Running to and from work might sound like something only people with “rise and grind” tattoos do, but hear me out. It’s actually brilliant. You get your exercise done before the day even starts, clear your head, and save a few quid on bus fares. Plus, you don’t have to sit beside that fella on the 7.45 who eats egg sandwiches out of a Tupperware the size of his head.
And if you live in one of the lucky cities where Strava says running is faster than driving, you can even feel smug about beating the traffic lights on foot.
Planning: Do it Meticulously
Run commuting takes a bit of planning. You can’t just throw on your shoes and hope for the best, unless you enjoy lugging half your worldly belongings across town like a sweaty postman.
Work out which days you’ll run to work and which days you’ll run from it. The trick is to drop in clean clothes on your non-running days and cart home the bag of stinking kit when nobody in HR is looking. If you plan things properly, you’ll eventually nail the minimalist setup: just your phone, keys, and a vague sense of purpose.
Speaking of keys, if you’ve no pockets, tie them into your shoelace. Just make sure the knot’s solid — otherwise you’ll be that person crawling around the car park at half seven in the morning muttering about “emergency locksmith call-out fees.”
The Shower Question: Know Thy Plumbing
Let’s be honest, if your workplace doesn’t have showers, running to work probably isn’t going to make you particularly popular. Nobody wants to brainstorm beside a colleague who smells like they've spent the weekend at Electric Picnic.
In that case, save your run for the journey home. You’ll avoid the hygiene issue, and when you stumble through the door drenched in sweat and existential dread, you can toss everything straight in the wash.
If you’re blessed with workplace showers, stash spare toiletries in a locker or drawer so you don’t end up carrying shampoo like a travelling Radox salesman. Gym nearby? Even better, use their showers and leave your colleagues blissfully unaware of the chaos your commute involves.
Gear: Backpack, Backpack, Backpack
You don’t need to sell a kidney for fancy gear. A basic backpack with chest and waist straps will do. The straps stop it bouncing up and down like a hyperactive toddler.
Something around 20 litres in size is usually perfect, enough space for shoes, a change of clothes, and your lunch (preferably sealed tighter than a jar of Dolmio). Forget socks at your peril, by the way. Everyone does it once. Keep an emergency pair in your drawer unless you fancy spending the day in loafers and shame.
The Weather, the Darkness, and Other Things That’ll Ruin You
Now that we’re into the second week of October, the evenings are already getting shorter and they’ll be shorter still when the clocks go back on the 31st. One minute you’re jogging home in the soft autumn light, the next you’re fumbling for your keys in pitch darkness wondering if you’ve taken a wrong turn into the underworld.
Ireland being Ireland, you’ll also get rained on. Pack a lightweight jacket that squashes into the bag easily, because that “light drizzle” you left the house in will somehow become a biblical flood by kilometre two.
If you’re running in the dark, stick on something reflective and maybe a head torch. Nothing ruins your morning like getting flattened by a delivery van because you thought your bright personality would make you visible.
The Route: Know Where You’re Going, Ideally
Before your first run commute, test the route on a weekend. Time it. Check for safe crossings, mad traffic spots, and anywhere you can bail out to a bus stop if it all goes pear-shaped. Apps like Strava or Komoot or even trusty Google Maps can help you map it out.
If work is too far for a full run, go half-and-half. Run to the station, train the rest, or vice versa. Build it up over time, nobody’s expecting you to pull a Forrest Gump on day one.
Next Stop: The Shower
Run commuting won’t solve all life’s problems, but it’ll make the morning emails slightly more bearable. You’ll save money, skip the queues, and start your day with that rarest of things: endorphins before 9am.
Just don’t forget your socks. Seriously. Everyone forgets their socks.