In a perfect world I would wake up early every morning and run in Central park, but life interferes and living in NYC can be more strenuous on work out routines than other cities (I've lived in DC and SanFran). I don't find a specific time results in a better or worse performance in the gym, on the treadmill, or in the park but rather my enthusiasm to work out. If I am pumped to get up and run, I do it, and usually post a good run time, but if I am exhausted and not excited to get my workout in I find that I cut my workouts short, or don't push myself as hard. But to answer your question, night, because after a day of work instead of going postal on my coworkers I just run a couple miles and I am back to "Mr. Nice guy" at least until I have to get on the subway again.

I have to say "it depends."

Usually, I find more energy in the mornings, IF I have the time available and IF I have had a half decent night's sleep the night before and IF I didn't eat or drink to excess the night before.  My work schedule is tough, though, and I'm also one of those people who like to sleep, so getting up and getting it on in the early mornings doesn't always cut it for me.  I managed to get up and run 3 miles this morning and felt great. When I do work out in the morning, I note that I feel better all day long than when I don't.

If I haven't had a terribly stressful day at work, working out after work and pre dinner is also sometimes a good energy time for me--IF I don't overeat at lunch (which I did yesterday, causing my swim last night to be host to unpleasant afterburps of Mexican food underwater--gah!) and IF I eat a small energy snack about an hour before (half a piece of bread with peanut butter or a banana).  One of the problems with night workouts is that I tend to carry the energy high with me and it's hard to dial down and go to sleep afterwards.

What I HAVE discovered is on that my longer workouts--run, bike, swim, whatever--for example longer than a 4 mile run or a 30 min bike ride--I tend to have more energy to finish those when I do those in the mornings.  I seem to be able to do short interval training okay at night, but the long distance aerobic workout seems to do best in the a.m.

My lawyer type job doesn't afford me time to work out at noon, unless I planned to skip the shower afterwards, which would put an interesting spin on any meetings I have in the afternoons.

None of that probably would go into a computer and come up with anything sensical.

Terry

I've never been a morning person, so I do evening workouts.  For me, I feel better in the evenings after fueling and hydrating my body all day, plus it gives me time to really think about the workout I want to do (I'm really brain dead in the am).  I do have a hard time getting to sleep afterwards and I don;t think I perform as well for am races (and they're almost ALL am races) because I'm not used to it, brain dead, dehydrated, hungry, etc.  My best 5k race was a 5pm start - I wish all races were in the evening!!! 

Thanks! It went very well! My dog and I went out for a 3 mile run at 5:45 a.m on day 1. I went for a 2.5 mile run this morning as well.

As long as I have my sneakers and my reflective safety vest, I'm good to go! 

I would say also Im most definetly and am person (4;30am), not only do i feel the best in the early morning,but I don't feel as rushed at all then, because there is nothing else to do but bike run or swim....

I tend to drag in the afternoon  for one Im mad i didnt do it early and with the day thats gone by want to get it over, worrying about other things.

Dennis