For the past 5 weeks I’ve been running to work. It’s only 4 miles each way, the morning to work run is all downhill, afternoon is up. It was kind of a hassle to bring in clothes in on the weekend (here “casual” means a sports jacket instead of a suit) and all but I think I finally have a system down.
This morning it was 1°F and the trail was snowpacked and icy. A squadrun of geese flew by over the river I run next to, honking as if to encourage me to run faster. The dawn sun was rising and it just seemed so cool.
Just wondering if anyone else has tried or does run to work?
I do the same, albeit on the very busy streets of Boston. My commute is also 4 miles each way. I usually run with a light daypack (Millet Vector 25) which contains my change of clothes and nutrition. I like the idea of splitting 8 miles into two sessions of 4 miles - I feel it keeps my metabolism pumping throughout the course of the day much better than a single 8 mile run would. How it affects performance is an entirely different matter - I’ve heard arguments on both sides that make sense.
I agree that I feel better throughout the day, then I try to hammer the up-hill run at night. What got me thinking about it was Slowman’s column on running your age in a 10k and how you need to get the mileage up (and the weight down). I think Roch Fry had a similar thought in a column a month or so ago about running twice a day.
Years ago, I would leave to work an hour before the GF. It was a race to see how far I’d get before she pick me up along side the road. The total distance was 20 miles and I could get 6 or 7 before she’d catch me. One morning I was across the street awaiting the crosswalk signal and I saw her approaching in the left turn lane. She got to turn before I got to cross and she drove right by without even seeing me! I must have been right in her direct field of view and I was waving and all. Well, I continued my run, figuring she’d realize she must have passed me and turn around to fetch me. Five miles later and getting faster (out of anger) she’s nowhere around. I ended up doing 17 miles before she found me. At that point, it was the longest I ever ran and it sparked me to do my first marathon.
Yep. When I lived in Wrigleyville and worked downtown (about 5 miles), I would run. I used to bike more than run. I would run 1-2 times a week. I had the luxury of a gym in my building. It was quicker to bike but way safer to run. The cabs/buses will take you down!
I live in the burbs now and take a train. I miss biking/running to work. I miss it A LOT. When people ask me what I miss about the city, that’s the thing I miss the absolute most. I can still run on the path during lunch though.
It kills me that people who can bike/run to work don’t do it. I have lazy friends who live about a mile from work and they take a cab! It makes me want to smack them.
I have used running to commute to and from work at 3 different points in my life. Fortunately for me each time the final destination had showers.
First time I did this it involved a 4 mile to and from and resulted in an Ironman Marathon PR. The 2nd and 4rd time each involved a 7 mile spread ( 2 seperate locations). Both times I drastically increased my training volume and ended up overtrained and having a disappointing race. I guess I should be more diligent in following a proper progression into really big mileage.
I wish that cycling to and from was viable alternative, but 2 of the roads on my journey are not conducive to cycling.
Good for you. That’s great. Running to/from work, if it works for you IS a great way to get the miles in.
It really gets back to the basics of training - just get the miles in every day and don’t worry about how you are doing it, what your heart-rate is, what zone you are in and so on. Just do it!! Many people who adopt this type of program and stick to it are often surprised when 6 months down the road they record significant PB’s Who knew!!!.
I’ve slowly been getting faster because of my runs to work. Been doing it 2 - 5 time per week for the past year now. Run to work, walk back home. Only 2 miles, but it’s enough for a new* runner like me.
haven’t run regularly since 1995. Only started pose in Feb 04, and only running in flats since Aug 04.
