Run to Win

One of the best workout tips that I can offer is adopting a regular sleep schedule. Our bodies have great internal clocks and will generally let us know when we should be awake, when we should be hungry, when we should be hungry or thirsty. One of the best ways to maximize the benefits that your body gets from exercise is to go to bed at the same time every night, and to wake up at the same time every morning. This is not to say you need to get 8 straight hours of sleep; your body may require only 5 or 6 hours of sleep per night. The important thing is going to bed and waking up at the same time every day. This has the following benefits:

• You will fall asleep easier
• You will wake up easier
• Your sleep will be more restful
• Your athletic performance will be more consistent
• Your body will know when it is going to have time to recover from exercise
• When you wake up you will be more alert in a shorter span of time
• You will not be as tired during the day

Try determining how much sleep that you actually need every night, and spend a few weeks going to bed and waking up at the same time, even on the weekends. Sleeping late can throw off your body rythms just as much as going to bed late.