run right after work before I eat dinner. I definitely can not run after I’ve eaten dinner so I have to make sure to get out the door before dinner time.

  9. I run my best in the middle of the day…during fall, winter and spring…in the summer I have to do morning runs because it gets way to had in the middle of the day…I am not a fan of running in the morning because my legs alwasy feel like lead…

  10. I love the side pony tail! When my hair was long I always used to wear it like that (I miss my long hair!) Anyway, I am definitely a morning runner especially when it’s warm out. If I wait too long to get my run in there is a good chance that it just won’t happen.

  11. I’m a fair weather morning running… I run religiously in the mornings in the spring/summer (when there isn’t ice/snow on the ground and the sun is up). I am also more motivated to run in the mornings in the spring/summer because I am usually training for a race, so I HAVE to get runs in! I like to run in the mornings, then lift or do some easy cross training/yoga at the gym after work! I’m like you, I have a hard time running in the evenings, after a day of eating. 🙂

    PS – Cute skirt!

  12. What a cute pic, as usual 🙂 If I am running outside, I am most definitely a morning runner. But if I have speedwork on my schedule, I prefer to go at lunch, if I can fit it in, or at night.

  13. I’m an evening runner (and new reader of your awesome blog). I can run in the morning, but it involves serious amounts of coffee, and I don’t have the wherewithal to wake up early enough to make coffee and run before work.

  14. Morning for sure! I love the way I feel at the start of the day after I’ve finished a run, and, I’m not tired and lazy by the end of the day and wanting to quit! (But sadly, it usually only happens once or twice during the work week….I can’t take getting up by 5 more than that these days….How do you do it?!)

  15. totally a morning runner! i love the way it feels to start my day off with a good run. I also love running at lunch when my workday allows enough time for it. It’s such a good way to break up the monotony of the office hours.

  16. Definitely morning. I’ve been a morning runner since my freshman year of college (though I miss the days of 9 a.m. runs before 11 a.m. classes!) so it’s definitely second nature by now. When I get home from work at night, I just want to eat and veg!

  17. I’m totally a morning runner MOST of the time. In the summer, I sometimes love going after work, when the heat is less intense and I can unwind after a busy day. BUT nothing beats the birds chirping as the sun rises, and the sounds of your feet hitting the pavement. Seriously, the best.

  18. Wow, nice pics.. the outfit looks great!
    If you can go 11 miles, I would feel pretty confident you will make the 13 miles..
    Sounds like you had a busy weekend, but they all go by too quickly!

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about ali

I’m the creator of the Ali on the Run blog and the host of the Ali on the Run Show podcast. I’m also a freelance writer and editor, a race announcer, a runner and marathoner, a mom, and a huge fan of Peanut M&Ms, Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again (way better than the first one!), and reliving my glory days as a competition dancer in the early 2000s. I’m really happy you’re here.
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