The logistics of running to work

Burgman

I work in a city centre office, 10km from home, and have to wear a suit, shirt, tie etc Monday to Friday. We have showers and small lockers.

I would be interested in running to work some days each week and would like to hear from others who do it. How do they manage all the logistics?

e.g. The suits; the shirts (ironed); the polished shoes; the dry towels; the wet towels; the wet, sweaty running gear; the lunch box etc.

I have done it a few times, usually unscheduled, so I have had to carry a heavy pack which I would like to avoid.

One set of possibilities:

Sunday night - leave in stuff for the week ahead: suits, shirts, ties, underwear, socks, shoes, towels and clean running gear (for getting home in the evenings), pack of porridge, yogurts etc.

Monday a.m. - Run from home. Bring pack with lunch. Shower at work and put wet/dirty clothes in bag to bring home.

Monday p.m. - Run home. Bring pack with wet towel and wet gear from morning as well as dirty shirt, socks and underwear.

Repeat on Wednesday and Friday. (Possibly training sessions on Tuesday and Wednesday - normal transport.)

Friday evening - bring home all other gear for washing etc. (Very heavy pack?)

Problems:
1. Wet gear/dirty clothes in pack when running home = heavy (especially in winter). Leave till Sunday? Would need twice the gear and a bigger washing machine.

2. 10km might be a bit far to do twice in the day. Park bike/car/scooter at 8km or 6km to reduce distance and effort?

3. Running in city can be a bit of a pain - stopping for lights, stupid pedestrians and cyclists etc.

4. Is there any training benefit or does it muck up a proper training schedule?

5. Would it be better to just cycle it - not as tiring and easier to carry supplies?

MrCreosote

It's definitely manageable. I do 1-2 runs to/from work per week, the rest is public transport or cycling.

I find it probably not as good as a proper structured session but better than nothing- and if I didn't do it then it would be nothing. Slightly different to yourself in that I don't wear a suit which cuts down on the amount of weight to be carried. An average week for me might be like the following (depends a bit on weather/how I'm feeling etc):

Monday-cycle in with a heavy pack with all the clothes for the week, cycle home
Tuesday- bus it in (running clothes in a light running pack), run home
Wednesday- cycle in+home
Thursday-run in, bus home
Friday- cycle in with an empty pack, cycle home with everything.

The run is 12km shortest route, but usually 15km- the longer route is more enjoyable because of fewer traffic lights.

Things I've found good- I leave a pair of shoes at work all the time, just one fewer thing to remember/forget. I use light travel towels- they are just enough for one shower but easier to carry.
Personally I don't like doing two runs per day. If I had a secure place to leave the bike I'd love to cycle in in the morning, run home evening and do the opposite the next day.

RayCun

I run home from work. I can relax more after my run, take time to do stretches etc without feeling rushed.
I leave my work clothes in work and bring them home next day, when I'm on the bus.
I've a pair of shoes that I leave in work all the time, and I wear my runners in and out.

Cabaal

How about this, cycle to work with your gear, run home

Next morning run to work and cycle home with your gear

Repeat

That way you get excercise either way and your not doing 20km running a day

Burgman

Good suggestions here, thanks. I have tried running home one day and running to work the next day and it has gone well - easier overall than trying to do the return trip in one day. Bike is secure in work at night. I can see myself doing two round trips a week - which is four days running. (I am probably a bit like MrCreosote - if I didn't do this, there might not be any other training.)

Killerz

I worked out a similar arrangement when I was working in Ballsbridge and living in Artane. Never ran to work - too many variables for me.

I used to run home roughly every second day. I brought my running gear in in a bag (one that fitted on my back, but i suppose a holdall would do). I put my suit and shirt in a suit bag and hung it in my locker or at my desk, so at least it wasnt getting scrunched over night. Also left the shoes, socks. belt etc at work.

I used an arm wallet thing for just a staff access card, a bit of cash and mp3 player, and put a small set of keys in a key pocket in the shorts.

Next day I would bring the bag home. Either folding the suit bag into the bigger bag, or carrying it separately -it never really crumpled that bad, and sprung out again quite quickly. You could wear runners into work the next day or some other pair of shoes, but if you wear your runners (apart from looking stupid), they will be there at work for you the next time you are set for running home.

Lots of options really. Are lunchtime speed-sessions an option? If you have showers, its a good way to break the day up.

My two cents.

How Strange

My OH works 9 miles away from where we live and normally cycles. When he's training for a marathon he may cycle in Mon am, bring clothes for Tues, run home, run in Tues am, cycle home bringing his clothes back. He'd cycle in and home on Wed, cycle in Thurs, run home, run in Fri, cycle home. That's 36 miles done per week.

Works for him. He keeps a towel in work all the time, probably changes it once or twice a week.

I work 8 miles from home and I used to run home as we don't have shower facilities and even if we did the logistics of it would be too complicated with makeup etc etc. I'd bus it in the morning and bring running gear, use a very small pack to carry keys etc home. I'd try to do this 2 or 3 times a week if I was marathon training as it was a great way to get my miles up with very little effort. I'd be home, showered and changed by 7pm.

My pack was similar to this and really just fitted keys, wallet and phone but it was light. I got mine in Runways on Parnell St.
http://www.bikebits.ie/productImages/CBCLA_B.jpg

fungirl1

my tuppence worth - i ran to work on Tuesday 5km fo rthie first time ever usually run after work or at lunchtime if stuck. Used a backback i bought for cycling..basically the straps were too rough and despite the fact it was tight to my back i have horrid friction burns on my neck...not nice...so the backpack is important too...like the cycle in run home and reverse the next day idea though...

hot to trot

YOu have inspired me to give this a go too, at least till the kids go back to school.
My question is to you all. do you do other runs as well or is this your tranining? Apart from a likely longer run at the weekends?

another world

I´ve just started this as well. Running from work is the only thing that will work for me in the long term because I know I´d never keep it up if I had to organise it too much and bring towels and all that. I just leave my shoes at work, walk in in the morning in my runners and then after work change and run home with a light bag of clothes. It seems like it could be the key to getting more running in and not have to get up too early or run too late at night.

Burgman

hot to trot wrote: »

YOu have inspired me to give this a go too, at least till the kids go back to school.
My question is to you all. do you do other runs as well or is this your tranining? Apart from a likely longer run at the weekends?

MrCreosote said previously: "I find it probably not as good as a proper structured session but better than nothing- and if I didn't do it then it would be nothing."

That's how it is for me too - these have been my only runs during the week lately. And yes, a proper session and a long run at the weekend.

RayCun

hot to trot wrote: »

do you do other runs as well or is this your tranining? Apart from a likely longer run at the weekends?

I run home from work once (4/5/6 miles), run before going to work twice (3 miles), and do a long run at the weekend.

hot to trot

Thats very encouraging . Must check on the car how far from work I am, I think its about 8 miles. Will have to buy a bike methinks otherwise I have no way of doing the other leg, unless I run back in again the following morning. Or would i be better just doing one day a week and running both legs?
At the moment I run friday evg, saturday and sunday and a mega bonus if I can get a run on either a tues or thursdayas well .

2nd Row Donkey

Anyone got any suggestions for someone who doesn't have shower facities in work.

I suppose cycling or public transport into work and jogging home is the only option, (but sometimes I need my car for work as well:mad:).

RayCun

2nd Row Donkey wrote: »

I suppose cycling or public transport into work and jogging home is the only option, (but sometimes I need my car for work as well:mad:).

Drive in day 1, run home, bus/cycle in day 2, drive home?
That way your car is in work, ready to be used.

hot to trot

Donkey - Two facecloths different colours and some showergel. facecloth one for above the belly button and two for the lower regions. A quick freshen up of the sweaty areas is all you need. Clean socks/jocks/bra and you are ready for off.

Burgman

hot to trot wrote: »

Must check on the car how far from work I am, I think its about 8 miles. Will have to buy a bike methinks otherwise I have no way of doing the other leg, unless I run back in again the following morning. Or would i be better just doing one day a week and running both legs?

I would advise against doing the 16 mile round trip in one day - unless you are fairly young and able for high mileage. I tried the 12 mile round trip and got injured going home one day. Tired, going uphill, just too much really and bang went my calf. The round trip spread over two days suits me fairly well so far.

I see also your comments on the facecloths and am reminded of what Dr George Sheehan (American physician, philosopher and writer) said: "The sweat of honest endeavour has no odour." It is the unwashed artificial fibres in technical t-shirts etc that pong a bit when they dry, not your skin, but you need to be cool and dry before you dress.

And one other thing: If you can get into the routine during the mild summer weather, it shouldn't be too difficult when the evenings are colder and darker (fingers crossed!).

hot to trot

Definitley will start this week so and get into the habi to fit sooner rather than later.
Please let me know if anyone else is giving this a go so we can monitor each others progress and support each other.

T runner

Did this for marathon training in teh spring. Gonna start again. 13k each way. Usually bike in, run home and vice versa the next day. Great for building mileage

2nd Row Donkey

T runner wrote: »

Did this for marathon training in teh spring. Gonna start again. 13k each way. Usually bike in, run home and vice versa the next day. Great for building mileage

I'm going to give this a try (despite having no shower facilities in work)

I'm going to start with running home after work on monday, Wednesdays and Fridays as I need the car to make it to rugby training on tues & thurs

I reckon its only about 4 miles, so on some evenings I'll detour into the local park and bring up the miles needed to do a half marathon at the end of this month.

Are you targeting a specfic run/distance yourself?

T runner

2nd Row Donkey wrote: »

I'm going to give this a try (despite having no shower facilities in work)

I'm going to start with running home after work on monday, Wednesdays and Fridays as I need the car to make it to rugby training on tues & thurs

I reckon its only about 4 miles, so on some evenings I'll detour into the local park and bring up the miles needed to do a half marathon at the end of this month.

Are you targeting a specfic run/distance yourself?

Im doing the Berlin marathon in september.

I did Paris in April*and used these runs to primarily bring my mileage up to marathon levels.
I also did some medium long runs of up to 15 miles. Did these longer runs on the home journey only.
13k in and back today. Took it nice and easy