Don’t Bike to Work
Friday, May 2, 2008 at 9:46PM 
Run!
Biking to work is sooooo last year. If you're a triathlete and live within 10 miles of work, why aren't you running?
I just ran to work today instead of driving or biking and it was a revelation. The simplicity! The workout! Here's my pluses and minuses:
Biking -
- Faster.
- Easier.
- Saves gas.
- Risk of a breakdown.
- All kinds of equipment to carry (helmet, lock, pump, clothing layers, etc.)
Running -
- Slower (This is better. More time in the aerobic zone.)
- Harder (Again, better.)
- Saves gas.
- Zero chance of breakdown.
- You can only bring what you carry. The simplicity was a real treat!
I drove and brought a change of clothes and showering stuff to work on Thursday. I worked all day and then threw on my running clothes and jogged home, leaving my car at work. I ran the 6.2 miles in 1:05. If I had driven, it would have taken me 20. All I had on me was the door key to my car. I got home and had no cell phone, no car, my workout out of the way, all my clothes for tomorrow already at work, and an incredible sensation of a huge weight lifted off my shoulders. I can't say enough about how awesome that felt.
I woke up the next morning, threw on my jogging clothes, and got to work in 1:03. Used my single key to get my stuff out of my car and then hit the showers. I was at my desk and ready to rock the punch clock by quarter til 8.
You'll notice that I ran home one day, then ran to work the next. This was a cool trick I read about once. This way, you have a car at work if you need it and you've broken up the run over two days.
Through all of this, I realized that biking to work can be a little complicated with all the equipment and risk of a breakdown. Because you can carry some stuff, you carry a lot. When you run, you can barely carry anything. You leave a lot of junk behind that you really didn't need.
And that's OK. Your shoes aren't going to break down. A car probably won't hit you. If you need help, every single car passing by has a cell phone. With a little bit of planning the day ahead of time, you're clothes are waiting there for you and that's all you need.
Let's be serious folks. You're triathletes. That means there are two facts about you:
- You are already running like crazy and always looking for ways to get in some decent workouts. Replace driving/biking to work with running. Done.
- You enjoy the extremeness of the sport. I hate to tell you this, but biking to work? Anybody can do that. My wife's grandmother told us she used to ride a HORSE to school 80 years ago. Biking? Not impressed. If you really want to stun that coworker that's grown numb to your constant claims of awesomeness, try dropping this bomb on them -
Susie - "I didn't see your car/bike/fat-inducing-SUV in the parking lot. You bike to work again?"
You - "Naw. Ran."
Susie - "WTF!? You RAN here? OMG, that's crazy!"
You (wave of the hand) - "Eh, it was nothing. I run that far all the time anyway. Just thought I'd do it to work instead of around the 'hood."
Susie - (Secretly to self) "What a real man! Much more manly than Bob. I wonder if he's married? Oh, he's so sexy!"
And that's exactly the truth as I remember it.
Reader Comments (15)
Well, they won't think you are sexy. They will think you are a freak. Which you are. And it is better that way anyway as you are married with a kid.
You sir, are a FREAK of nature!
i love the idea, but what do you suggest if you don't have a shower at work.
@ Moonpie - Sir, and you are the nature of a freak!
@ George - I technically don't have one at work either. I asked around and a building across the street has one and lets me use it. Worst case, find a secluded spot and wet down with a gallon jug of water. Soap up, rinse off with another gallon jug of water. You'd need to fill these up the previous day and stash them at work.
That is really great! LOL on teh convo with the co-worker!
Just came in from a late night run and was listening to your latest work of Zen and had to drop and do 30 pushups.
Keep up the good work
Dude, it's it's running, not jogging. ;O)
I've actually considered doing the same thing. And since we both live in the same area, you know how scary it is riding a bike around here. I don't have a shower, but do have a restroom that's a single-staller. So it's like my own personal shower, but without the shower. I'll just leave a wash cloth, a small towel, and some shower stuff in my office and then basically wash down with water out of the sink.
Oh, and congrats on your finish yesterday.
When are you going to swim to work?
That is an awesome idea. I need to find a job closer to home. 25 miles one way is a long run.
Yeah, that's a great idea Bret. I remember the 1st time I did that in Massachusettes back in 1982. I had this huge backpack and tried running 13 miles to work. (Used to work at DEC...anyone remember THAT company?) Anyway, made it about two miles and finally put my thumb and badge out and caught a ride in. The backpack was sooooo heavy that it totally threw off my balance and I found I was swinging back and forth instead of just moving forward. Needless to say I didn't try that again. In regards to showers, we didn't have those back then, so after my afternoon run at DEC, I had to use a water faucet outside and just splash water up on my chest and head. For some reason I got a lot of funny looks, but I didn't care, I was just caught up in the running boon in Mass like everyone else.
TriMoot....Out!
i gotta try that next week...I got a pure 10k to work
I've done it twice now and WOW I'm already getting much faster. Here's my times so far -
1:05
1:03
1:03
1:01
And I'm trying less every time, to. I've got it worked out! I belong to a gym that's a 10 minute walk from work, so I go there to shower before work.
Manly and Sexy... HA a freak for sure… maybe an inspiring one but a freak never the less! Thanks for the inspiration! I will stick w/ the bike for awhile longer!
Sounds a cool idea, works 15 miles away for me - but no way I can do 30 miles a day running, and no way to leave a car here - would get nicked or burnt.
Guess I need to look at stashing the car 10-20k away and running twice a day - looses the simplicity, but you still get to run lots.....
Mark, Can you run to work and then get a ride home?