Need encouragement: Getting back on track with a half in mind

[Grog]

Help!

I've signed up for a half-marathon in 16 weeks from now (Feb. 21st) and I have designed a lovely training plan for myself that includes two short-ish runs (one easy run and some speedwork) and a long-run on the weekend.

I cycle to work almost everyday, roughly 130 km/week with lots of hills, so my cardio fitness is pretty good. I ran a 50-minute 10K recently without much prior training (I was pretty sore after tho'!!) However, I need to rebuild the specific strength needed for the half-marathon. I want to enjoy the race, and the post-race too.

Problem: When to run? I'm fine with the long run, it's the shorter, week-day runs that are the problem.

Constraints: I leave for work around 6:30 a.m. on my bike and I'm seldom back home before 6 p.m. I could in theory run over lunch at work but I'm not so keen on having to take yet another shower at work. When I get to work at 7:15 a.m. it's really still quite dark (winter months), and it's an area where I will not go for a run on my own in the dark due to safety concerns.

Do any of you have suggestions? What do you all do to juggle bike-commuting, a busy professional life requiring reasonable clothing, and running?

Help! I miss running and I want to make this work. Thanks in advance.

[colby]

Is it an option to not bike commute 1-2 days a week and run at lunch - so you only have one shower? It's a crappy tradeoff, but might be the "best" way. Or, come in early, leave an hour earlier, and run after work? Maybe running after work even if you can't leave early might be the best inbetween compromise, just to get in an extra 30-45 minutes twice a week.

Put a treadmill in your office?

I am able to work from home in the mornings, then run, then come in to the office. Sometimes I work from home evenings/weekends if I have extra work. I almost always run in the morning before anything else, whether I bike commute (which is admittedly rare these days, but common in the spring/summer) or drive. It would be harder without the flexible schedule, that's for sure.

[indigoiis]

While training for my half, I was also commuting and training for a second century of the season, and managed to do both although it really is a squeeze. How far away is your office? Can you run it? That's one way to get in a run and I have done that a few times - I run to the bus stop or home from it, about six miles from my house. When it was still light I ran home from a further bus - 8 miles along trails and dirt road, which was really nice. I hesitate to do that when it's dark at night, though. I also run at lunch occasionally. Or get a headlamp and run when you get home.

[Grog]

Thanks for the advice and encouragement!

I would love to run part of the way to work (12-13 km away) and I did it a bit in early Fall. The problem is that now it's pitch-black dark before and after work, and I won't run along this wilderness park on my own in the dark, even with a headlamp.

I think I might do the lunch-time runs with the bus commute on both sides. I need to find running partners at work!

But this week is bike-to-work week, so no running at work. I'll figure it out!

Thanks!!