10 May 2024
The benefits of run commuting, a way to stay fit and turn the journey from home to work into useful exercise.
More and more people are staying fit by turning the run from home to work into a real sporting activity. It brings many benefits: better health, less stress, a lighter impact on the environment, and savings on transport or the gym — sometimes even on time.
The number of people who have made the commute into exercise keeps growing. More workers reach the office, or any other workplace, by running or cycling. Run commuting improves health, reduces stress, protects the environment and, above all, saves money. It also keeps you fit when a full day seems to leave no time at all.
The British lead this sport. Visitors to London often see the morning rush hour, when millions of commuters go to work and many of them are literally running. Hundreds of men and women, in sports clothes and with a backpack, run to work through the early-morning crowds of passers-by and tourists.
Which other cities run to work? A survey by Strava, the app that tracks activity from an iPhone, Android phone or GPS device, put London first as the “world capital” of running commuters, followed by Amsterdam and Paris. The rest of the top ten were New York, Sydney, San Francisco, Los Angeles, São Paulo, Barcelona and Melbourne.
In an interview a few years ago, Caroline Soubayroux, a 29-year-old manager at Santander, said she runs 10 miles (16 kilometres) every morning from her home in East Ham, north-east London, to the City. “While I run, I listen to podcasts of books and magazines,” she told The Times. “Running to work makes me feel better mentally. I know I have done at least one good thing that day.” She also pointed to the money saved, especially in cities such as London, where public transport is expensive.
Running, perhaps early in the morning, also gives you an extra gear mentally, which can help at work. Running builds habits that matter beyond sport: staying focused on the goal, accepting a challenge and leaving your comfort zone, not giving up when it gets hard, and trusting the work you put in, because a runner knows that effort shows up on the stopwatch.
How do you start? Comfortable clothes, well-cushioned road shoes, and the will to do it. Start gently, perhaps with a fast walk, and use public transport if the distance feels too far at first. Planning is everything: know how long the route takes, and your own limits, so you do not arrive late or exhausted. After all, what harm can a short run do before you walk into work?
