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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to consider this commute feasible (it’s a run to work one)?

122 replies

Mysteriousgirl2 · 25/08/2023 21:27

Wondering if anyone else is a run commuter out there.

My (new job) commute is 5-6 miles, rural and no street lighting. I need to be at work for 7:30 and will be leaving at roughly 4.

The roads are a mixture of A and B roads. The A roads are fast but there is mostly a pavement. The B roads are twisty and slow but I’m confident I can pop into the hedge if a car comes (I’m used to this kind of running and not too concerned).

Cycling in would not work for various reasons. There’s no option of part run commute as there are no buses/ trains anywhere near and I’ll need my car once I get home for the nursery/ school run (in opposite direction to my work).

Im keen to increase my daily exercise. Exercising in the morning and evening is tricky as I have 3 very small children.

Has anyone done this or should I stick to home workouts in the dry and then safely drive in to work?

Haven’t really sussed out the showering situation etc yet but there’s bound to be staff showers (secondary comprehensive school).

OP posts:
CharlotteBog · 25/08/2023 22:35

I would never run on rural roads without a pavement in the dark.

May I ask why?

I do this all the time. I have to if I want to run in winter. See my previous post for how I do it.

I love it.

Original poster
Mysteriousgirl2 · 25/08/2023 22:36

Augend23 · 25/08/2023 22:30

It doesn't have to be all or nothing, does it?

Could you drive to work one day, run home that day, run in the next day and then drive home?

Even if you did just that over a week that's 20km more than you would have fitted in otherwise. Also avoids the problem of not being able to transport things!

I probably wouldn't want to do it in dreadful weather either.

No I can’t do this because once I reach home I need to then do the nursery and school run in my car.

It’s 8 miles in the opposite direction. The roads are even more dangerous on that route, so there’s no other option of transporting 3 kids back home.

OP posts:
CharlotteBog · 25/08/2023 22:37

How can the road be suitable for running and not cycling?

It can be far easier to take action on foot eg pull aside, jump on a verge.

You can run on the side of the road where traffic can most easily see you.

You are going more slowly which gives you more reaction time.

Original poster
Mysteriousgirl2 · 25/08/2023 22:39

@CharlotteBog I also feel safer running in the dark with a head torch. Cars dip their lights ages away and slow right down for me usually.

It’s the autumnal low sun which I find the worst and very foggy mornings. Those times feel more dangerous than pitch dark to be honest.

OP posts:
CharlotteBog · 25/08/2023 22:40

Road running on twisty B roads in the dark is suicidal

It's really not. Not if you are sensible.

Head torches are very bright these days.

thenightsky · 25/08/2023 22:40

Woush · 25/08/2023 21:43

need to be at work for 7:30 and will be leaving at roughly 4

3.5 hours for 10k. Is 10k really taking you that long? 15-20 mins per km is walking speed. You'd be walking to work. Then not getting home until 8pm

I'm not fast but when running 10k daily I was running 1h10-1h30 for a 10k. If it's taking you 3h plus, I'd suggest you're not (yet) fit enough to run-commute.

I assumed 4am was a typo. 3 hours to run 10k cannot be correct.

WhatapityWapiti · 25/08/2023 22:42

thenightsky · 25/08/2023 22:40

I assumed 4am was a typo. 3 hours to run 10k cannot be correct.

Show quote history

It doesn’t say 4am. It says 4.

Canonlythinkofthisone · 25/08/2023 22:44

Woush · 25/08/2023 21:43

need to be at work for 7:30 and will be leaving at roughly 4

3.5 hours for 10k. Is 10k really taking you that long? 15-20 mins per km is walking speed. You'd be walking to work. Then not getting home until 8pm

I'm not fast but when running 10k daily I was running 1h10-1h30 for a 10k. If it's taking you 3h plus, I'd suggest you're not (yet) fit enough to run-commute.

4pm I assume is the time OP will finish work

Potnoodlie · 25/08/2023 22:46

I used to commute most days, but only one way usually. Sometimes I would extend it to longer than it needed to be. The main issue is logistics of carrying things - do you need a laptop? It’s not great for the laptop if you jiggle them too much. I used to leave mine in a locker overnight.

Would there be an alternative method of transport if you couldn’t run home?

Canisaysomething · 25/08/2023 22:53

It sounds awful. I love exercise but running with commuter traffic on A and B roads sounds really grim. In a city along pedestrian routes or cross country on bridleways would be fine. But not along the side of a road during rush hour in winter.

Jev82 · 25/08/2023 22:56

I have only just realised you mean 4pm. Wondered what kind of running you could possibly be doing!

SausageAndEggSandwich · 25/08/2023 23:00

CharlotteBog · 25/08/2023 22:35

I would never run on rural roads without a pavement in the dark.

May I ask why?

I do this all the time. I have to if I want to run in winter. See my previous post for how I do it.

I love it.

It just feels unsafe to me and I would feel on edge until I got to a pavement.

There's a route I used to run (I've since moved) which involved maybe a half mile stretch on a b road without a pavement - didn't enjoy it particularly, the straight bits were ok but corners freaked me out

I don't live rurally so I'm probably just unused to it, but it seems a lot more risky to me than e.g. running in woods in the dark which I do happily.

ArseInTheCoOpWindow · 25/08/2023 23:02

In the 26 years l was a secondary teacher l did enough running round the massive school l worked in.

I was bloody knackered at the end of the day having walked zillions of steps all day.

nevynevster · 25/08/2023 23:07

I run 10k once a week on the way in. I really enjoy it and feel good when I arrive. I absolutely would not feel like doing it on the way home.
I think it's pretty ambitious to think about doing that every day and I run 4 x week !
So sure it's doable but not all the time

HungryandIknowit · 25/08/2023 23:11

Apart from the distance (which I have no idea about but seems a lot for one day) I would be concerned about the B roads, even in summer. Cars near me drive along those very fast, and may come round a blind corner quickly as well. Sounds unsafe and not very relaxing.

Letitgonowgr · 25/08/2023 23:17

Wow, to even think about it makes you pretty amazing and with 3 kids… jeeeze!!

BCCoach · 25/08/2023 23:23

Is running beside the roads the only option? Have you investigated the footpath and bridleway network to see if there is a safer (and more fun) way of getting there that doesn’t involve roads?

Shopgirl1 · 25/08/2023 23:25

This is a recipe for an injury. I’m a seasoned, regular runner. No way would I run 10km in the morning, 10km in the evening, 5 days in a row…even without carrying a bag or anything else. There is no time for your body to recover during the week, you will either burn out or get injured from it in a few weeks.

KnickerlessParsons · 25/08/2023 23:27

3.5 hours for 10k. Is 10k really taking you that long? 15-20 mins per km is walking speed. You'd be walking to work. Then not getting home until 8pm

15-20 mins per mile is walking speed.

SunWorshipping · 25/08/2023 23:28

I used to do it when I was doing a PhD, I'd run to the train station and again on the way home, it was about 6.5miles. I was marathon training so varied the distance/route too. I had a gym membership at uni so could shower once I was there, thankfully the train wasn't packed so I wasn't a sweaty mess sat right next to someone. I couldn't do it now, I just wouldn't have the time, I have 3 young kids and I wfh anyway. If it's the exercise you are after a run at lunch time would probably work better, if you have somewhere to shower and can do this quickly, you could get a 40min run in, steady pace is about 5miles, I'd prefer that to the faff and exhaustion of a running commute.

MrsSkylerWhite · 25/08/2023 23:29

sorry, this is going to sound rude and snotty but it’s an honest enquiry. I’m a walker. I walk 9.7 miles in just under 3 hours. (it took me up to 30 minutes less when I was younger). Why is it taking you so long to run that distance?

SunWorshipping · 25/08/2023 23:35

MrsSkylerWhite · 25/08/2023 23:29

sorry, this is going to sound rude and snotty but it’s an honest enquiry. I’m a walker. I walk 9.7 miles in just under 3 hours. (it took me up to 30 minutes less when I was younger). Why is it taking you so long to run that distance?

She meant she would set out to return home from work at 4pm in the afternoon. You could run a marathon in 3.5 hours 😆

CharlotteBog · 25/08/2023 23:35

Mysteriousgirl2 · 25/08/2023 22:39

@CharlotteBog I also feel safer running in the dark with a head torch. Cars dip their lights ages away and slow right down for me usually.

It’s the autumnal low sun which I find the worst and very foggy mornings. Those times feel more dangerous than pitch dark to be honest.

I agree entirely. It's very hard to know you have been seen if drivers are heading towards a low sun, and I don't road run in the fog as I know I can't be seen at all.

CharlotteBog · 25/08/2023 23:37

HungryandIknowit · 25/08/2023 23:11

Apart from the distance (which I have no idea about but seems a lot for one day) I would be concerned about the B roads, even in summer. Cars near me drive along those very fast, and may come round a blind corner quickly as well. Sounds unsafe and not very relaxing.

I agree. While I have said I am very happy and feel safe running on such roads, I do avoid them at commute time.

MrsSkylerWhite · 25/08/2023 23:40

Sunworshipping

she meant she would set out to return home from work at 4pm in the afternoon. You could run a marathon in 3.5 hours 😆”

probably, I walked the Moonwalk in 6.2.