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Run commute to train
Catalin Bond
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I live in Brighton and work in London. Though the winter I've been running from work to the train station one or two days a week, and it hasn't been that bad as I didn't get too hot and sweaty and I could put a fleecy top on straight away so hopefully wasn't too smelly! Anyway I;m concerned as it gets towards summer that I'll be sweating more and too hot to put on a thick top. I know I wouldn't much want to sit next to a sweaty runnner on the train! Does anyone else run, commute to public transport? and how do you get round this problem? My thoughts so far are (1) get to the station early so I can cool down on the station and change my top before getting on the train (2) save my runs for the other end and run round Brighton (3) jog slowly so I don't get so warm! or (3) sod the other commuters! (can't say I'm likely to go with this option)
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Comments
If you have showers or changing facilities at work, why not get off the train a stop or two before you get into London, and run to the office?...... This is what I do, or I save my run for my journey home, and get off the train 3-4 stops early and run home....
Depending on how shy you are, it probably wouldn't take much to change your top in a few seconds on the platform...plenty of women run in tops smaller than my sports bra!
i cycle to work every day and have done for the past however many years. On the odd ocaision I have run to work. I'm not really able to shower at work so I'm sweat covered all shift. I do ask my colleagues if I stink and they say not. I do however put clean clothes on and have a squadie shower.
Lush do some good products, one is called 'Dirty' the other is a charcoal powerd. Charcoal is very good at absorbing unwanted smells. You can buy travel size deordorants. I use these. I also use a lot of body lotion with a fairly neutral smell so that I don't wind up smelling of cat wee.
Some people eat on trains, others wear over powerring amounts of perfume or aftershave. Someone will be upset just by you being on the train no matter what you do.
Agree - option 3.
Dirty
Guv'nr
Horses sweat, men pespire and women simply shine!
You won't smell, your deodrant/perfume/body lotion kicks in when your body temperature rises and that's what they'll smell not B.O. Don't worry about it, sod the other commuters, there's always far worse smells from the general public.
If you carry a backpack with you stick a pack of baby wipes in it and a travel sized deodrant can.
Nip into a toilet and have a quick wipe down and spray some deodrant.
If it works for soldiers, it'll work for you.
I wouldn't be too bothered, I can guarantee worse smelling guys are on the train.
Need a mantra - if running to the train in the summer LEAVE ON TIME!
Catalin
I know exactly how you feel..... I had a very similar experience last week as I had planned to run home from the office (17 miles), but didn't manage to get out of the door as early as I had planned, so about 9 miles into the run I made the decision to stop at the next train station and get the train home....
I don't think the bloke I then sat next too whilst dripping in sweat was all that appreciative..
Hey ho,
YP
How about walking to the train, then getting off a stop early and running from there to home?
Although, yes, there are people who smell on the trains (although I don't come across them very often), I would really not like to sit jammed next to someone who was very sweaty, whether they smelled or not!
Personally, last night I opted not to sit next to anyone. I did feel bad standing in a crowded but at first. But the train emptied at the next stop so I stretched til I could get 2 seats to myself.
I do it. I even think its such a good mehtod of training that I've come up with a website on it: http://www.runningtowork.co.uk
Yeah, getting off the train a few stops early doesn't really work for the London to Brighton line (though getting off at Preston Park and doing an extended detour is a good option sometimes).
I do the same London-Brighton commute and run to the London station about once a week, it's a great way of fitting runs in during the week. To be honest (and probably a bit selfish!), the commute is horrible anyway sometimes (especiailly if you have the pleasure of being a First Crapital Connect customer) so one or two sweaty runners are not going to make it drastically different ... but I do carry wet wipes with me and extra clothes to put over my kit. The toilets at the London stations and on the train are usually fine for getting changed in, though I've had more than my share of funny looks when stretching post-run on the platform!