Oh how twitter is changing my life. But let me back up a second….
Just under a year ago I moved to an apartment that is a mere 2.2 miles from where I work. I thought, “Wow, I’m close enough to go home for lunch. Close enough I could bike, even! I should get a bike.” But I didn’t want to spend money on a bike just yet so I’ve been driving.
As 2012 came, I thought about wanting to be better at getting in consistent run mileage. I thought about the lunch run. Lots of folks do it. I, however, do NOT like feeling rushed, and really do not like moving my lunch time around. Excuses, I know. Still, the lunch run just didn’t seem like a good fit for me.
Then, on Thursday, the most obvious solution dawned on me and I have no idea why I didn’t really think of it before. I had starting following Lisa, @runlikeacoyote, on twitter and had been reading about her run and bike commutes to work.
“Fascinating,” I thought, “what a dedicated runner she is! AND, her work day is bookended with a run which is a good way to buffer work life from personal life. AND, she gets her mileage built-in to her day that way.”
When I realized that I probably have one of the easiest potential run commutes of anyone in the northern hemisphere (sunny southern california with rarely a foul day and only 2.2 miles to get to work), it was such a great AHA moment that I immediately told my co-worker. We share an office. She was supportive! Good sign.
I then went home and told my husband. He thought it was a great idea, too! Good sign. He then thought that I wouldn’t need my car at all if I had a bike for the days I didn’t run. Then, he realized he could sell his car and use mine to get to work. (My ride is superior, clearly). Now, he has already mentally purchased things with the money he’s planning on getting from selling his car. Zoom, zoom, goes his brain.
Whoa, whoa, whoa. In order to see if this is going to work, I had to lay out a plan and then test it. So this morning I got up, had a little something to eat, packed a “lunch” and clothes, keys and wallet and phone, all into an outdoor back pack (which probably ended up at around 4 lbs) and ran the route to work. 25 minutes and a few stop lights later I was there. Easy peasy. With all the right things in place, this will definitely be doable and probably enjoyable!
Run Commute Test – Packed and Ready
25 minutes to get to work.
I’ll plan on starting slow, run commuting once or twice a week for a month. If I’m liking it and it’s working, then we’ll talk about exchanging a car for a bike.
This could be the beginning of something AWESOME!
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Where I’ve been getting inspiration and doing research on run commuting:
Run Like a Coyote - The woman who planed the idea seed.
Run For Your Life! - Emilia tackles her 8 mile run commute in Texas.
The Balanced Athlete - A good list of things to consider you might not have thought of.
Runner’s Kitchen - Megan’s approach to a NYC run commute.
The Run Commuter - I particularly like Part 5: Sweaty to Office Ready. Man’s point of view. Good stuff in the comments section for ladies.
