June 12,2012 and June 14, 2012

So here's a new topic for this blog: run commuting.  These two runs were also my morning commutes to work these days.  I've been wanting to do this for a while but it took quite a bit of planning to make it happen.  So, obviously in order to do it, I have to be able to shower and get dressed at the end of the run.  Unfortunately, my employer does not provide any locker room or shower facilities. Fortunately, I have a YMCA membership and the Y is right across the river from my office.  However, the Y does not have place to store all of my gear.  They do, however have a "fitness center" (read: country club) where, for an extra fee, you can get a locker (with your name emblazoned on it no less!) to keep your stuff in.  So, despite the vaguely elitist feeling I get from having such a locker, I signed up for it in order to enable my run commute.  

So to make this work, I drive in on Monday, taking in my suits and some non-running, non-work clothes.  I stash the suits at my office and the other clothes in my snooty locker.  Then I take the bus home and run in the next day to the Y.  I shower up and put on the casual clothes there, walk over to the office and put on the old lawyer costume and I'm golden.  I've gotten my workout in before I even eat breakfast and I don't have to get road rage during my commute.

I also decided to try out a different playlist for these runs.  Instead of some pumping music, I got a fantasy baseball podcast.  That way, it feels like I'm running with someone, but I also get to listen to something that I wouldn't otherwise have time for.  It worked really well.  

I really like this route because it takes me through some neighborhoods that I wouldn't otherwise see on foot.  The only bad part about this route is once I get into downtown, I'm stopping and starting every block it seems like.  

The plan is to keep this commute most of the summer because most of my mid-week training runs call for three miles.  This route is pretty much 3.5 miles so it will work well for this training.  I can go different ways in order to increase the mileage to adapt it to the training schedule.