OK it sounds like it probably is just related to me not being super energetic in the morning .. no surprise there really, I am very much a night person.
I do get plenty of sleep and also have lots of coffee before heading out.
Hopefully if I do this morning business for another six months I will adapt a bit. In any case it is not the biggest deal, the less energetic AM rides are a lot better than roasting in a humid 90F that we will have here in a few hours.