Today’s post is by Jackie Ayers, an Another Mother Runner brand ambassadors. Jackie lives in Bend, Oregon, with her husband and two young sons. 

There’s a meme that flaps around online asking if you’re an early bird, night owl, or perpetually exhausted pigeon. I usually relate most closely with the exhausted pigeon; however, I’m a night owl when it comes to exercising.

I’ve always gotten a second wind late in the afternoon and done my best work between 6 and 11 p.m. I wrote most of my master’s thesis during that window, and even after having my 6 and 8-year-olds, things haven’t changed much. 

So, what’s a night owl to do when she decides to dive headfirst into working out after her second kid? Exercise after the kids are in bed, of course! My husband attends to any additional kid needs, and I lace up my shoes to either do a strength workout in the living room or get in a few miles in before I go to bed at 10 p.m. Long runs are for the weekend during daylight hours, but this busy mama hits it hard on the weeknights as the sun sets or after dark, depending on the time of year. 

9pm? A great time for a workout

This timeline works the best for me because: 

  • By the end of the day, my hydration and fueling are at excellent levels, so I can push myself. 
  • After a long day of mental work, I can get out of my head and into my body—exercise helps me disconnect from work stress, and I sleep better because of it. 
  • I end the day focusing on self-care, which helps me keep my commitments to myself. 

One personal perk of walking or running at night is seeing the stars overhead, especially the Big and Little Dippers. My mom and I got those constellations tattooed on our backs. She passed away in 2016, so I smile and say hi to her every time I see those starry outlines in the sky. 

However, it’s not all sunsets and speed intervals—sometimes, it’s tough to get it done. There’s a finite amount of time before I go to bed, and I don’t always have time for the long workout I want to do. I’m chronically behind on popular, non-cartoon media. (Wait, is “Lessons in Chemistry” an academic show?!) And when I need to cram in a few more hours of work, I have to skip my workout— there’s no “maybe later” when it’s already 8 p.m. 

Ultimately, the best time of day to work out is the one you can be consistent with. For me, that just happens to be later than most other birds.