Running to work

[7rider]

So....tell me if this is crazy.

I'm currently training for a duathlon that will have me running 2 10k's (so, total = 12.4 miles). I'm more or less following a half-marathon training program, which will ultimately take me up to a 13 mile run on the weekend. Doing my "normal" 2-4 mile runs during the week (I try for M-W-F, but lately it's been Tu-Th, with a Saturday long run), there's no way I'd be able to get enough miles in mid-week to do a 12-mile long run without the possibility of issues. Generally, I've read that your "long run" should be about 40% of your weekly total. So that means, I'd have to have a weekly total of 30 miles for that week.

Getting in the other 18 miles (especially when you're as slow as I am) is going to be a challenge. So, I was thinking - as bike commuting is an easy way to get in bike miles, run commuting must be a good way to get in running miles.

So the plan is this:
Wednesday (some Wednesday in the future): Ride to work with 2 panniers and 2 sets of clothes and towels. Leave one untouched in my cube overnight.
Thursday: Run to work. It's a 7.4 mile bike ride. Figure I'd take the same general route running. That would take me 1.5 hours (I told you...I'm slow.) so I'd have to leave pretty early.

All I'd bring is a waterbottle, my ID and my Metro card. Oh, and cash for breakfast and lunch (COFFEE!!). Head up to my cube, grab my pannier, head to the gym to shower/change. Take Metro/bus home that evening.

Does this seem reasonable? Maybe do this a few times (not in the same week). Has anyone run to work? Anything I should consider/remember/do to plan?

[Melalvai]

Sounds good to me! I love combining transportation and exercise, it's so efficient. This is a bit unusual but it will get you the training you need.

The only thing I've done that is running for transportation is that I run 1 mile to the pool, swim, and run the mile home. I tuck my swim cap in my tights, goggles around my neck, carry a water bottle and towel. When I did that it was cold enough for a jacket so I put my underwear in a pocket. On the way home I carried the swimsuit as well as the towel. I don't know how I'll transport the underwear in the summer when I don't need a jacket. I'm not wild about just carrying my underwear. The only problem I have had so far is that one time my swim cap fell out. I swam without it and found it on my way home.

Let us know how it goes.

[Veronica]

You could get tri shorts that you wear for your run and your swim and your second run. They do dry pretty quickly.

Veronica

[Selkie]

Sounds like fun! Don't forget to wear hi-viz clothes.

[lph]

I think it's a brilliant idea. I find it much easier to motivate myself to run (or bike, or ski), if I have to get wherever I'm going. If I start at home and initially am going in the "wrong" direction, it's so much harder. Nothing like a boss at the other end to stop me from thinking "hm, do I feel like doing this today?"

I half-ran my commute quite a few times last winter. I took the metro half the way, and ran the rest of the way, 30-40 minutes run. The biggest hurdle was accurately guessing how little extra clothing I could get away with to stay warm before my run, as I had to pack it in a hipbelt and run with it afterwards. I didn't need to carry water, though. Funnily enough, the most annoying thing was running with small noisy things like loose change, my cellphone etc, not the extra windjacket that packed down nicely.

I think you have a great plan, especially the part about having a pannier all packed and ready to grab. I'd probably be messing around trying to re-use stuff from the day before. Let us know how it works out.

[bmccasland]

I'm not sure who he is, but there's a guy in my office building that I see running into the office every morning, with a full backpack (larger than a day pack). I don't know how far he runs, but considering the office is in an industrial area, I'm guessing its more than a couple of miles. He does wear a hi-viz vest, and there's reflective tape on his pack.

Makes me feel even lazier as I'm cruising into the office lot in my car.

So 7rider - you go girl! Your plan sounds terrific!

[Wahine]

I run to work sometimes. And I run errands sometimes. It's a great way to sneak in some running when you're on a tight schedule. You do have to be well planned out and it sounds like you are. And like LPH said, try to not have anything loose in your pockets, it's super annoying.

I also run splits at times to help get my mileage where I want it. So instead of running 7 miles at once I might do 4 in the AM and 4 again in the PM.

Lastly, I don't think you need to get too hung up on the long run being 40% of your weekly mileage thing. I have done programs successfully and have had coaching clients do the same, where the long run is what it is and the rest of the week my runs are only as much as I need to do to get some hill and speed intervals in. For example, I might have one 5 miler and one 6 miler during the week, but still run 13 to 18 miles on the weekend depending on where I am in my schedule. That's tempered with the fact that I am also cycling.

[limewave]

I think its a good idea! If you are up for the planning ahead, then I say go for it.

I, too, have run with a pack. In fact, I sometimes trail run carrying a large camelbak--good training for adventure racing. It's not too bad as long as there is a sternum strap and the pack fits well.

We have a friend that is an elite marathon/ultramarathon runner. And he used to run 13 miles into work on occasion. Sometimes he'd commute on his bike, other times he would run. He carried a backpack.

Wahine has some good advice about the long run and weekly runs. I've followed that philosophy myself and have had success.