A friend of mine made a facebook post about Anton Krupica's blog. And how inspiring it is. I feel the same way. Lately I have needed some motivation to get me to start running more than once a week and this may be just what I needed.
Anton is fortunate to have many beautiful mountains to run in his back yard. While I do not have that same luxury, I may one day. I should be prepared. I need to start running more, and so I have started. The past four days I have run to and from work.
To keep me honest I will try to start keeping a log of my runs here just like Anton. So here goes:
Tuesday, November 8th, 2011
This morning I ran the 2 ish miles to work with my clothes and lunch on my back - I rolled my ankle hard right before the turn onto the sidewalk out of neighborhood. Other than that it was a pretty uneventful, slow feeling run to work. The temperature was perfect at 52 deg F.
Showing posts with label running with backpack. Show all posts
Showing posts with label running with backpack. Show all posts
Tuesday, November 8, 2011
Friday, June 11, 2010
First Post: Commuting by Running
So this is my first shot a creating a blog. I actually set this up a few weeks ago, but have been procrastinating as usual (right Courtney?).
I've created the blog to document some of my experiences while running etc. . .
I will try to set a precedent by not writing anything too long: e.g.
I like to get to work without driving my car. These past few weeks I have mostly ridden my bicycle, a 1973 Raleigh built Hercules 3 speed. Identical to this one except with chrome fenders and a matching white seat to the grips.

Often in the morning before work, I will run first thing, eat, shower, pack my lunch and ride my bike to work or drive. More often I will skip my morning run and run during lunch at work. It occurred to me some time back that I could possibly save some time and run to and from work (about 2.2 miles one way) and get the majority of my daily run done.
My running log on running2win:
http://www.running2win.com/community/public-log.asp?m=vecinimod&k=blog
I had not tried this until yesterday, mostly due to the fact that I wasn't sure how I would configure a backpack to carry my work clothes. It ends up that Courtney had a perfect back pack for the task, a 25 liter rei vista with sternum and waist straps, mesh back pads and adequately wide shoulder straps.
I set out a 7am so I'd be at my desk by 7:30am (showering at my company's gym in between).The run which is uphill to about half way definitely felt more difficult with the pack. At first I was worried that it would bounce to much, but the design of the pack is such that this was not the case.
Pushing the pace without a warm up (7min pace) everything was just about like a normal run except my legs really felt the extra 10 or so pounds of the pack, lunch, pants shirt, belt, shoes, socks, phone and wallet I was carrying. This is interesting since between October '09 when I started running again and now, I have lost about 25 pounds. It really puts in perspective how added weight takes its toll on the legs and feet, plus all the added energy required. I hope this makes me a stronger runner without adding injuries?
The run was really quick, and I made it there thinking that it was not significantly longer than my bike rides to work. They take about 10 minutes and the run took about 14:40. Maybe the not having to stop a stoplights help more than I expected? Of course the difference is that my shower is moved to work after the run, not before I leave home as when I bike. In the end I think the amount of time it takes in traveling + showering is only 3-5 minutes more with the run vs the ride.
Heading to my desk first to pick up my shower flip flops and towel I have stashed there, I took a shower at the gym downstairs, then back to my desk by 7:30 as planned.
The run home was a lot easier (left the shoes and socks at my desk), but much warmer out. By the time I got home and Courtney let me in the house, I was dripping with sweat. The round trip put me at 4.4 miles or so. I decided to head back out and do my 2.5 mile neighborhood loop for good measure :)
Since I enjoyed the new commute I repeated it today, except Courtney and I are going to see our prospective pediatrician for Caroline Leigh V. directly after work so I wont get a chance to run home. . . hmm, maybe a bike ride with Scott after he gets off work will rectify this? Not too late or heavy though, 5:30am run at the west side market with my Uncle Vince through the flats tomorrow.
Well I guess that wasn't a short post after all! See that's why I didn't post earlier.
I've created the blog to document some of my experiences while running etc. . .
I will try to set a precedent by not writing anything too long: e.g.
I like to get to work without driving my car. These past few weeks I have mostly ridden my bicycle, a 1973 Raleigh built Hercules 3 speed. Identical to this one except with chrome fenders and a matching white seat to the grips.

Often in the morning before work, I will run first thing, eat, shower, pack my lunch and ride my bike to work or drive. More often I will skip my morning run and run during lunch at work. It occurred to me some time back that I could possibly save some time and run to and from work (about 2.2 miles one way) and get the majority of my daily run done.
My running log on running2win:
http://www.running2win.com/community/public-log.asp?m=vecinimod&k=blog
I had not tried this until yesterday, mostly due to the fact that I wasn't sure how I would configure a backpack to carry my work clothes. It ends up that Courtney had a perfect back pack for the task, a 25 liter rei vista with sternum and waist straps, mesh back pads and adequately wide shoulder straps.
I set out a 7am so I'd be at my desk by 7:30am (showering at my company's gym in between).The run which is uphill to about half way definitely felt more difficult with the pack. At first I was worried that it would bounce to much, but the design of the pack is such that this was not the case.
Pushing the pace without a warm up (7min pace) everything was just about like a normal run except my legs really felt the extra 10 or so pounds of the pack, lunch, pants shirt, belt, shoes, socks, phone and wallet I was carrying. This is interesting since between October '09 when I started running again and now, I have lost about 25 pounds. It really puts in perspective how added weight takes its toll on the legs and feet, plus all the added energy required. I hope this makes me a stronger runner without adding injuries?
The run was really quick, and I made it there thinking that it was not significantly longer than my bike rides to work. They take about 10 minutes and the run took about 14:40. Maybe the not having to stop a stoplights help more than I expected? Of course the difference is that my shower is moved to work after the run, not before I leave home as when I bike. In the end I think the amount of time it takes in traveling + showering is only 3-5 minutes more with the run vs the ride.
Heading to my desk first to pick up my shower flip flops and towel I have stashed there, I took a shower at the gym downstairs, then back to my desk by 7:30 as planned.
The run home was a lot easier (left the shoes and socks at my desk), but much warmer out. By the time I got home and Courtney let me in the house, I was dripping with sweat. The round trip put me at 4.4 miles or so. I decided to head back out and do my 2.5 mile neighborhood loop for good measure :)
Since I enjoyed the new commute I repeated it today, except Courtney and I are going to see our prospective pediatrician for Caroline Leigh V. directly after work so I wont get a chance to run home. . . hmm, maybe a bike ride with Scott after he gets off work will rectify this? Not too late or heavy though, 5:30am run at the west side market with my Uncle Vince through the flats tomorrow.
Well I guess that wasn't a short post after all! See that's why I didn't post earlier.
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