Missed the bus?
On a recent trip to London, I noticed a preponderance of runners wearing techie daypacks, hats, and sometimes fluorescent safety vests. I assumed that a massive urban adventure race was taking place.
I googled London-based running events. Nada. Also curious: these runners emerged from every direction, and weren’t wearing sponsor logos or numbers. (Perhaps they were training for the Human Race? London is, after all, one of the host cities.) I felt confused.
On my final day, the clouds of epiphany tossed me a lightning bolt. Of course. Commuter runners. I took a rush-hour walk along the Thames and counted eighteen of them!
It got me thinking that commuter running could really take off in Vancouver. Thanks to hellish construction efforts leading up the Olympics, and terrifying gas prices, more and more people I know are turning to their bicycles for transportation. But bikes involve costs, breakdowns, and protective headgear.
Given our city's small size (114 sq km), extensive sea wall, and our appreciable lack of highways, people could easily run to and from work. (Could be a really convenient way to train for the Human Race, in fact. Yesnomaybe?)
Really, the only forseeable issue is a possible lack of showering facilities at work. I wonder how that works over in London. You know what they say about British people only taking baths? Let’s hope it’s not true.
I googled London-based running events. Nada. Also curious: these runners emerged from every direction, and weren’t wearing sponsor logos or numbers. (Perhaps they were training for the Human Race? London is, after all, one of the host cities.) I felt confused.
On my final day, the clouds of epiphany tossed me a lightning bolt. Of course. Commuter runners. I took a rush-hour walk along the Thames and counted eighteen of them!
It got me thinking that commuter running could really take off in Vancouver. Thanks to hellish construction efforts leading up the Olympics, and terrifying gas prices, more and more people I know are turning to their bicycles for transportation. But bikes involve costs, breakdowns, and protective headgear.
Given our city's small size (114 sq km), extensive sea wall, and our appreciable lack of highways, people could easily run to and from work. (Could be a really convenient way to train for the Human Race, in fact. Yesnomaybe?)
Really, the only forseeable issue is a possible lack of showering facilities at work. I wonder how that works over in London. You know what they say about British people only taking baths? Let’s hope it’s not true.
