It seems that, inconveniently, not all events start a few minutes walk away from where I live! As someone who has always started my warm up from my doorstep, I'm after some guidance on starting runs further afield.
Do you just get in the car and drive home after your cooldown or is it advisable to take a change of clothes and a towel?
I've also thought about travelling by bus. Whilst that might be OK for getting to the start, it probably wouldn't be very good after a run. I figure the better option would be to either take the bus out and run home or to drive to my destination and then take a bus to my start point (I'm thinking more about training runs here rather than organised events).
Unfortunately, Mrs Monday isn't a very confident driver so she's not able to help
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SkiMonday
Ultramarathon
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If I'm starting from a car park I always take a dry change of clothes for top half at least, a warm over layer (regardless of weather as if you've gotten cold you really need to warm up) more water, a towel and a tasty snack and leave these in the boot. It can feel pretty hideous driving home all sticky and yukky. Depends on the journey length too of course!
For warm up/down I just start by walking and end my runs early and walk the last 5 to 10 mins back to the car maybe doing some stretches too. I made the mistake once of just jumping in and driving home after a 9 mile fast run and have never done it since 🤣🤣🤣 legs started to seize in about 10 mins, I had to stand up during dinner, I couldn't decide which was worse, standing or sitting. Can laugh now but was very uncomfortable!
I've considered getting the train out and running back but so far just do bigger and bigger loops from home if I don't want to use the car.
When I started c25k I always drove to somewhere flat and had the warm up/down walks before driving again. On longer runs I’d really now consider stretching and adding a layer of clothing before getting back in the car. Personally I’d avoid public transport while in running kit to avoid distress from fellow passengers who may possibly immediately think of me as an added covid risk. Happy running 🤗
Yeah I have to drive to many locations too. Usually only around 20-30 min, but occasionally 1hr drives. I’ll usually bring a shirt change and maybe a small towel. In the winter I’ll bring a warming jacket or coat too, as it gets cooler quickly once you stop running. Sometimes a flask of coffee for after the run, if I remember.
I hate driving so I have always gone by public transport. My joggers have a pocket so I keep my phone, key and travel pass on me with 10€ slipped into my travel pass just in case.
Most places here have a check-in, so I have gone dressed for running with tracksuit bottoms and a hoodie over the top, which I check in before the event and then slip back on afterwards. If you do this, beware queuing time! It can be long for big events.
I've only done a few events, but each one has required me to go the day before to get my number and this allowed me to work out the time from the train station to the start (would also work for the car park). There have
I've been lucky and never ran in an event with torrential rain, but I have taken a thin rain jacket tied around my waist when the forecast was dodgy.
I hate driving too 😁. I find it a hindrance and can get to places locally on foot easier and quicker I don’t take it shopping either. I’d rather run shop. I buy much less that way 🙂
Another useful training practice for long runs I find is to position the car so that you have to run past it to finish the last of the run, my first 26.2 it was at mile 20. It means you get to practice that mental battle of "how much do I want this" 🤣👍🏻
If driving, 2x pairs of shoes. I'll drive in any footwear but after a really muddy run you wouldn't want to have or cause an accident if your foot slipped off a pedal!
I think it depends on the weather and distance from home. I’ve done a few races away and have taken a change of top with me. My very first race was miles away and I had to take off my top and bra in the car as I was soaked (hubby was driving!) Funnily enough my bottoms weren’t too bad and I couldn’t be bothered taking off shoes, etc
I take a towel with me on every run where I drive to the route. It’s always handy.
I did a filthy trail race and got saturated, wet and muddy all over. My husband’s car though 😁. I put some cardboard under my feet and sat on a towel. There were no facilities to change so it was drive home as is
I rarely drive to the start of runs these days When I did, I took a big towel to cover my car seat, change of shoes and maybe a drink A fleece or warm top just in case
I am thinking i might like to catch the bus to somewhere nice and run home using footpaths/trails 🙂🏃♀️
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