Surgical Swagger: I Can Run – Part 2 SA, TX Run Commuter

One of the things I do now is work with children having cognitive skills deficiencies such as Autism and Asperger syndrome.  The center where I help out is perfectly placed at a manageable 7 miles one way.

I only mention I work with children because for me it has significance to my story.  Doing the type of work I did in the past; I only did it for the money – period.  There’s no kicking it around and I won’t kid myself or you by attempting to make it something it was not.  I had a longtime fear of never having enough money so I did everything I could to make sure I was never without it.  That ‘mindset’ cost me dearly in all aspects of my life especially where health was concerned.

I would never have run commute to any one of my past employments.  There were many times I didn’t even want to get out of bed much less contemplate the thought of getting up earlier and challenging myself physically to get there.  Even though I was very good at what I did, I did not enjoy it and the work relationship(s) were definitely one-sided.  Therefore, transitioning to do things which provided me real satisfaction, joy, excitement and which were in-line with a newly defined purpose of health and happiness drastically changed my outlook.  I began to contemplate taking on a run commute endeavor.

Firstly, it’s hot here – real hot.  The children I dedicate time to all come in the midafternoon and early evening so running in 100 degree temperatures was/is something I just have to deal with.  I wasn’t crazy about running in those temperatures and I wasn’t willing to destroy my body for the run commute.  I went ahead and bought a bus pass so if I felt like I was going to drop out I could at least haul my limping carcass onto an air conditioned transport for some of the way.

I have taken mass transit systems in the U.S., Japan, Korea, etc., but I honestly had never taken the bus in San Antonio.  I was excited to learn though.  I hopped on a bus just to see how to navigate my way through stops and pickups.  I was happy and rode with a smile.  I will comment that it seemed like I was pretty much the only one enthusiastic about riding the bus.  Even though I was beaming with excitement, none of my smiles were returned to me.  As a matter of fact, one guy’s look made me almost want to pin my lips over my teeth all together.

I didn’t even know how to exit the bus.  This fact was graciously, but aggressively, pointed out to me from a large burly fellow who yelled, “Push the door open!”  I told myself, “No sir, you’re not going to steal my sunshine” as I skipped off the bus steps.  Obviously, I am kidding there.  But, it really didn’t shift my mood all that much.  What I was doing was for me.  It was something I wanted to do so my want of doing so squashed any bad feelings which would have risen up and gotten out of control.  Besides, after being to a variety of places around the nation where people tend to interact with you more antagonistically, this guy with his sparkling attitude seemed rather charming.

I am a first time run commuter.  I mean sure I had been on long hikes, camping trips which required me to haul a lot of gear, ran with a hydration pack, – I won’t go into the entire minutia of activities.  But, I had never run to environment where I had to look presentable and then instead of relaxing, refueling and cleaning up, transition straight into performing a task.

So naturally my first time run commuting I over-packed and over-prepared.  I packed all the things I thought I might need: extra food, toothbrush, tooth paste, night lamp, extra socks, sunblock, water bottle, reading material, bus route maps, air tight food bags, dry clothes bags, wet clothes bags, and on and on.  I had an insane amount of stuff on top of the things I would actually need like my dress clothes, shoes, belt, lunch, snacks and drinks.  It was like I was going on a three day excursion! Needless to say, I stuffed all my items into an old dilapidated North Face backpack which I had modified (i.e. disassembled for makeshift parts).

The elastic side-mesh pockets were all stretched out and did not function anymore to hold items.  There is only one center holding area with its failing zipper system.  The center synch bungee on the back didn’t really do anything but roll the bottom of the backpack up away from my body.  There is no waist belt because I cut it away years ago to be used on something else which I cannot remember.  It does however, have a sweet Utah gecko patch from an old Moab trip, so that pretty much alone spits coolness and makes the bag a keeper.  Okay, maybe not, but it is what I have so I use it and I am grateful for it.

Am I getting a new pack?  Yes, eventually.  My outlook was/is I want to learn from the run commuter experience(s) so I get exactly what I really need.  I think this is important because only I know everything I really need on a daily basis.  There are the basics items you want to have with you of course.  I won’t go through the items I take/use right now but definitely check out the posts Josh’s Gear, Kyle’s Gear, and Sophie’s Gear for some great gear information and also the ‘How To Get Started’ section under the contributor’s block starting here.

“You don’t have to have everything all figured out.  Just get moving…”

The Run Commuter in Urban China Magazine

We’re going global!

The latest edition of Urban China magazine featured a very cool article on “Community-based Micro-sports”, devoting a two-page spread to run commuting (and a pic of TRC’s Josh and Kyle).  They even included a bit about the Atlanta BeltLine and Historic Fourth Ward Park.

The section on run commuting features general tips on gear selection and packing, choosing a route, and cleaning up once you arrive.  Other pages cover running at work during lunch hours, after work and on weekends with friends, and fitting in workouts when you only have a short amount of time available. 

Editor Tao Shiqi writes, (and this is translated very loosely using Google Translate):

Although we in China are successful in competitive sports, our public awareness of fitness is still in its infancy.  A 2010 survey in Jiangsu Province revealed that more than 80.3% of the respondents do not have any fixed fitness habits.  Micro-movement is a more social and effective way for city people to regain the habit of doing exercise. From the use of fragmented time, micro fitness is an intermediate state with aspects of commuting, socializing, and working, to the movement regarding habits of life and enjoying the fun of it all.

Here is a bit about Issue #53 from their website: http://www.urbanchina.com.cn/?issue=%E5%85%8B%E6%8B%89%E7%8E%9B%E4%BE%9D.

For the non-run commuters out there – how do you exercise when you are short on time?

Overgrown Sidewalks and Urban Bushwhacking

Spring came and went like a bat out of hell, leaving us Georgians with 80+ degree days in February, followed by a summer that started in March.  While the rest of the U.S. went from shorts to snowsuits and back again almost overnight, new plant growth down south greedily attacked the open spaces around it without mercy, leaving hazards and obstructions in its wake.

Personally, I’m a sidewalk runner.  We are pedestrians and not vehicles after all.  Some runners say you should only run on the road and they have their reasons for it, but I like to keep myself separated from bicycles, cars, and motorcycles as much as possible.  However, like the picture above illustrates, that can be hard to do when the sidewalk is blocked by obnoxious plant life.  What’s a runner to do?

There are several options:

How to Arrive at Work Wrinkle- and Stain-Free

How do I keep my work clothes from getting wrinkled is a question I have been asked a lot regarding run commuting.  Each run commuter carries different items to and from work depending on their access to showers or enough storage at work (e.g., TRC posts: Josh & Kyle).  In this blog post, I’d like to share with readers my technique for making it to my work cubical without looking like I ran in.

Each day, I carry my work clothes, heels, undergarments and, often, lunch to work in my backpack.  The solution to keeping my clothes wrinkle- and lunch-free is a combination of laundry garment bags and an extra plastic bag around the food container.  Laundry garment bags are light-weight cloth bags used to protect delicate items in the wash. They are inexpensive and can be purchased in almost every super market near the laundry detergent.  An alternative to the garment bags would be to use other cloth or plastic bags.

wrinkle-free clothes
My work attire typically includes dry-cleaned slacks, work top, cardigan, undergarments, and a pair of shoes.  The clothes packing process follows this order, as pictured:

step 1 – obtain laundry garment bags

step 2 – lay out clothes

step 3 – roll clothes up like a stromboli (e.g., Kyle’s TRC post)

step 4 – wrap the clothes roll in the garment bag

I have even carried a suit jacket using this method and arrived at meetings wrinkle-free.  Rolling the clothes and placing them in a garment bag helps to give the clothes more strength and form, so they do not crumple in the backpack.  Additionally, the garment bag adds a bit of protection from spills in the backpack if you’re carrying toiletries, food, or from an unexpected rain soaking.

Shoes don’t really wrinkle, but I still place them in a shoe bag.  The bag was free and protects the shoes from potential spills and protects my clothes and lunch from my dirty shoes.

lunch-free clothes
Pick a sturdy container to put the food in, wrap it up in an extra plastic bag, and place it at the bottom of your backpack.  If the container spills, gravity will help the food stay away from your clothes.  If the container is on top, gravity will do everything to get the food all over your clothes.
Yes, this is soup.  I have successfully run commuted with soup in my pack.

final stages
This is what my daily backpack load looks like:

All my shower needs are pre-staged at work, so I shower and pull myself all together.  Here’s the final product, at work and wrinkle-free:

Taking this photo was the most difficult part of this blog post.  It was hard for me to look at the mirror and click the button at the same time, so hard in fact, I forgot to smile!  Here’s what you missed:   😀

I hope this post helps a few ladies and gents stay stylish at work without sacrificing sportiness during their commute.

TalkJogRun Interview with The Run Commuter

On Monday, Kyle and I sat down for a chat with Caitlin Seick of WalkJogRun, a popular running route finding and planning website, and talked all about run commuting. WalkJogRun’s iPad app recently  hit #7 in the health and fitness category, so check it out now, hipster, so you can say you knew all about it before it was #1. Blog post with audio/podcast below.

Article:  Running To Work – WalkBlogRun

Historic Virginia Commute

About a year ago a new job brought with it a dream commute – seven miles of rolling hills and good sidewalks through historic towns and a national park, all perfect for running.

I run commute about twice a week between Colonial Heights and Fort Lee, Va., about a half-hour south of Richmond.

Before the new job, my weekday runs started after my son went to bed, usually around 8 p.m. Now running feels like a part of my day rather than something jammed into inconvenient times, always after everything else was done.

It only takes about 45 minutes longer to run than drive, including showering. My office building has a shower, and my job offers two hours a week off for physical fitness as a benefit. Add these to the terrific route, and it’s hard to make excuses.

Some days I run the 14-mile round trip. Other days I drive in, leave my car, run home and then run in the next morning. Either way, it racks up miles quickly. I usually have nearly 30 in before the weekend.

The run starts in a typical older neighborhood, but after the first half mile I turn along a four lane commercial strip, the main drag through the small town of Colonial Heights. From here everything takes on a historic tone. It was from this point the Marquis de Lafayette led American troops in bombarding the British during the Revolutionary War, an act that gave the town its name.

Down a short hill is a bridge over the Appomattox River and into Petersburg. Both the river and city have become synonymous with the waning days of the Civil War.

At the center of the bridge my watch beeps to mark the first mile. I enter Petersburg, past 150 year old brick buildings, and then across an overpass.

It’s exhilarating running over Interstate 95, one of the busiest roads in the country. Local commuters mix with freight and families traveling between Maine and Florida. Dozens of vehicles passing below me, each its own bubble.

Another mile ticks by and I’m alongside historic Blandford Cemetery, home to tens of thousands of Confederate soldiers. Blandford is followed by an Orthodox Jewish cemetery, with graves dating back to 1913.

As the third mile ends, the best part of the run begins. Traffic stops and all hints of the city instantly disappear. I’m now in the Petersburg National Battlefield, meticulously maintained by the National Parks Service and as close to perfect for running as I can imagine.

For the next three miles I’m on a wide bike and pedestrian-only lane. It hardly matters, though, as it’s not uncommon to see only deer on a week day morning. Especially in the winter, not that cold has been a problem this year.

The park road alternates between woods and fields, interrupted every half mile or so by historic markers and monuments, artillery pieces and the remains of dirt and wood forts. I’m no Civil War buff, but it’s hard not to enjoy being surrounded by history.

A short stint on a dirt road, and I exit the park onto Fort Lee, the center of Army logistics, for the final mile. Most days I run past soldiers, and often Marines, subconsciously pick up the pace.

I arrive at work far more awake than if I’d driven. Though I’ll spend the next eight hours in a cube, I choose how I get there.

Run to Work Day wrap-up

Did everyone enjoy running to work on Run to Work Day? TRICK QUESTION: of course you did. We heard from many of you, pre- and post-RtWD. Here is a sampling of some of the excitement that simmered in from Internaut, followed by my own experience and photographs.

Our pal and fellow Atlantan Hall said, “Good timing! My car needs some work, so I started riding MARTA, then I realized it’d be just as quick (faster even, if you can believe it) to run commute. Plus I needed to start adding miles to my training.” Not the first time in Atlanta’s congested streets that runners and riders have outpaced transit.

Christina, who discovered the event last-minute, jumped in regardless, eager. She has a great recap with photos, and her day-before prep. You might wonder whether she successfully summited the 0.7 mile-long Torrey Pines Hill at the end of her run. Go find out! (She did. TRUMPH.)

Matt and a partner, unable to go on Feb. 24, will instead brave their run commute on April 6. “Brave” it is apt: they will run 40 miles to work. They have a debate going: “Can we be late or do we have to be at work on time?” Your thoughts?

Aggie, with a wealth of commitments and dearth of time, saw this as an opportunity to notch some miles. “My job is just some 4.5 miles away, so I usually try to alternate running to with running from work. … Between school and work the commute runs are the only option for me to get any training going during the work week.”

And our pal Byron, known locally as one of the go-to guys regarding bicycles, jumped in, too. Adventurer, he. “Achieved “mode parity” today, with my route by foot (run, not walk), bike, transit, and car all taking less than 30 min total; I could probably get them almost equal with a bit more effort.” Josh and I saw him the other day for lunch, and Byron is looking quite svelte these days. Whatever level of effort he is putting out, it is paying off.

Reminder – Feb 24th is Run to Work Day!

Just a reminder that this Friday, February 24th is Run to Work Day, organized by ultrarunner Shannon Price.

So far, 970 people have said they’ll be running to or from work!  Here is the info from the Facebook event page:

So here we go!!! I wanted to start by thanking all of you all over the globe for the interest in the First Annual Run to Work Day. The overall purpose of this event is to motivate, inspire, have fun, and replace a commute to/from work or home office. There will be no restrictions to the mileage but I do have a few rules to cover.

1. Be Safe – Please take the time to prepare a good safe route. Tell others where you are going and when you intend to get there. Please let others know when you have arrived. I recommend a headlamp (if needed), reflective gear, and lighter colored clothing.

2. Be Prepared – Running in late February can sometime be harder than normal (which makes it more fun). Be adequately dressed and have nutrition to cover the mileage. Please carry a cell phone if possible.

3. Document – I would love to read everyone’s stories, see pictures, and view videos from your journey. That is why the Facebook page is created. Feel free to post before, during, and after. Tell others what nutrition you are going to carry and how you plan to run your route well in advance. Take the time to encourage others and help in anyway you can. Also feel free to post your blogs and use the logo is you would like.

4. Be Safe – I know…repeat…but I plan on a Second Annual if this one goes well and want all of you here to experience the “fun” again.

5. No Whining – do I need to say more?

6. Treat Yourself – Yes this is a rule. After your run take a moment to buy yourself a “treat” for your accomplishments. I cannot give out medals so this will be your medal. Please also take a picture and post on the Facebook page.

7. Have Fun – This should be a great event so please remember to smile, say hello to others, and enjoy the running. You will be surprised if you stay positive how much fun a cold winter run can become. If the run becomes not as much fun please look back to Rule #5.

As you can see this is a bare-bones setup but it should be an absolutely blast!!! If I can help anyone in anyway please contact me at 970-420-2114 or mshannonprice@yahoo.com.

Run Happy Everyone!!! Shannon.

Cleaning Your Running Clothes and Gear

Start run commuting on a regular basis and you’ll quickly learn two things about your clothing: 1) You don’t have enough; or 2) You’re doing laundry every other night. If you don’t have the money to sink into multiple sets of running clothes, then hopefully you are doing your laundry in a way that extends the life of the fabric to the maximum extent. In this brief post, I’ll show you how to take care of your technical fabrics and equipment.

Fabric Types

If you’ve been running races over the past 10 years, you will have likely noticed an overwhelming trend in race shirts moving away from cotton to technical fabrics. Pre-2005, cotton was king. Now, I would say about 90% of the races I’ve run over the past few years have all given out tech shirts at the finish line. Why the switch?

Technical fabrics have several advantages over cotton – They are more breathable, more durable, dry faster, and, in most cases, fight bacteria and odor much better. I say most cases because I have found that this type of gear becomes particularly stinky after running during rainstorms in the city.  They take on a new level of funk of which George Clinton would be proud.

Wool is another cotton-alternative that runners, like TRC’s own Kyle T., swear by (and at sometimes). Wool has similar advantages as technical fabrics and, when surveyed recently, 9 out of 10 sheep preferred it over cotton.  So there you have it…

Cotton has been around for a long time. A lot of runners simply prefer the feel of cotton over anything else. The main thing I dislike about cotton is that it gets heavy when wet. Also, it has a higher chafe factor.

Note: The methods described below are what I have been using for years and generally accepted for use on technical clothing. Be sure to check your tags first to make sure you are doing the right thing. I don’t want to be responsible for ruining your new ultra-breathable, eco-friendly shirt made from the fur of 1,000 Peruvian hamsters (sustainably harvested, no doubt).

Roll away your wrinkles

It occurred to me as I titled this post that you, dear reader, will now see banner ads wherever Internaut takes you, proclaiming Housewife in East Cupcake finds miracle trick to smooth her face! and Follow this one simple rule to avoid crows’ feet! and so forth. But I write not of laugh lines and the folds in one’s turkey neck, but of slacks and shirts: jamming them in your backpack and arriving wrinkle-free (well … wrinkle-light) at work.

In short: roll them. To begin, make a few folds, as shown in the photograph below. Keep your slacks/pants/khakis/trousers/dungarees/skirts (no jeggings) flat as can be; fold them in half lengthwise, along the crotch/crack axis, then in half horizontally, at the knees. Fold the sleeves back on your dress shirts. If you don’t know how to fold a shirt, follow these instructions through step five. Leave the collar folded up, as pictured below; however, you will want your shirt lying on its face. Smooth any small wrinkles or blips from your garments.

A few folds gets you ready to roll.