It's not for the rush, or the desire to be shaken from a deep sleep by an alarm clock, or even for the chance to explore downtown Augusta before sunrise.
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Belonging to the local runner's group known as "Portia's Posse" is about something else.
It's about something more enjoyable than attaining the runner's high. It's about something more gratifying than logging 5 to 10 miles a day.
Cheryl Cheek says it's a chance to zone out, to connect with friends and forget about the stresses of everyday life.
Robert Williams says it's about the camaraderie, about a pure love of running with good people.
Eddie Butler says running with a group in the early morning is a supreme motivator, not to mention a great way to jump-start the day.
For the members of Portia's Posse, each has his or her own reasons for participating in the group's thrice-weekly jaunt around town.
But the friendship they share is the common bond that drives them all.
"For me, it's not only about relieving stress and for the exercise, but it's a chance to refocus on something else other than what you deal with on a daily basis," says Cheek, a 47-year-old trust officer with Georgia Bank and Trust Company. "Running with a group of friends, you get to listen to their lives. It's so energizing. You get out of your own little world and you're able to focus on other people and connect with them for an hour or so."
The group was started about five years ago by Williams, a 36-year-old chemical engineer and longtime runner who was looking for some companionship during his daily run.
Williams hooked up with a group of fitness enthusiasts who worked out in the mornings at Health Central, and the posse was born.
The group is named for Portia McDaniel, who runs the front desk at Health Central in the early morning hours. Williams says McDaniel provides them inspiration and helps coordinate the group's runs.
"Portia's this sweet lady that works at Health Central, and she's the person you see when you walk in the door every morning," Williams said. "A group of us ran in a marathon relay in Myrtle Beach a few years back, and we needed a name for our team. We came up with Portia's Posse. It just fit."
While some have questioned their sanity for getting up so early in the morning to run before heading off to work, Butler says it's not as agonizing as one might think.
"Traditionally, there has always been a lunchtime group at Health Central called The Noon Platoon," said Butler, who owns and operates Butler Automotive on Reynolds Street. "Robert was the first one to get this started and set up a good time for everybody to meet and get it done. At 5:30 in the morning, you don't have to worry about any meetings interrupting you or civic clubs. There are no conflicts at 5:30, other than the alarm clock.
"Actually," Butler said, "It's not that hard to do."
On Mondays and Wednesdays, the posse logs between seven and nine miles and completes the run by around 7:15 a.m. before heading off to work. Friday is their light day - the posse runs five miles, knocks off early, then heads to Louie J's on Broad Street for breakfast.
"I love to eat breakfast with everybody," said Cheek, the most recent addition to the posse and the only woman in the group. "We go to Louie J's, and they're so great to us, they have coffee waiting for us at the table when we get there. We all get to catch up on what's going on with each other and talk about things like politics and other things going on locally."
In recent years, the posse has traveled together with their families to participate in marathons and road races in locales such as Charleston and Myrtle Beach.
Williams has run in the Boston Marathon, while Butler has participated in both the Boston and New York Marathons.
One of their goals now is to convince Cheek to enter a marathon with them.
"They're trying real hard," Cheek said with a laugh.
Though she's been running for 22 years, Cheek says she's not quite ready to put in the extra running time on weekends needed to prepare for a 26-mile marathon.
For now, shorter road races and her runs with Portia's Posse will simply have to do.
"I started running simply to see if I could do it, and I've run in road races and been fortunate enough to place in every one I've been in," Cheek said. "It's just something I enjoy, and the health benefit is important, too. I have a history of heart disease in my family, and I wanted to make sure I stay healthy and fight off the aging process."
Get in the Game
Running
WHO: Portia's Posse
WHAT: A group of local fitness enthusiasts who met at Health Central several years ago and formed a running group. Along with their group runs, most of the members compete in marathons and half-marathons, including the Boston and New York Marathons. The group is named for the Health Central morning receptionist, Portia McDaniel, who helps coordinate the group's plans.
WHEN: The posse meets three times a week at around 5:45 a.m. at Health Central and runs between 5-10 miles. On Fridays, the group stops for breakfast at Louie J's after their run.
WHERE: Various routes around Augusta
WHY: "The reason we do it early in the morning is because we pretty much are family people and all have kids, and it fits into our schedule," said Portia's Posse co-founder Robert Williams. "It's a great way to stay in shape and compete and just the camaraderie and the friendship with them is wonderful."
HOW: Interested in joining a local running group? Many area health clubs, including Health Central, have established groups. Beginning runners can find out more about training and running tips at Runner's World new runner's Web site at www.newrunner.com.
