Advantages of 5 a.m. Runs

I've always been a morning runner, plain and simple. After about 10 months of evening running, I've switched back to the pre-dawn runs to avoid the Texas heat. Some Many people think I'm crazy for getting up at 5 o'clock in the morning. Most runners I know completely understand. To dispel the potentially insane 'tag' on my reputation, let me spill the advantages of running before the rooster wakes.

1. It's dark. No sun = decent temperatures. In the Texas summers, everyone yearns for decent temps.

2. Traffic is at a bare minimum. I can run in the middle of the road if I like. On some streets I actually have to in order to save my ankles. At 5 a.m., I don't have to zig-zag back and forth to the sidewalk and the road for vehicles.

3. Mark one off the list. It's one less thing on my 'To-Do' list. Done, checked off, all before 6 o'clock in the morning and a cup of coffee.

4. Moonlight. I don't know what it is, there's just something awesome about running with the moon still up.