A month or so back after chatting with Lisa on twitter and learning she bikes for her work commute, I decided it would be cool if I ran home from work! So I immediately go to google maps to see just how many miles it is – 8. Perfect!
See my sister actually works in the same building as me just for a different company AND we live together! We can totally just ride into work together and when the end of the day comes I’ll hand over my purse and work clothes for her to take home!
I figured this would be an awesome way for me to get in one of my weekday lengthier runs aaannd then I forgot ALL about this idea! It’s either that OR I thought I had all the time in the world to make it more than an idea! 🙂 Until last Thursday I went for a short run around my office which I declared my scouting run. Yah, I learned I was totally wrong about there being sidewalks on the majority of the route because right by my office they’re kind of non-existent. Then I remembered Daylight Savings! When is that? Will that mess up my plan? If it does I’ll be so pissed AT myself! Oh good, it’s not until November 6th (if ya were wondering -now ya know!)
So anyways, last night was the night! And when I left my office I was the only person there so there would be no turning back. A run can be kind of different when if you don’t do it you won’t make it home. All day long I had the I’m running home from work – no big deal attitude – then when everyone was gone and it was time, I was nervous!
Had everything I needed - camelbak, Go Sport ID, my iphone and a house key
Nervous because one, I’d have to run under George Bush Tollroad and two, there are some sketch areas I’d be running through.
The run started off fine, I actually ran by my friend Kim as she was leaving a gas station! Then I found it hilarious when I was almost run into by another runner. She wasn’t paying attention until we were right up on each other. I was on the right side of the sidewalk – what else does one due to avoid being hit by another runner coming at you? I might have been a little freaked out when I ran by the dude with a tatt under each one of his eyes walking down the sidewalk towards me. I’ve decided the drivers who freak me out the most are the ones turning right that never actually look right and/or those turning who are looking at their phone so you’ll never know if they’ll see you in time.
I survived the sketch areas and believe it or not running under George Bush Tollroad really wasn’t bad at all. Throughout the entire 8 miles I hit most of the lights JUST at the right time! There were two instances where I did a loop around a building to hopefully come back to the light when it was green and that worked. Under George Bush I did one loop around all the pillars that hold it up and made it back just in time to make it across. Right after that I was coming up on a small area where I not only ran out of sidewalk I also ran out of ground to run on – bridge. Also, in case you are wondering why I am crazy to run through some sketchy areas, I felt it was fine because I was running during traffic times and at all times there would be cars on the road that could see me should someone try and kidnap me, steal my iphone, etc.
The two things I dislike about outdoor running are:
1. Having to stop because of lights as I really lose momentum and jogging in place does NOT do it for me!
2. Not knowing what kind of ground you’ll be running on if there’s a not sidewalk. I don’t have to have a sidewalk, but it kills my feet if I’m ever running on a patch of grass that has a side incline. Do you know what I mean? My left foot has had some slight pain underneath the big toe ever since I killed my feet in a pair of shoes in college and those side inclines just bring that pain back.
So at the end of the run was it much different than what I normally do when I got out running? No, not entirely, but I couldn’t exactly just stop and go home if hit a wall – I HAD to cover those 8 miles on my own. Less than 2 miles of my whole route was an actual part of other runs I’ll go out and do, but it was something different and I’m glad I tried. My dad and Bossman called me just as I was walking up to my front door to make sure I made it home ok. Everything considering, I felt good during the whole run even when I was running up the hills! Happy running!
This probably isn’t the most exciting post, but it’s something I’m glad I did and probably not something I’m going to do regularly. 🙂
Do you have some sort of out of the ordinary running goal for yourself that you’d like to accomplish and just haven’t done it yet? What is it? And how are you going to make sure you get it done?
Excellent job finding ways to fit in those weekday runs! Running when concerned about the environment can help with your speed 🙂
You is crazy.
And a BOSS.
Awesome job!
Thanks, Misty!! 🙂
Way to go! You’re commute is longer than I’d consider running 🙂
I have run to work precisely once — on bike to work day. (Hey, I figured I got the spirit of the day, if not the exact mode of transportation). My route is a little shorter than yours (just about 6 miles) and includes a paved bike trail for part. I would like to do it more often, but the logistics are tricky. Running home probably would be easier, logistics wise. I could try that (but it’s primarily up hill!). Running to/from the office seems like a better idea in the summer when it is light out.
That’s really cool that you have the convenience of your sister in the same building & can arrange to run home! I wish I had that! I’m only 6ish miles from work.