Speaking as an infrequent dawn patrol surfer, and, more often, a 6am runner, this L.A. Times piece on the subject today is lovely. It captures the combination of joyful solitude and holier-than-thou righteousness of we early-rising exercisers.
These are the rationalizations we use: We tell our partners and friends about the glassy water. How we beat the crowds. Get a jump on work. Get the best selection. Add hours to the day.All fine, but that’s not the real reason people get up at 4 a.m. when they don’t really have to. Really, the Dawn Patrol is about breaking with the rest of the world. These are the hours no one can take away from you — unless they’re also prepared to peel themselves out of a warm bed, fall asleep at work and ruin their night lives. Morning people are often getting away from something or someone. All over the city, they are moving in the predawn darkness, claiming two or three hours no one else wants — surfing, meditating, riding horses, golfing, running, working out, making their art, reading or even shopping. They have turned their separatism into a heroic stance.
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bugs me that people who arise EARLY have this holier-than-thou thing about their habit, while people who stay up LATE to work or run or paint are considered procastinators or insomniacs or worse. … no offense paul, i love your blog. this hit a nerve though. (can you tell i am a late-worker and late-riser?)
As an early morning rower, on the water at 5am several days a week, I can’t understand why more people aren’t up early. To watch the stars fade, the moonset and the sunrise in the east and get some exercise at the same time.
Nice posting.
so right on. today’s 5:30 a.m. run as the sun came up on the fall colors was like being in “Candyland”