Early Morning Runing

The sun has come out! It’s been a beautiful week here in New Rockford, and between bike riding and early morning running, I’ve been trying to take advantage of it. By the way, when I say running, I actually mean a slow but steady jog, I’ll be honest. On the other hand, when I say early morning, I actually really mean it.

Because of the hotness the sun has brought, I usually don’t get my jogging in until the sun starts going down and it starts cooling off for the night. This week, though, I was talked into going before the sun even came up instead. So on Monday morning, at 4:00 A.M., I was up groggily stretching. By 4:30, I was en route. After three miles, I finished off a final mile with a walk to watch the sun rise. You may not believe me, but it was actually the best way I can think of to start a morning. The freshly dewed grass blades glistened, even in the foggy, sunless world of the wee hours of the morning, before its inhabitants awaken. If you think New Rockford can seem like a “ghost town” at times, check it out at five o’clock in the morning. It is unbelievably easy to imagine you are the only person on earth—in a surprisingly non-eerie way. It truly feels like a whole different world.

I didn’t crash until that afternoon, for a good, shameless, two-hour nap. In the future, don’t be surprised if I write an ode to naps. Because you know there’s nothing better than a Sunday afternoon nap. You just know.

I’d like to tell you that I continued with the early morning exercising, but I’ve never been good at lying. On Tuesday morning, I rolled out of bed at my usual time of 11:30. If this happens to you, don’t get upset with yourself; not all is lost. Sunrise strolls cannot be matched, but there is much to be said about a sunny afternoon bike ride. Neighbors are mowing their lawns, kids are walking around with ice cream cones, and the sun is scattering through the green, tree-lined street of Central Avenue. For the extent of your cycling, it’s a worry-free world of blue skies and easy pedaling. Whether it’s an early morning jaunt or mid-afternoon ride, I hope you get to enjoy the fresh air and underrated beauties of our dear little town.

Always, Anna