Training & Nutrition - Evening workouts are better than early AM ones, according to this:

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/12/10/health/nutrition/10best.html?em

So much for my 0500 rides. :-(

Sorry, one study is not the answer for me. I am still swimming, running, biking, lifting, etc... in the morning when I can get it in.

Doesn't really say any such thing, unless you just discount Ms. Kastor's experience. "Better" is very subjective. In the author's case, it's much more about recovery than time of day. I have no confidence in this author's ability to reason. The best workout is the completed workout, no matter the time of day. That said, I prefer easier, base workouts in the early morning, and strenuous ones in the evening, before dinner. Most LD events start in the early morning, usually before dawn. I notice that I do better if I keep my HR and RPE down for the first 3 hours, but I don't know if that's due to start time or just my need for a slow warmup.

Well, I get both an AM and a PM workout when commuting, plus I also get to and from work! So, I guess I'm covered.

I'm just your regular Joe with real-world priorities and schedules. I'm happy just to get any ride into my hectic schedule, no matter what time of day it is.

It's been known for a long time that the same workouts elicit higher RPE's in the AM for most people. I mostly feel this when I'm trying to lift in the morning. There are a lot of factors, but the article alludes to circadian rhythms. Even blood pressure, which affects athletic performance, has general cycles.

It's also been known for a long time that specificity of training extends to time of day. If you have an AM event, it would be best to train in the morning (at least as the event nears).

The bit about the runner who does so-and-so and doesn't get hurt is bogus, though. Running really isn't the culprit in arthritis and spinal injuries people used to think it was. If anything, it is protective in otherwise healthy people.

Nothing new here.

i have been interested in morning workouts vs afternoon workouts for a while. while i prefer afternoon workouts so that i can sleep in, i think that there is definitely a positive aspect of working out in the morning. since your glycogen stores are somewhat depleted, it makes your body adapt to this. on the other hand, if you are eating all day, you have all of your energy for the afternoon. i know that chrissie wellington, who just won the past two ironmans, is a big fan of glycogen-depleted training. in addition, if you train in the morning, you have all day to walk around and refuel. if it is an evening workout, you basically eat dinner and go to bed.

basically, im not sure. but it would be interesting to do a study on the differences.