running with a backpack

If it's only clothes that you need to carry, why not bring in several changes of clothes to leave at work at the beginning of the week? Then you can run sans backpack the other days.

try getting a little camel bak these are nice, you can get some that fit very securely and don't move much at all once you have em on, and they're fairly light as well so they're comfy. i have a little one that i use sometimes and it's not very annoying once you get used to the water splashing noise

I second the Camelbak. I run to work every now and then with the Camelbak "cloud walker" model. I don't overload the water - only 3.5 miles to work, extra weight.

Roll your clothes and pack tight - less wrinkles. I wear NB trail shoes on run2work days with black NB socks. We dress casual and the shoes/socks fit in(less to carry). I roll a shirt, dockers, underwear, and small towel. Stuff a plastic bag (RW race goodie bag works) for the wet stuff - it'll also keep the smell down. I put cellphone in ziplock, and wallet/keys in front pocket. Comb, belt, deodorant, and baby wipes are kept in a shaving kit at my desk. Happy trails.

I run with a pack sometimes. Same thing, as part of a commute. I run from work to the next town over, carry a dry shirt, wallet, belt, water, keys, cell phone, and then I take the train from that next town over to my place in a city. I think it works pretty well - I can run for about an hour or 70 minutes, and it really only cost me about 45 minutes due to the time I save on the commute.

I have a running pack, it's small like a camelback but has another outer zipper chamber and little side pockets too. I like it a lot - this is my second one of the same model (first one bit it due to salt, rusting...)

The brand is Quetchua, model Raid 10, but it's a French brand - I've never seen anything the same in the States.

Ditto leaving clothes at work (local gym, office gym, or put a little armoire in your office, or even move some files)

OR

simply drop a set of (dirty) clothes at your local dry cleaner and, at the end of your run on the way to the office, retrieve a set ("Yah, hey Jerry, gimme one white shirt and a pair of khakis, please"), dropping same with your launderer on the way home.

OR

Use the backpack...

Nothing really new here - but I keep all my suits, shirts, ties, etc at the office. I have a gym membership nearby. I get up, put my running clothes on, do my run, end at the gym. I stretch, shower, shave at the gym. I put on light wind pants and a clean tshirt to walk over to the office. Then I change into my suit in the office.

I wear a knapsack on my run - holds my lunch, wallet, keys, phone, change of clothes (above), work I brought home, etc. It is a waterproof number by arcteryx - not too big and fitted.

Sucks in the summer bc it is too hot - but one gets used to the whole deal pretty quickly. It is beats missing your run and although I think it would screw up quality track training, i think it is a good strength builder for the roads.

I leave a full week's worth of clothes at work and then run to work without a backpack. Sometimes I don't have enough clothes at work so then I'll use a small LL bean hydration backpack with the water sleeve taken out. It looks basically the same as a camelback I think. If all you've got in there is light clothes you won't notice it much if you're running easy. It's a great way to get to work in the morning.

I got sick of riding the smelly metro bus back and forth from work, and having no time for family friends b/c of my running schedule, so yesterday I finally gave in and got a small "adventure racing" backpack at the local REI.

Today was the first day I ran to work with it (~3.5 miles, w/ an elevation loss (from the U-district to down town Seattle.)) Overall, it was not bad. My shirt rode up a couple of times in the back, but the pack was pretty comfortable once I got it adjusted. All I had in there was a skirt and sweater rolled up and keys, credit card, phone in one of the side pockets. The best thing about this pack seems to be that you can adjust these little straps on the sides to compress the pack around your cloths (since you probably won't be loading the thing to capacity for your daily commute.) I guess the real test will be how I feel after the run home - up a few hills w/the pack. Good luck, and don't worry about how you look....I saw the bus that I normally catch pass me by towards the end of my run and I felt absolutely giddy about not having to deal with the daily weirdos - it was totally worth it.

That pack actually looks too bulky for runners. You should get a runner's pack at a running store, which will be lighter.

Ghost

employed wrote:

I can't believe I'm asking this- but does anyone here run with a backpack? Between commuting and work, I'm gone about 10-11 hours per day which doesn't allow much running time. So I'm considering running with my work gear in a backpack for a portion of my commute. I see other guys doing it but it looks so bloody awkward - but I do see the odd good runner doing it. Anyone have any thoughts on this?

I run with a pack most days. You soon get used to it.

ghost wrote:

That pack actually looks too bulky for runners.

Ghost

It's actually not bad. The photo makes it look bulkier than it is in person....probably because the photo shows the pack stuffed to capacity. It's only a 17 L bag, and the whole thing weighs 15 oz. Also, the little straps on the side allow you to compress the pack around the load so there's no bouncing. I'm 5'7 and it's a great size for me -

never felt overloaded when running with it (although, grated, I've only run twice in it so far.) The other nice thing about the Raid Revo 20 is that it's built as a hydration pack, but you can buy the bag without the water bladder system. Since my commute is only 3.5 miles each way, I would never cary the water and it's nice not to have to pay for an unneccessary feature.

I've seen another running-specific bag on the Asics website that looks like it might be good, but they don't give weight/volume specs.

Anyway, good luck to the OP chosing a bag!

I started running to work in the morning a few months because of schedule changes and the conversion of our parking lot to a hotel. I use a backpack, but I don't have to worry about a suit, etc. I usually slip a pair of sandals in there for the bus ride home, and leave a pair of shoes at work to cut down on weight. My girlfriend gave me this pack for Christmas - it's a little pricey, but works really well for me.

I wear a patagonia pack too...

MAKE SURE YOU GET ONE that is made for running so it doesn't screw with your stride, etc.

That Houdini one is great if you dont need to commute with shoes.

Leave a brown and black pair at work, so no matter what you wear, you are set.

I do need to dress up significantly, so I usually wrap it in a plastic bag before putting into the backpack.

This usually keeps from wrinkling, for some reason...

OP, are you in DC?

I did this for a number of years (in Toronto, Santa Barbara, and Las Vegas). It looks more awkward than it is. Even did this through a snowstorm that shut down Toronto one April day over 30 years ago. If I had taken my car or the bus, it would have taken 3.5 hours to get home. As it was, it took me less than 30 minutes.

Josh wrote:

- I can run for about an hour or 70 minutes, and it really only cost me about 45 minutes due to the time I save on the commute.

.

If you're like me, it costs you even less as when I run from home I screw around so much it takes me 45 min to get out the door after getting home. You know, check email. Post some useless shit on letsrun, etc.