PRIME TIME

We all instinctively know whether we’re an owl or a lark: whether we jump out of bed with ease, or groggily hit snooze for the third time. It’s known as our ‘chronotype’, and understanding it can have a profound impact, with research showing that performance variations can be as pronounced as 26 per cent over the course of a day.

“Your chronobiology is mostly genetic,” says Dr Mark Homer, senior lecturer in sport science and sport performance at Buckinghamshire New University. “The two extremes are a lark or an owl, and we all fall somewhere on that spectrum.”

But during summer, when long, bright days mean all options are open, should we stick with what feels natural, or be taking advantage of the light at either end of the day?

“You’ll never post a PB at 7am,” says Dr Homer. “The best time to perform for all of us is mid-afternoon, when our systems – responsive heart rate, blood pressure and body temperature – are all peaking.”