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RUN COMMUTING: 5 THINGS TO CONSIDER BEFORE YOU START

The sun is shining, the sky is blue and you find yourself still crammed onto a bus or a train or the Underground to get to work. Wouldn’t it be amazing if you could get to work AND enjoy our Great British Summer? Well, you might want to consider run commuting! Now, before you dismiss it as too far or too impractical, think about all of the benefits that you would get from it: fresh air and lots of Vitamin D instead of sweaty commuters, no need to worry about fitting in time for the gym and a beach body just in time for your summer holiday! Sound good, but not sure where to start?

Check out our top 5 things that you should consider before you start run commuting.

1. YOU DON’T HAVE TO RUN THE WHOLE WAY TO WORK

If your commute is longer than 4 miles (perhaps even 1 mile!), then the prospect of running there might seem a bit daunting. Why not get off the bus or train early or drive and park before starting your run? That way you can build up your stamina and as your fitness increases, so can the distance that you run.

2.  WEAR THE RIGHT CLOTHING

Fellwalker and celebrated author Alfred Wainwright said: "There's no such thing as bad weather, only unsuitable clothing." Given that he spent a lot of his life hiking around the Lake District, it’s safe to say that the man knew what he was talking about! Making sure that you are wearing the right clothing for run commuting is essential. DO NOT attempt to run in your work clothes! We hope that is a given, but thought it was mentioning just in case! 

Investing in merino wool clothing is better than spandex or lycra as it is sweat wicking, odour resistant and adapts to both warm and cold weather. 

3. YOU DON’T NEED SHOWER FACILITIES

No one wants to sit at work feeling sweaty and gross all day, but not everyone has access to a shower at their workplace. In fact - according to an article in the Evening Standard in 2017, in London’s City and West End there is only one shower for every 240 employees. Not to worry though, a tiny Shower in a Can weighs just 150g, but contains up to 20 “full body” washes with no need for water or a towel, so you can get clean and fresh in time for your first meeting. Plus, at just 100ml it’s small enough to fit in your run commuting backpack. 

4. PLAN AHEAD

You don’t want any excuse to not start run commuting, so get organised. If you are running to work, pack everything that you need the night before. Also, try to leave your change of clothes and toiletries at work the day before so that you only need to carry the essentials—mobile, keys, bank card and any identification you might need to access your office building. 

Equally, if you are running back from work, leave anything non-essential there such as your work clothes and take them home on a day when you are not running 

Also, buy yourself a specially designed running backpack or running belt so that you can carry the belongings that you need comfortably.

5. PLAN YOUR ROUTE 

If you’re running to avoid being crammed in public transport, it’s unlikely you’ll want to run through congested traffic. So, plan a route that tries to avoid busy roads as much as possible and takes you on a route that you are going to enjoy—maybe through a park (but make sure that it is well lit and not empty) or along a tree lined road. Also, make sure that you know where you can catch public transport in a worst-case scenario and perhaps keep in mind where the closest bathrooms are along your route! You can find lots of popular running routes on Strava and even keep track of your progress!

We hope that you have a fantastic first running commute—let us know how you get on! 

Find out more about Shower in a Can by visiting our FAQ page.

Written by Kate MacKellar-Still