My plan for the summer is to run to work and back 1-2 days per week. Should add about 10-20 miles to my weekly workout, so I am looking forward to this. I am joining a gym in my building and renting a locker in the gym to store work clothes and shoes. I plan to carry water (it is too hot to run w/o water in New Orleans summers, even for only 5-6 miles), wallet, keys, and cell phone. Also may need to bring an extra shirt and shorts.
Anyone had experience running with a camelback or other backpack. Any recommendations? Please let me know your thoughts.
Anyone who has additional thoughts re: the running commute, please share.
What about the bike trailer by Chariot? It comes with a rickshaw attatchement for hiking. You could carry about 30 days worth of food water and clothes, or, give someone a ride and make some extra money for salt pills?
Would be a good idea if I didn’t need to make the 7:30am morning meeting. Also, don’t think it would fit in the locker. Nice thought, though. Thanks for the feedback.
I run around 4-5 miles each way (on the beach) to work 3 days per week.
I’ve been using my Gregory Adventure Racing pack. It’s light, comfortable, and has a bladder for hydration. Certainly, it’s overkill on some days, but on others when I’m carrying shoes, etc.; it’s very nice. It’s also very light when empty so you won’t care on days when you don’t carry other stuff.
In the worst case, you are simply getting stronger and prepared should you begin Adventure Races.
You can get the pack (it’s orange) at REI and other major stores.
If you prefer something much lighter, try the HydraPak which is another option. You can visit them at www.hydrapak.com (I believe). If not, just google them.
The Ultimate Direction Wasp packs are pretty nice for running and carrying a small load and small hydration bladder. I love multi bottle belts, fuel belts, amphipod belts, etc but you can’t really fit the shirts and shorts in there.
Man, running in backpacks is something I actually know about.
I’ve used a lot of packs. My favorites are the Moletracks pack:
The company is still around I think.
Also, the Ultimate Direction Speedemon is excellent.
GoLite’s 24 pack is another home run. I wore that to work today as a matter of fact.
But the best I have used is this one from a very, very small company called New Sun Gear (one guy). He makes gear for some very interesting customers, all by hand. Their running pack rides low on your back and he uses some unique fabrics. They are also superb for cycling.
I have a Lowe Alpine Race Pro which is an adventure racing daypack and as such has all the features you could hope for such as hydration sleeve, tube routing and tube retainer. IT also has pockets in the waist belt for energy bars, keys, work passes etc. There is mesh cover from quick access to rain layer or to strap bike helmet under and a 25llitre capacity which takes shoes and a few layers. I used this on many occasions to run to and from work with my work clothes in, if you place and shirt and tie in one of those vaccum bags they arrive crease free.
No worries, don’t forget that if you are carrying anything to work to wear that you want a good gauge material to keep it dry in. Also, a chest strap and padded waist strap are very important, as is the fact that they close small enough for the triathlete’s shape and girth!
I hate the Moletrack - no waist belt to speak of which makes it uncomfortable on the shoulders for long running. Make sure you have a good waistbelt and make your skeleton (hips) carry the load, not your shoulders. Shoulder straps should not be load bearing but only holding the pack to your back.
The number of people on MdS who brought the Moletracks because they were told that was ‘the’ pack to use and then hated it - huge.
Go into a shop and try a few - remember, it’s all about the fit!
I use an Ultimate Direction one I got off Ebay. Small but long main compartment with bladder, then a strap on small and square additional pack strapped onto the lower 1/2. Waist belt and chest strap. It was cheap, and does the job well. I’ve been using it to run to work 2xweek for 2 years and have no complaints. I’m sure that there are better packs out there, but this one works for me. Holds daily:
Bladder
T-shirt, boxers, socks
Book
Pda/phone
Wallet
Sunnies/gloves/skullcap
I have big ass ziplock bags for rainy days.
Running to work rocks. People think you are truly hardcore, especially when you do it in the rain.
yeah, it doesn’t need to be fancy. I have a 10 year old camelback that I bought for mountain biking that I have used for several ultra-distance races and most of my long training runs.
I use a Karrimor nytro which is absolutley suberb - it’s got the best compression system I’ve ever seen on a backpack and is rocksolid if you tighten it up properly. It’s also got really well padded straps and an internal pocket for a camelbak sack. If you need something a bit bigger I’d go with Macpac - they’re a NZ compnay and I’m not sure how easy to find they’d be but I ran 1000miles with one across cuba and it never let me down:
