If you didn’t know better, you might think that Tracksmith has been around for decades. From the classically styled athletic apparel to its reverence for the sport of running, it has all the markers of a heritage brand. But it was actually founded in 2014 by Matt Taylor, with a collection of premium apparel and accessories. While the style is old school, the materials boast the latest technical and performance specs. It's this duality that has made the brand such a hit with hardcore runners. Guys like Taylor himself, who starts everyday with a nice long run, whether he's heading into the office at the brand's headquarters (located about a quarter mile from the Boston Marathon finish line) or working from home and making deals. Instead of trying to keep up with him, we waited until his post-run coffee break to ask how he starts his day. Here's what he had to say.

Like many runners, I’m a natural morning person.

It's my favorite time to train. My wife and I take turns in running and getting the kids going, but we're both up just before six and I'm out the door just afterwards.

I’ve always prioritized good sleep.

Eight hours is the ideal, but 7.5 is probably the norm. Sleep is incredibly important since it has such a huge impact on your mental and physical performance. As a founder and a dad, sometimes something has to give. But I do try to protect my sleep.

I keep an emergency alarm, just in case.

Usually, I wake up before my wife's alarm, but I do have a small analog travel clock on my nightstand ... for back-up. But I never snooze. What's the point?

I keep it pretty analog.

I never bring my phone into the bedroom. Currently, my nightstand has that travel alarm clock, a picture my son drew and whatever book I'm reading—which at the moment is The Falcon Thief by Joshua Hammer.

Exercise truly is my preparation for the day.

Running is the single best way to clear my head and get focused. It's also pretty much the only time I get that is 100% my own.

When I say I run first thing in the morning, I mean it.

I always check the weather and lay out my clothes before going to bed, so when I wake up I don't need to think about anything. I grab the pile of clothes, take them downstairs, get changed in the kitchen, do a few easy stretches, put my shoes on and I'm out the door.

Since I’m in my 40s, I should probably have a better warm-up routine.

But youthful habits die hard, right? I use the first few miles to find a rhythm and then carry on with whatever the workout is that day. When I get back home, I do 10 minutes of either yoga or strength training. When that's done, I help my daughter finish getting ready for school and we head out at 7:15.