Wherever you live, wherever you work, the benefits of run commuting versus using a mode of transport are huge. From the mental and physical health gains to the money saved, there are many reasons to use your legs rather than an engine.
We spoke to INOV8 ambassador Alison Walker who lived in central London for 10 years and ran the daily commute to her office. She chose to swerve overcrowded tubes, trains and busses, and instead lace up her running shoes. Alison now lives in West Yorkshire and commutes twice-weekly to an office in Manchester.
Alison’s tried and trusted run commute tips are perfect if you live or work in a busy city. They also work well if you live in a more rural location and perhaps use a car or train to get to work.
5 PROS AND CONS OF RUN COMMUITING
PROS
- Boosts your physical health
- Increases your mental health wellbeing
- Saves you money
- Better for the planet
- Helps you organise and structure your day
CONS
- A sweaty morning in work (if your office doesn’t have showers!)
- You HAVE to be organised. No excuses.
- You enjoy it so much, you add extra distance and risk being late for work
- Being the envy of jealous work colleagues
- It can become addictive. Very addictive.
ALISON’S TOP-7 RUN COMMUTE TIPS
1. Plan ahead
On a Monday (pre-Covid pandemic), I used to take a large bag of clothes, shoes and packed lunches to the office (in London). The bag contained everything I would need to allow me to run commute for a whole week. I also tried to pre-plan my after-work socialising and pack appropriately!
In my new role, I’m able split my time between working at home and the office (in Manchester). I travel to Manchester twice a week. It’s less of logistical nightmare planning for two days of run commuting rather than five. I try to schedule my meetings on two back-to-back days so I can leave my laptop in the office on day one and run commute home that evening. Then on day two I run commute in the morning, before bringing home my laptop – and smelly running clothes – in the evening.
I always have a spare set of work clothes, smart shoes and running kit in my locker at the office, along with toiletries, flip flops and a hair dryer so that I can look presentable at work.
2. Find a route that doesn't require too much thought
I must admit, I’m a bit boring when it comes to run commute routes, but with good reason. I used to have set routes in London that I would always use. Now living further up north, I have two set routes that I stick to. Why? Because I know exactly (within five minutes either way) how long they take to run, and crucially what time I must leave so I am not late for work.
3. Jump off the train or bus a few stops early
I now live more rural in West Yorkshire, and though I use a train for part of my twice-weekly commute to Manchester, I still incorporate running into that journey by hopping on/off at later/earlier stations. This allows more to run over some of the lovely moorland trails between my home and office and saves me some money at the same time.
4. Use a good backpack
Sometimes, despite all the planning, you might have to run commute with an extra clothes or other work things. Having a backpack with the versatility to accommodate these things is important. I use the new ULTRAPAC PRO 2-IN-1 which has an extra 7-litre compartment that can be easily attached to the back of the pack if needed. Even if the extra 7-litre compartment is empty, it does not bounce, so it is a win for me. The pack is designed to mould to the upper body, which I love. It means I don't get any chafing, no matter the load I’m carrying.
5. Get extra layers that pack small
No-one likes run commuting with a huge or heavy backpack, so I always try and minimise the volume inside mine. One of the best ways to do this is by ensuring your extra layers – e.g. a jacket you might need for more warmth or protection from rain – scrunches down really small.
The THERMOSHELL PRO jacket (for extra warmth) and the waterproof STORMSHELL jacket (for protection from rain) can both be easily scrunched into an integrated pocket built within each jacket. It makes them small in size and easy to stuff into my backpack.
6. Don’t forget a dirty kit bag
Always pack a spare bag to store your sweaty running kit. This will keep it separated from your clean clothes and other items within your backpack. No-one likes sweaty laptops!
7. Think about shoe colour choices
Picking the right type of shoes for your run commute is important. You want something that best handles the terrain you’re running on. If, like me, you’re going to be running on both road and trail, a hybrid shoe is a good choice. The PARKCLAW G 280 is perfect for this. It is a road-to-trail shoe with 4mm studs that give great grip on the trail and ride smooth on the road.
When I get INOV8 shoes, I always look to get some muted colours. Why? So, if I forget to pack spare shoes, I have some black and white ones that could pass off as 'normal shoes' at work, not running shoes. The PARKCLAW G 280 in black and white are perfect for blending into an office environment!