How to Run-Commute to Work

Last summer, I had a minor car accident and couldn’t drive my car for two weeks. It was a frustrating hassle, but it came with a silver lining: I had to get creative with my transportation to work. I discovered the run commute as a result! 

I only lived 5.5 miles from my office. I didn’t want to run both ways every single day, so I came up with some strategies for carpooling, running and cycling that got me where I needed to go and energized my training schedule. 

There are so many good reasons to run commute. Here are a few:

• Environmental benefits. Your car will use less gas and create less pollution. There will also be fewer cars on the road, less mileage on your car and more money in your pocket!
• Variety is the spice of life. I don’t know about you, but I love to shake things up. Sometimes it’s nice to change your running schedule and try something new.
• Reduce stress. While I like the independence of having my own car, I hate traffic and don’t like driving in general. Perhaps you love to drive, but I find that getting somewhere powered by my own two feet is far less stressful. Plus, one of my favorite feelings in the world is when I’m running down the sidewalk faster than all of the people in their cars stuck in rush hour traffic. I love knowing that I have saved myself from that fate.

Arrange a ride to work with a coworker, partner or roommate. Get ready for work as you normally would, but pack running clothes and a way to carry your essentials home on the run with you. I bring a Nathan Hipsterwaist belt which fits my phone, keys and ID, plus any cards I may need. At the end of the work day, I simply change into my running clothes and run home with my Nathan belt and the few things I need to bring home, leaving my work clothes at the office to bring home another day.

Riding to work and running home also lets you plan to go the opposite way the next day. When you’re packing for the day, bring an extra lunch, a portable breakfast, plus an extra work outfit and toiletries. Bring a towel if you’re lucky enough to have a shower at the office. You’ll thank yourself in the morning when you lace up to run to the office.

Run to work, carpool home

Running to work is so much easier if your stuff is already at the office waiting for you. Some people will run with a pack that has their work clothes in it, but this is not my preferred strategy. I’m happiest when my work outfit is waiting in my office, and my food for the day is in the fridge. 

I can set off on my morning run commute with my running belt, essentials (keys, phone, cards) and nothing more. When I arrive, the trick is to get presentable for work. If your office has a shower, AWESOME! Mine doesn’t, so I keep a few fresh washcloths at work that I use to clean up. Some people like wipes, but they always leave me feeling sticky. 

Baby powder can be helpful too, and it doubles as dry shampoo! Feeling clean is easiest in the winter when you don’t sweat as much, but you can get clean enough in the summertime with the right strategy and enough time to cool down. I recommend leaving a permanent toiletry bag at work with deodorant, extra undies and other essentials so you don’t want to forget. Now, start the day feeling energized and have some breakfast while you catch up on email. 

Carpooling = more fun with friends!

Sometimes when I run to work and carpool home, I’ll turn it into a date night. When I worked in downtown Asheville, my husband and I would meet up, go out to eat and make a night of it before heading back home. If you’re carpooling with a co-worker, see if she wants to get a drink and go to trivia night before giving you a ride home. Carpooling can be a perfect excuse to have more fun and spend quality time with the people in your life. 

Run both ways

The logistics are trickier, but it’s a great way to work a double run into your schedule and skip cars altogether. Again, it helps tremendously to plan ahead and have clothes, toiletries, and meals at work waiting for you. It’s also easier if you go out for lunch at work and don’t have to worry about bringing food. The same strategies apply as above when considering what to pack and bring along with you. 

Other Tips for Running to Work

• Plan your whole week in advance. I know, that sounds like a lot of work. But it becomes easy to decide how to structure your run commutes once you figure out your routine. You’ll also learn to navigate common obstacles. For example, you may not want to run to work on the day you have to make a big presentation. Plan ahead. Pick the days that you will carpool, schedule something fun with friends and when you’ll need to bring extra clothes or supplies. Bring extra snacks and hide or label them so that hungry coworkers don’t take them.
• Keep some permanent supplies at the office. If you have your own office, a locker or just a spot under your desk, it’s easier if you always have a bag waiting with deodorant, dry shampoo, makeup, extra underwear or whatever you’re afraid you might forget. I always keep a nice work dress at the office that I don’t wear in my casual life. If there’s a surprise meeting with a special client, it always helps to have something ready. 
• Don’t make the office smell like a gym. Be courteous to others, and make sure to take your stinky stuff home every couple of days so that your coworkers won’t hate you. 
• Give yourself plenty of time to cool off and clean up. Don’t jog into the office five minutes before a meeting. You’ll be drenched in sweat and flustered that you’re not ready to get down to business yet. 
• Be aware of the time of day you’ll be running. If there’s a possibility that your meeting will run late and you will be running in the dark, be sure to have visibility gear (like a running headlamp and lights) ready so you can be safe. 
• Have a backup plan. If you were going to run home but suddenly your foot is in pain, be ready to catch the bus or ask for a ride home. 
• Have fun! Do something different because life is an adventure! 

By Kate Schwartz. Schwartz has been running competitively for 20 years, and she currently runs with the Asheville Running Collective. She lives in Asheville, NC, with her husband, Alex, and their cat, Clementine.