How do you run during your lunch break?

I don't understand the problem.

1) How strictly is the hour enforced? I mean if you are gone 15 minutes and either come in 15 early or stay 15 late, will work be okay with it?

2) Change into running clothes (5 min tops), run, shower (5 min), dress. eat lunch at desk (assuming that is okay). leaves 45 minutes.

Um, figure out how much time you need to change, get outside, get back inside, shower, change, and then get back to your desk. Subtract this time from one hour...run about that amount.

I guess you still need to eat. Pack a lunch and eat at your desk after the run.

If this is too antisocial, then just run after work or only run over lunch hour a couple of times a week.

Put on your running clothes and run for less than an hour

I run at lunch four days a week as a second workout because it's the only way I can get enough miles in with my family/work schedule.

Suggestions:

1) Eat lunch at your desk after your "lunch" hour. I'm assuming this is OK. If not, it's going to be difficult unless you can live off energy bars.

2) Wear your running clothes - shorts, shirt, even socks - under your work clothes. Every minute counts. Don't waste time changing when it's valuable time you could be running. Tear off your work clothes like Superman, throw on your shoes, and you're good to go.

3) Negotiate for extra time when possible. Maybe you can't do this because you're new. But if you can get in 15-30 minutes early and stay a little late, perhaps you can finagle a little extra time. I do this when I meet up with a friend for a long tempo session.

Get your pre-run dump in before the "lunch hour". There's a few minutes right there...

wut wrote:

this

Put on your running clothes and run for less than an hour

I do it on occasion. Some tips:

1. Do the pre-run bathroom activity before the lunch hour.

2. Learn to change quickly.

3. Eat and work after run - aka "working lunch"

Make your lunch time runs fast. This part actually helps me maintain a strong pace for lunch time runs.

Try not to become the oddball who never eats lunch with his colleagues. Run three times a week at maximum. And don't talk about running unless someone asks you directly.

It is difficult to comprehend the difficulty here.

60 minutes minus x plus y.

Sounds like a good opportunity to do doubles since you can't run more than a few miles at lunch. I encourage you to plan to run only 3 miles or so the first time to make sure you have enough time to get showered and changed.

I run 2-3 times per week at lunch. Am lucky I guess that I can be a bit flexible, taking 1:15 or even 1:30 at lunch is usually OK as long as I make up time before or after work.

I generally run 40-45 minutes. I generally run pretty quick on my lunch runs - getting in +/- 6 miles most days. Sometimes do short track intervals. It's a 3-4 minute walk from my office to the building with the shower/changing room. Wearing running gear under work clothes, as others stated saves a few minutes. Takes some planning to make sure you have all your gear ready to go. For instance: I just realized I forgot socks today! Trying to decide if I can run in my work socks...

As the weather gets warmer, a big time factor for me is the time it takes to cool down and stop sweating after the run. Even after my shower, if there is any humidity I am often dripping in sweat after the walk back to my building. Any tips on speeding that process up?

Mr. Hankey the Christmas Poo wrote:

Get your pre-run dump in before the "lunch hour". There's a few minutes right there...

gettin paid to take a dump ... good stuff right there.

Try to eat periodic snacks during work, reducing the amount you have to consume during lunch, hence increasing the time you can run and decreasing the time you have to save to eat.

Buy a pair of black running shoes and wear them to work (not many people pay attention to shoes, as long as they don't stand out; get pants that are longer by an inch or so to be even more sneaky). You can save a lot of time by not having to change shoes and tie/untie, etc. Change into work shoes after the run.

Try rinsing off rather than scrubbing every crease, and make sure you use deodorant after you get out, but use a scented shampoo to cover any residual sweat smell.

Take as cold and long of a shower as possible.

I also keep a small fan on my desk to help cool me off. After 15 or 20 minutes I often start to get a 'chill' and turn it off. This is AFTER showering / changing / sweating through work clothes of course.

You can run in work socks. I've done it many of times. Luckily, my gym has small lockers you can rent and I keep extra running clothes there for those days I forget an item.

Even after my shower, if there is any humidity I am often dripping in sweat after the walk back to my building. Any tips on speeding that process up?

This. I run 3-4x a week during my lunch hour as doubles and sweat a lot. You have to build an extra 10min into your schedule for cooldown BEFORE you shower. If you shower immediately you'll keep sweating after. Let the sweat evaporate and then shower once you feel cool.

The worst part for me is the walk from the front door to the locker room after a run.

Consider yourself lucky to have showers at your job. I used to drive to the gym and start my runs from there. I could never get in more than 5 miles, but it was enough for a 2nd run for the day.

Bring your clothes inside in your duffle bag to start the day. If you can, change clothes on work time rather than "lunch time". Pack your clothes the night before, for some reason I always forgot socks or towel. I suggest leaving an extra change of running clothes/towel at work in case you do forget.

Map out a course and you'll probably have to run the same route every day. If you have exactly 1 hour and its a strict time limit you can't deal with a lot of variables. So, if there is a street with heavy traffic that can get you stuck choose a different route.

Eat lunch afterwards at your desk while you answer questions as to why you are sweating so badly.

I work from home now, running has become so much easier.

stay low wrote:

Try not to become the oddball who never eats lunch with his colleagues. Run three times a week at maximum. And don't talk about running unless someone asks you directly.

I disagree with the first one. Don't set a precedent of going to lunch with people. It might be hard at the beginning but once you establish it as the way you work, nobody will question it.

I agree with the second one. never talk about running at work. in some professions, it is bad to have a life outside of work.

I also tend to go as early as like before 11:30 if you can get out. people are more likely to notice you coming back late. they forget what time you leave.

I've done it for 25+ years.

First, I come into work an hour early - by 7am when most of the office gets in at 8. Then, at 11 or so I take off to the fitness center, and am out running by 11:15. Back at noon, showered and back at my desk by 12:30. Eat at my desk.

So, I take 90 mins in the middle of the day, but come in an hour early to make up for it. Works with my job.