I talk a lot about forming new good habits, and like you, I’m always a student, too. I’m 3 days into forming a new habit – and it’s one I “used to have,” but I lapsed a little. So, I’m back! And, I’ll keep you posted on my progress.

Before I moved to Idaho, I lived in Chicago. During the summer, I woke up everyday no later than 5 am (often earlier) and headed out for my run. The sun came up so early there, and I loved to get out early enough to see the sun come up over Lake Michigan. I never had a problem getting up, and it became a very good habit. I would be finished with even the longest weekday run very early. Even in the winter, I could still get up early because living in the city, there were lights everywhere.

When I moved to Idaho, several things changed. First, at the end of July (when I came here), it didn’t get light in the morning until after 6 am. And, the running path along the river is pitch black. In the winter, sometimes it doesn’t get light until nearly 8 am. I bought a head lamp and a reflective vest, but that was a little weird, and I did ran with them on occasion, but I got to the point where I just waited for the sun to come up.

So, I slowly drifted into getting up about 6 am, taking Fremont for his walk, then hitting the running path around 7 am. And, then I started coaching a marathon group, and we don’t start sometimes until 8 am in the summer. And, I was also doing my long runs on Sundays because I was coaching the 10K group on Saturdays, and our mileage was fairly low. And, needing to get in some long mileage, I switched my long run to Sunday. So I totally started “sleeping in” until 6 or 630 am.

However, I figured I could be completely done with my weekday runs by 8 am (walk Fremont, run, shower, eat breakfast) if I just started getting up earlier.

So, on Saturday, I got up at 445 am, took care of Fremont, drove to where the team meets, and I started running by 6 am. I got 12 miles in before practice started, then ran 5 with the team, and got in both my long run and the team run on Saturday – a very efficient use of my time. That was day 1 of my new good habit.

Day 2 was Sunday – I got up with Fremont and got our long walk along the river done early. Day 3 was today – I got up again 5 am and was running by 6 am.

So, I’m 3 days on the road to a new good habit. I know the hard days will be when I have a rest day from running, but at least for the first 21-30 days, I have to get up at the same time. Wish me luck!