I am most definitely a creature of habit. I follow a schedule based on whether its a "run" day or not and whether I have a morning or an evening workout scheduled. Other than these little variables, day in and day out, I follow my routine with little deviation. I've got the system down so well that I usually don't need to look at the clock to stay on track.
Take my morning routine for example.
If we are running from our usual spot, which is generally the case, I need to get up a half hour before the start of the run. It takes about 12 minutes to drive there and I like to give myself a little cushion (3-4 minutes). That leaves me 15 minutes to get dressed, put on my Garmin, fill my water bottle, check my email for last minute cancellations and eat a protein bar. Since I choose my outfit the night before and my posse doesn't care if I show up with morning breath, 15 minutes is usually more than enough time. So, 30 minutes before a 5:30 run, means a 5:00 a.m. wake up. But, every so often, we run at 5:00 or 5:15. Today was one of those days.
Last night, before getting into bed, I set my alarm for 4:45 a.m. I double checked it just to be safe and went to sleep. So, when it went off this morning, I got up like usual, shut it off (as to not wake up J) and followed my normal routine. I briefly looked at the clock, saw that it was at a time that I was accustomed to seeing, grabbed my keys and headed out the door. The same as any other day.
But, it wasn't like any other day, because when I got in the car and turned it on, I finally looked at the clock long enough for it to sink in.
4:44
My internal dialogue went a little something like this:
Huh? The clock must be wrong. I got up at 4:45.
Grab the cell phone. 4:44.
Seriously? What's going on here? When are we running? 5:15. Crap. I don't need to leave yet.
Can I go back inside? Nope, if I wake up the girls, J is going to freak.
I could go there and wait. Yup. I'll just wait.
Who the #$%! touched my alarm clock?
Whatever. I'll just go run.
And that's what I did. I ran before the run. But the entire drive over, all I could think was ...
1. If someone wanted to pull a killer joke on me, all they would need to do is change my alarm clock.
2. If the power ever goes out and my alarm still goes off once it comes back on, I'm totally going to end up running at like 2 a.m. or something and not realize it until I am done.
I guess that's what I get for being so stuck in my routine. But, I can't be the only one this has happened to.
Note: J said he hit a button on the alarm clock before going to bed, but he saw that the alarm was still set so he thought it was OK. What actually happened was that he set the other alarm on the clock which was preset for 4:30 a.m.
18 comments:
I have totally woken up on my own, looked at the clock seen the time but in my sleepy stopper thought I was running late. Gotten ready and in my car only to realize it's 1 sometimes 2 hours early. Yes this has happened more than once.
Early better than late, right??? I think maybe EMZ set your alarm so that you would leave at 4:44.
That's crazy! But I guess it could happen to me too!
One time in optometry school, I had stayed up until 11 studying for a big test that was the first class--8 a.m. I needed to get up super early to study some more and also to beat the traffic into Boston to be on time. I set my alarm for 5ish. It was the middle of the winter so it's super dark anytime before 7. I woke up before the alarm, shut it off, got into the shower and got all ready before looking at the clock again, only to see that it was 2:00 a.m.! Crazy. I went back to bed. lol
I agree with Lesley...better to be early than those wake ups where you realize you overslept!
That's kind of hilarious. My cell phone is my alarm clock, so it'd never happen to me, though. Also, I could never convince someone to run with me at 5:15. I need more runner friends!
That's funny. I woke up on my own once and looked at the clock wrong. Thinking I slept through my alarm, I rushed to get ready. It wasn't until I was completely dressed and eating a snack that I realized it was only 2am.
I wish I had the ability to get my kids to go to bed at a reasonable hour so I could get my butt outta bed. So far this has been the worse school year to morning fails. I'm beginning to think the streak is a bit more tiring than I want to admit!
Kuddos to you for just going and getting it done. Love your routine!
Awww... I'm sure J felt bad about it, but it's still quite hilarious!
I've definitely woken up at times when my alarm goes off at the wrong time and jumped right into getting ready before realizing what time it was.
Back in high school I actually woke up at seven o'clock and thought "Wow, I must have been tired. I slept in my clothes." I went downstairs, poured a bowl of cereal, and started eating before my mother came in and asked what I was doing. "I'm getting ready for school" I replied. Turns out it's not that useful to start getting ready for school at seven PM!
Ha! I love this! I have actually got out of bed at 2am before and followed my morning routine. I got as far as getting in my car too before I realized I should be sleeping. It made for a looooong day!
I'ev had somethng similar happen. It completly throws off my day.
I can totally see myself doing that!!
I woke up once at 12:30 (analog clock) and thought it was 6:00 a.m...which was when I was supposed to be at practice. I called the boathouse and the phone rang and rang and rang. I thought that was so weird since there were usually a TON of people there at 6 a.m. As I was eating my breakfast, I saw a digital clock that said 12:37 and realized my mistake :P I went back to bed.
I like how you used your extra time productively! You are a regimented person and I totally get and respect that! Stems from student-athlete days, you think?
Yeah for you for using that extra time for running. How maddening.
My sister and I would play "jokes" on each other in high school that involved either turning up the alarm volume to max or reseting the alarm to midnight. One time mine went off and I was half-way through my shower before my dad knocked loudly and told me to go back to bed because it was 12:30 at night! Oops!!
Nope you're not alone, but I plead the 5th. *Ahem*
Winks & Smiles,
Wifey
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