People who run in the early morning are generally more disciplined, as not many can maintain a routine of morning runs. Morning running offers numerous benefits for the body, such as: the fat-burning efficiency in the morning is the best throughout the day, which can help shed excess body fat. Morning running can strengthen the body, enhance cardiorespiratory function, and leave you feeling energetic and more productive at work. However, some individuals are not suited for morning runs. If you exercise without considering your health, it could lead to mental fatigue, reduced work efficiency, and even harm your health, failing to achieve the desired exercise outcomes. If you have any of the following three conditions, it is advised that you sleep instead of running in the morning, as it would be meaningless. 1. Staying up late and still running in the morning Staying up late and then insisting on running in the morning is extremely unwise. When we have been awake all night, our body’s functions are in a state of extreme fatigue, and our endocrine system can become disrupted. In such a state, forcing oneself to run in the morning can lead to insufficient energy to support the exercise, potentially causing excessive fatigue and increasing the risk of injury. Studies have shown that engaging in high-intensity exercise after staying up late can lead to cardiovascular issues, and may even result in the tragedy of sudden death. It is recommended to sleep after staying up late, as sleep is the best way to recover energy and repair the body, not to get up and run in the morning. 2. Being sick or not yet recovered If you run when you are sick or have not yet recovered, it is also inadvisable. When you are ill, your body is fighting off the illness, and your immune system is under high stress. Running in the morning at this time can further deplete your body’s energy and resources, delaying your recovery. For instance, running when you have a cold may worsen the condition and lead to serious complications like myocarditis. Even when the illness has slightly improved but not fully recovered, your body’s functions have not yet returned to normal levels, and running in the morning too soon may put too much stress on your body. It is suggested that when you are sick or have just recovered from a serious illness, you should rest or engage in low-intensity training rather than running in the morning. 3. Engaging in high-intensity training the day before If you have engaged in high-intensity physical labor or intense exercise the day before, your body is likely still experiencing muscle soreness and fatigue. Running in the morning under these circumstances will not only fail to build muscle and improve physical fitness but may also exacerbate muscle damage and prolong recovery time. On the day following high-intensity training, it is better to engage in low-intensity stretching exercises rather than morning runs, as the latter can deplete your health and hinder recovery. In summary, while morning running is beneficial, we must decide whether to engage in it based on our actual situation. In the special cases mentioned above, choosing to get adequate sleep to allow your body to recover is the wiser choice.
