3 min readThe #RWRunStreak is back for summer! Join us in running at least one mile per day, every day from Monday, May 3o to Monday, July 4—that’s 36 consecutive days of running. If you missed a day or need to start late, don’t sweat it. Get back out there as soon as you can. Two days of running in a row is already a streak!
The second half of the Run Streak is when most of us start to crave a rest day or feel a slump in motivation. It’s also the time that I dip into what has been a streak-saving secret: run commuting. After all, running was transport way before it was sport, and the idea of bookending your work day with runs to and from the office isn’t a new one—especially during the summer Streak when we’ve got more daylight and try to avoid the hottest hours of the day. (Even if you work from home, you can still jog a “fake” commute like ultrarunner Mike Wardian does each morning when he’s trying to get in extra mileage.)
Personally, the majority of my run commuting isn’t from home to office and back again. Rather, it’s for heading to other destinations that I would have otherwise hopped in a car. I can’t help but mention that at a time when gas prices have soared over five bucks per gallon. It may not save you a significant amount at the tank, but I feel like it counts double when the mileage that would have been going on your car is going in your training log instead.
If you’re dragging a bit and want something new in your Streak, or just need to squeeze in a quick mile alongside a task you’ve already got on your schedule, I’ve got a few suggestions. I’ve done them all myself, and each has either added a little convenience or excitement to my Streak. My challenge to you is to try one of these during the final days of yours:
- Run to a local coffee shop for your morning coffee.
- Jog to meet a friend you haven’t seen in a while.
- Get an errand out of the way. (I run to get my groceries and count carrying them home as my weight training.)
- Experiment with a run commute to work
- End a hot run with ice cream for the walk home.
- Save the delivery fee on something small you’ve Uber Eats’d (These apps offer more than just food orders now.)
- Pick up birthday or holiday cards for friends and family.
Tips for Your Run Commute
- If you have a watch that offers built-in payment methods, get it set up before you head out so you can leave your wallet at home.
- Remember that you don’t have to run the whole way. Maybe you’ll ask a friend for a lift home, carpool with a coworker, or use public transport for a portion of your trip.
- For longer commutes, use a park-and-ride or public lot at a reasonably close distance to your destination and run in from there.
- Plan your route ahead of time. Use turn-by-turn GPS navigation on your phone’s app or watch as back up.
- If you’re commuting during busy hours, incorporate parks into your route to avoid busier roads and sidewalks.
- Use hear-through mode on your headphones, or just leave them at home.
- Seal your cash or cards in a Ziplock baggy to keep them from getting sweaty.
- Short, easy jogs during cooler hours won’t leave you stinky or drenched.
- Always give yourself about 10 more minutes than you think you’ll need.
Morgan is a gear editor who has been with Runner’s World since 2017. She started as an intern ghostwriting The Warmup, a bygone version of the daily RW newsletter. Now, she tests and reviews anything you might find on runners’ feet-from crew socks and compression boots to carbon-plated super shoes.
A lifelong runner and shoe geek, Morgan has been chasing the perfect pair of kicks since she joined her grade school cross-country team. Since then, she ran as a Division I walk-on for the cross-country and track & field teams at the University of Delaware, where she studied English and Biology. She has one full marathon under her belt, and has raced more halfs and 5Ks than she can count.
