Is it better to run in the morning or evening?
Much is made of the effects of “fasted cardio” in the general fitness world, but is it better to run early or later in the day?
First let’s get some facts here
Is fasted cardio actually more beneficial for fat loss than cardio done after eating. There’s little data showing it’ll help with body composition with results of various studies falling on both sides of the line.
Your actual goal
Weight loss may be part of your goal, and that’s fine, but running a hard or long session without fuelling is potentially going to hinder your fitness progression.
You likely won’t be able to run as hard or for as long without having eaten. If you do want to lose weight through running, you need to create an overall calorie deficit by expending more energy than you consume, so timing of exercise doesn’t have much of a role here, just that you do it.
Personal preference
Regardless of what may or may not work better in lab tests, you’ve got to consider what you feel better with.
For me early morning running, unless with a friend, is a torturous idea often and turns the sport I love into a bit of a chore. I’ve always preferred evening and even late night running over getting and up out first thing.
If you have a hectic work and/or family schedule however, running in the morning might be your best bet when you feel refreshed and the time constraints of the day can’t get in the way.
Mental focus
Aside from the practicalities of either a morning or evening run, you’ll likely find you just run better at one time or the other.
In the mornings I often take a while to wake and am keen to get on with a busy day of training clients, but in the evening I’m free as a bird and more mentally alert. All of this means I’ll push harder and not be tempted to cut the session short during the harder moments.
So ultimately the answer to this blog question is much the same as many answers I give, in that there is no single correct choice. You have to make a decision based on your preferences, needs and goals.
Check out both options if you haven’t before because you might just be surprised by the results.
Written by Kyle Brooks, Running Coach based in Norwich, Norfolk
