I’ve always hated training in the evening. I think that’s why I trained at lunch time or in the morning. And as I’ve got older, the convenience of the early start has made my training time get progressively earlier. At university, 10:30am seemed about right, and then that went to 7am when I started working in London…then when my commute got a bit longer it became 6:30, and then eventually 6am. I know some people and some gyms that even have a 5am start time.
And there are a few things I have noticed over the years about training at that time of the day (and it’s definitely the day…don’t let anyone tell you otherwise). So, this inaugural blog post will hopefully resonate with all of you reading it because, hopefully, you’ll recognise a little something in you that is specific to those of us who are in the 6am crew.
So firstly there’s the weather. The cold frosty mornings suck, but there is something magical about being in the privileged few to experience it. When you first step outside in the middle of winter, into the darkness, and it is so cold it takes your breath away, it’s a special feeling. It’s kind of cool seeing “-4” on the car dashboard, scraping off the ice and trying to see out of the windscreen covered in a thick layer of ice. It would be dangerous if there were actual cars on the road, but more of that later. And let’s not forget that being the first footsteps in the fresh powder is always a great feeling.
On the flip side to the winter is the feeling of joy that you get from seeing a glorious sunrise at 5:30am in the height of summer….and seeing double digit temperatures at stupid o’clock in the morning. Few people get to experience this. And we in the 6am crew are in this privileged group. The early bird does indeed catch the worm
And no matter what time of the year it is, there are never any cars on the road. What during the day can take an hour takes about 15 minutes. All those evening gym goers who get stuck in tailbacks and gridlocked roadworks could avoid the missed classes, burpee penalties and lost membership money, by going at 6am. But they won’t. Because they’re not one of us.
And when I’m driving in, I love seeing all the other crazies who are off to work, or run or cycle at that time of the morning. I give them nicknames in my head because I see them every day at the same time, like the crazy running lady who is often running back when I’m on my way home. I can’t be the only one who has nicknames for these people, am I?!
And although I see people out and about, the lack of people on the equipment/on the waiting list/the scrum for places in a class (at least at first) is another reason why us 6am crew members keep coming back for more. Why would you train at 7pm when it’s full of “other people” doing curls in the squat rack? Urgh.
And then when I’m done training I can’t stop eating. I love how you feel like you can now eat whatever the hell you like because “hey, its recovery” so it’s fine. This includes multiple breakfasts…like the one before you train, the one after you train, and then the one when you get to work/the office. And then it’s lunch time at like 11am.
Lunch at 11am is just one of the many reasons why “normal” people think you are barking mad, but this just fuels your fire to train as early as possible as often as possible. Including on holiday, or on a work trip, or on your day off…at 6am…even when you don’t need to because, “it’s what I do”.
And when do these “normal” people spend any time at home? We get to spend our evenings with loved ones, or doing something interesting or exciting (beer anyone?!) knowing that you’ve already got all the hard work done for the day. Those evening gym goers need to go slog through a WOD or class or bro session after slogging their guts out for “the man” all day. No thanks. I’m going home.
Conversely, the look on people’s faces when you say, “actually I can’t go out tonight because I have to train tomorrow morning at 6am”…which is a look inevitably followed by you saying, “you wouldn’t understand”, is priceless. Normal people just don’t get it.
And then finally, there is the solidarity you feel with those who you train with at the box/your gym partner. Even those who you don’t talk to. Everyone is strangely more friendly…even if it is just the knowing nod from the grumpy guy who hates the early start but recognises that it’s his only option. But I suppose this is what joins the 6am crew together. It’s the shared life experiences, the shared sacrifices, and the shared journey we all go on together which sets us apart.
Long live the 6am crew and everyone in it. For we are a special breed of crazy person, destined to be misunderstood. But we know differently. We are winning. We are made at 6am.
