You know those early bird runners lapping the town at the crack of the crack? Yeah, those people. Well, our bright-eyed pre-coffee pals may think they’re getting a better workout, but according to researchers at Liverpool John Moores University in England, “not only are performances better in the late afternoon and early evening, but, contrary to what exercise physiologists would predict, heart rates are also higher for the same effort.”

What’s more, you might feel like you’re kicking butt in the a.m., but you can’t always trust your perception: “Most components (strength, power, speed) of athletic performance are worst in the early hours of the morning. Ratings of perceived exertion during exercise have generally been found to be highest in the early morning.”

So go ahead and pull up those covers guilt-free. We’ll see you out there… later. [Via]