I did my morning run outside today & was reminded why I love to run -- especially while the rest of the world is still sleeping.

Exercising in the morning is energizing, renewing and peaceful. If you've never been out for a run (or walk) at 6 a.m., you don't know what you're missing.

Dew. Sunrises. Bunnies chewing on clover. Singing birds. Minimal traffic. Cool temps. Roosters crowing (some neighbors on my route keep chickens).

It isn't often I get to do my weekday runs outside. I'm forced to trudge my miles on the treadmill because my husband leaves for work very early (anywhere from 4:30 a.m. to 5:30 a.m.) and the girls are sleeping upstairs.

There are rare occasions when he has a meeting at a job site in Erie and doesn't have to leave until after 6 a.m. Today was one of those days and I jumped out of bed at 5 a.m. -- giddy at the thought of running in fresh air.

Thursdays are typically a hard day for me. It's the 3rd day in a row I run (I take Mondays & Fridays off) and my motivation is usually lagging, my legs are sometimes sore and I'm just plain tired. The only thing that gets me on the treadmill on Thursday mornings is knowing that the next day, I don't have to.

Running outside this A.M. put the running fire back in my belly. Much as I wish my kids could stay little forever, there is a tiny part of me (decked out in Saucony's, a sports bra and microfiber shorts) that can't wait for them to be old enough to be home alone so I can run outside every morning.

Better yet, I can't wait for them to join me.