Hi guys, today we’re going to be talking about the run commute. It’s a great way to get some additional miles in during the week, so let’s get started.
There are a bunch of different reasons to run commute, for me it’s a nice way to unwind at the end of a day and it’s a good way to get some additional miles in. I live about 13 miles (21km) away from work, so it’s definitely a bit of a long commute, I typically do it on a Wednesday, so in the middle of the week.
It’s a little bit past 6pm right now, so let’s get started over here. Since the distance to work is 13 miles (21km) the shortest way, and I only go one way, I drive to work, run home and then catch a ride with one of my co-workers or friends back to work the next day.
It’s very loud out here. This is the 405, a lot of cars, 16 lanes.
I try to see the run commute as a mellow run, so low heart rate, and also not trying to get there in a specific time. That way you don’t have to rush through the traffic lights and you don’t get annoyed by the traffic lights, you accept them as part of the running commute.
A few tips to get started with running commutes. First one is to set certain days a week that you’re going for a run commute. That way you can hold yourself accountable, you can build it into your training schedule. For me for example, every Wednesday I’m going for a run commute, that’s rain or shine, that way there are no excuses.
If you’re going to be run commuting to work, I’d make sure you have some supplies to clean up once you get to work, some baby wipes, maybe a towel. If you’re lucky enough and you have showers at work, you can bring some shampoo, if not, with baby wipes and deodorant you can make magic happen. Also, I’d bring some snacks, if you arrive at work and feel you got a good exercise in, make sure to drink something and if you’re hungry, eat something as well.
Sometimes I get so excited about a run commute, that all I want to do is run. One thing not to forget is that you are running in traffic, you’re going to see a lot of cars, busses and other vehicles coming by. Although it’s light right now, for many of us the run commutes are soon going to be dark as well. Always follow the traffic rules.
When I first started run commuting I was a bit frustrated by the traffic lights. At this point I know it’s just part of it and I accept it, so I can take catch a breath, let my heart rate go down a bit and before you know, you can start running again. Here we go again.
One of the main topics people talk about with run commutes is what type of gear to bring. You want to run as light as possible. Personally I like to run with nothing but my cell phone, Insurance Card, Credit Card and ID. For the rest I leave my stuff at work so I have some running gear at work, some food at work, so I either drive this over myself or I give a package to one of my co-workers and grab it at work.
There are a variety of different backpacks that you can run with. I personally have tried them other than my Salomon running backpack, but you can’t really fit that much in there other than some gus, waters, phone, etc. I run with no water or gels, for me it’s about 13 miles. There are a few water stations on the way, so if I get thirsty, I can always stop and drink some water.
In most cases for an hour and a half to two hours you should be fine without any food, with some water depending on how far you’re going to run.
If the distance is too long for you to run commute, if it’s 5, 10 or 15 miles, one thing you can do is partly take your car, a bus or your bike. Just park it and run the rest into work. Then on the way back same thing. You just run back to your car and you get home that way. You can still run whatever distance you’re comfortable with.
Most people who run commute run on the road, so I’d make sure you run with road to handle all the pounding on the concrete.
I really think the guy who created these roads must have been drunk, check this out.
There are a few different reasons for me to run commute. The first one is that I have to get from home to work or from work to home, so I might as well run it instead of sitting in the car. It takes me about 30 minutes by car or an hour and a half when I run it.
Another reason I really enjoy run commutes is that it clears my mind. Either I get to work with a clear mind, or I come home with a fresh mind. It makes you reflect back on your day and puts things in perspective so once you arrive back at home, you have a fresh brain ready for the evening.
10 miles in, about 3 miles to go, making progress over here.
Typically I bring a lot of clothes to work, so I have a stack full of clothes over there and I have a fridge full of food. When I run to work, I can just get dressed over there, eat some food. When I want to run home, I just grab some of my running clothes and shoes, and I can run home.
It doesn’t matter what pace or distance you run for your run commute. Even if you have to mellow jog or walk part of it, that’s kind of the fun part, there is no pressure, it’s more the importance of getting outside and getting some exercise in while commuting back and forward to work.
Wow, this is the first time I’ve ever seen that in the Back Back, a mom Coyote with 3 young Coyotes. Probably not possible to see on the camera, but that was pretty awesome.
I just ran into a photographer over here and he has been shooting photos of all these baby Coyotes over here since they were very little. They were definitely 3 baby coyotes with a mom that crossed the path right in front of me and I didn’t have the camera on, of course!! Anyways, always stoked to see nature in the fullest effect.
I made it back home, 13.1 miles, 21.1km, half a marathon in one hour 42 minutes. I took it easy today, kept my heart rate around 140 beats, also so I would be able to talk to you and explain some of this.
When you do a run commute I’d stop a few blocks before you get to work, so you can cool down a bit and once you get into work, it’s easier much to adjust.
I came across this website www.theruncommuter.com, the guy writes a lot about run commuting. There is a lot of information on there, it’s a solid community from what I could tell. So check out www.theruncommuter.com
If you haven’t already, try the run commute, I can highly recommend it. Some people around you might not really understand it or might even think it’s weird. I’d say, don’t listen to them, just do your own think. At the end of the day, you only have one precious life, make the most out of it. Go out there, go for a run, get active. Most importantly have fun out there and be safe. Alright have a good one!
