These 10 People Wake Up at 5 a.m. (or Earlier) to Work Out

Matt Taylor used to spend three hours each day commuting from Mansfield, Texas, to his job as a Web developer in Dallas. That left little time for fun, let alone exercise.

Then, about three months ago, Taylor, 29, changed his routine. He started setting his alarm for 4:45 a.m. to drive to his office and use its gym before launching into the workday. "I could kill two birds with one stone: I could get my morning workout at the gym and also miss most of the Dallas rush hour traffic," he says. Not a bad motivator for morning fitness.

Still, waking up before dawn isn't always easy. Taylor sets four alarms "with escalating degrees of peppy music" and counts on his wife to give him a kick if he sleeps through them. The night before, he also irons, folds and packs his work clothes, and sets out his workout attire before turning out the light anytime between 10:30 and midnight. In the morning, "I just get up, put on my pants and go," he says.

Nine other (very) early-rising exercisers told U.S. News how and why they get themselves moving before the rest of the world even hits "snooze." Their responses have been edited.

Beth Isaac, 38, pharmacist from New York, New York

-- The routine: I get up at 5 a.m. around four days a week. I snooze my alarm for longer than I should, get dressed and get out the door as quickly as possible. It might be habit to get up that early, but it really never gets any easier. You just do it!

-- The reason: If you get the workout over with first thing in the morning, there is no room for error. There are no excuses, no working late and you never have to say "no" to a last-minute invitation for dinner or drinks because you have to get to an evening workout. Every morning with a workout starts the day off on the right foot and sets you up for success in so many other parts of your life.

-- The secret: Chasing the sunrise helps get me out of bed to run on days when I would much rather go back to sleep. The hardest part of waking up early to work out is getting out of bed. You have to just put your feet on the floor, and you're ready to tackle the day.

Gary Griglak, 58, chief operating officer of a property management company from Troy, Michigan

-- The routine: I wake up by 5 a.m. and start my mornings with a big serving of water before I even have my coffee. Eating before I exercise helps me get more out of my workouts.

-- The reason: I started waking up early to work out when my son was born in 1986. I wanted to get home and spend time with my kids. It's the best thing I ever did. Exercising in the morning clears my head and my mind to start my day off on the right path. If I ever miss a workout, I can really tell, and it affects my whole day. The benefits of feeling great after my workout outweigh the challenges of getting up so early.

-- The secret: I go to bed really early. I'm not staying up until 11 p.m.

Christine Sow, 47, global health organization executive director from Bethesda, Maryland

-- The routine: I get up around 4:45 a.m. at least four days a week. I feed our dogs and eat something small to give myself energy for the run.

-- The reason: I'm a distance runner, a full-time executive and have kids who are still at home. This means I have to get up early to be able to get my run in before the rest of my life takes over my day. I like to run early because then I'm sure I've done it and feel energized for everything else I have to do. I do a lot of thinking while I run, and early morning is a great time for this. I really depend on it now.

-- The secret: I have an equally busy running partner, and we run together two to three times per week. The fact that she's depending on me to show up really helps when it's dark and cold outside.

Jonathan Levitt, 25, athlete and sales executive for a health analytics company from Boston

-- The routine: I wake up by 5:15 a.m. to work out with November Project, where there are always hundreds of other people waiting for you to show up.

-- The reason: If you plan on working out in the evening, you might stay late at work, not have enough energy or end up with other plans. Your schedule is usually going to be free at 6 a.m.

-- The secret: Having a goal in mind (such a certain time in a 5K or completing a marathon) helps with personal accountability, and working out with friends helps too. Social media accountability helps too -- by sharing your goals with your community, you have no choice but to get after it in all of your workouts!

Jennifer Rainey, 33, physician assistant student from Boise, Idaho

-- The routine: I set the alarm for 5 a.m. to an unpleasant noise and put it across the room so I have to get out of bed to turn it off. Once I'm up, I don't stop moving. Stopping for coffee or to wake up slowly or to eat a big breakfast absolutely kills my motivation -- especially if my workout is something terrible like hill sprints.

-- The reason: I started working out early to get it done before classes -- waiting until the afternoon usually meant my workout didn't happen. I also realized I was way more awake for my first class after a workout, and I even performed better on morning exams. The weather was another motivator: The foothills are gorgeous in the morning, but roasting hot by afternoon. All the serious athletes are out in the morning, and running was a great way to meet people.

-- The secret: When I first started trying to fit in a morning workout, I committed to morning personal training sessions. The financial motivation was enough. I also arranged to meet friends to run, which was a good incentive, and started tracking my workouts with a Garmin fitness tracker. Seeing improvement has been the best motivation to stick with it.

Chris Michael Tucker, 54, senior director at a medical association from the District of Columbia

-- The routine: From 4:20 a.m. to 5:45 a.m. or so, I make coffee, unload the dishwasher, fold laundry, pay bills, clean the house or do anything else that maximizes my morning. I also shower even though I'll shower again two hours later -- it just makes me feel really awake and ready to tackle the workout at 6 or 6:30 a.m.

-- The reason: I love the morning and would rather get everything done then in order to enjoy very short weeknight evenings. I am usually home from work at 7 or 7:30 p.m. and in bed by 10 p.m.

-- The secret: I shame myself into waking up -- I know the guilt will be greater for missing a workout than the pleasure derived from more sleep.

Rachael Schoenbaum, 40, computer programmer from Springfield, Virginia

-- The routine: I set my alarm for 4 a.m. four days a week. I give myself about 45 minutes before I'm out the door.

-- The reason: I started waking up at 4 a.m. to work out in May so I could participate in the group runs organized by my local Moms Run This Town chapter. As a busy mom of two active boys, I like to get my workouts done early so that life doesn't interfere. It's also a way to make sure I get my "me" time. I never regret a day I run, but constantly regret the days I skip it. The MRTT's support -- both in person and virtually via their Facebook group -- is the biggest motivator.

-- The secret: The night before, I set out all my clothes so that I have one less thing to do in the pitch black. If it's going to be a hot day, I partially fill my water bottle and put it in the freezer.

Shane Allen, 31, personal trainer and sports nutritionist from Dallas

-- The routine: I set my alarm for 4.30 a.m. and put it in the bathroom. That forces me out of bed to turn it off. I give myself about 30 minutes to get dressed, brush my teeth, throw a hat on and get a little food in my body.

-- The reason: I found that by waiting to work out in the evening, I'd give myself too many excuses not to. Even trainers need motivation! Exercising in the morning immediately crosses something off my to-do list, gives me a boost of energy to start the day and allows me to more quickly get in and out of a less crowded gym.

-- The secret: Knowing my friend is expecting me to show up really motivates me to not hit the snooze button. Since I started working out with him, I have increased my gym time from two days a week to up to five.

Katherine Albers, 36, county government public information coordinator from Naples, Florida

-- The routine: I set my alarm between 4:30 and 4:45 a.m. Monday through Friday. I have all of my stuff packed the night before, and I get dressed in the bathroom so I don't disturb my husband or our son.

-- The reason: I started waking up early in high school when I was on the swim team. But I fell out of that habit in college. I started waking up again early when I was about 25 years old to go to a spin class to try to lose weight. I am still motivated to do it now because I have made some great friends, and it's a social hour for me.

-- The secret: If you have a friend waiting for you, you are much less likely to cancel. I don't want my friends to run in the dark without me. I also know that if I don't get up, I am going to feel bad about myself. And I hate that feeling.