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Here is what I’ve learned about 5:30 a.m. — it can be really cold, and I’m still really sleepy. Not one single time in my life have I actually enjoyed being awake at 5:30 in the morning, unless maybe I was 4 years old and there were presents involved.

But for the past few months, I’ve been setting my alarm for those numbers, a time which I’m pretty sure my clock had never been set to go off in the years that I’ve owned it. My clock is much more familiar with the snooze button. It all started when my friends Jenny and Amy started training to run a marathon — yes, that’s 26.2 miles, and they finished the whole thing. To get in all their training runs, they had to start getting up and hitting the pavement before work every day. The next thing I know, I’m right there with them, making a four mile loop through the neighborhood. I think I was just so impressed with their dedication that I wanted to be a part of it, like the little girls who try to do tricks on the living room couch while they watch Olympic gymnastics. If I were left to my own devices, I guarantee you I would pick sleep over running every time.

I say all that to say I’ve developed a love-hate relationship with my morning run. The love mostly comes into play when the run is over. But I also love spending time with friends and, of course, I love being able to say I ran four miles at 5:30 a.m. Hey, don’t judge, the truth is the truth. Plus, running provides an excuse to buy new shoes, and I’m usually sold on any activity that allows me to legitimately say I need new shoes.

The hate is kind of obvious. In the winter months, 5:30 a.m. can get pretty darn chilly, and I’m not the hardiest of souls. I wear flannel pajamas in July, so dressing for a run in 20 degree weather can present a challenge. Dressing to walk to my car in 20 degree weather is a challenge for me. I think the cold might just be worse than the sleep deprivation, although I do love my sleep.

The earlier wake-up time has led me to a great discovery, though — the lunchtime nap. A solid 45 minutes of sleep in the middle of the day can only be described as awesome.

Luckily, I’ve come up with some solutions to overcome those hurdles. I’ve perfected the art of getting dressed without actually leaving the bed, and for the past week I’ve had boxes of Girl Scout cookies stacked on my dresser as an extra incentive to get going. Nothing says “Breakfast of Champions” like Carmel DeLites and Peanut Butter Patties. Maybe the Girl Scouts should use that in their next marketing campaign.

Occasionally, to make things even easier, I just sleep in my running clothes. That completely eliminates a step and gives me about five extra minutes of sleep. Roll out of bed, tie shoes, go.

Then there’s the actual running itself. Because if you’re going to be up at 5:30 a.m., it better be to do something productive. Some mornings, it’s great — those Girl Scout cookies are firing all cylinders and I can pat myself on the back for making a good decision. Other mornings, I look at the next hill and I pretty much hate myself. It’s always a coin toss. Remember, I said the end of the run is always the easiest part to love.

But there really is a lot of love for the end of the course, and that’s probably the biggest incentive to not push snooze more than once. It may only be four miles, but when you’re cold and tired, that four miles might as well be the Olympics, my own mini-marathon every day. So as long as I can keep my dresser stocked with cookies, I suppose I’ll keep on rolling out of bed every morning. Maybe the Girl Scouts will start selling in bulk.

Contact Rachel Parsons at rparsons@winchestersun.com.

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