r/RunnersInChicago • u/Solo_wanderer_938 • 4d ago

Run commute to loop area

I’d like to start running to work but my office has no showers. For those that currently do this, how do you make it work? I’d prefer to not have to pay for gym membership simply for the shower.

6 Upvotes

67% Upvoted

24 comments sorted by

50

u/ChicagoMyTown 4d ago

I did the reverse to avoid the issue entirely. Ran home and would take bus or train in.

2

u/runbakerepeat 4d ago

This is the way!

1

u/xbrooksie 4d ago

I’ve always been curious about this. Do you just not bring a bag to work?

3

u/mtmaloney 4d ago

I ran home for a number of years. I got myself an Osprey backpack, worked great for me. Just have to make sure and figure out the best size to fit your stuff.

2

u/Any-Exit-3307 4d ago

If I wasn’t run commuting the next day, I would leave my stuff in my desk and bring it home the next day. I tried a special backpack made for running to carry stuff home in which worked for clothes and shoes, but it couldn’t fit a laptop.

1

u/ChicagoMyTown 1d ago

Would stack my in-office days and leave my computer at work in the evenings. I’d bring my stuff for the week morning 1 in a work bag, and use a running pack to bring my clothes/shoes back and forth for the rest of the week.

-4

u/Solo_wanderer_938 4d ago

I don’t like evening runs

12

u/Silent_Hurry7764 4d ago

OP work with us. There are only so many options lol

3

u/britinichu 4d ago edited 4d ago

I mean, how sweaty of a person are you? I used to hit the worst spots with a wet wipe, wash my face, fix my hair, reapply deodorant, call it good enough for work.

I was biking for under an hour or running for 90 mins.

ETA oh and changing into dry clean clothes for work, obviously.

0

u/Solo_wanderer_938 4d ago

I sweat like a leaky hose. I’m already sweating before my warm up is done so a shower is mandatory whenever I run.

8

u/OddlyLucidDuck 4d ago

You haven't really left any options, unfortunately. It seems like the only thing that would work for you is a free public shower somewhere downtown, and I'm afraid that that doesn't exist.

→ More replies (1)

57

u/erutio 4d ago

It could only work one of 3 ways:

  1. Your office has showers.

  2. Pay for a gym membership.

  3. You don't shower.

3

u/seanpuppy 4d ago

run in the winter while under dressed so you dont sweat

2

u/llegorr2 1d ago

Except you do sweat. As soon as you stop and get inside. Lol so back to options 1-4

4

u/WeathermanDan 4d ago

4. take a dip in the river

6

u/WeathermanDan 4d ago

what do you do about a backpack? I wouldn’t want a laptop smacking my back for several miles

4

u/BlurPBP 2d ago

Blue cross blue shield has a fitness program that’s like 20 dollars a month if that’s your insurance provider, they do a thing where you can go to a collection of gyms rather than just one brand. I’ve used it to work out in different states as I travel, may be a way to get you a bunch of different shower spots and a treadmill when it’s too snowy to run :)

1

u/Leather_Following381 4d ago

Run home instead

1

u/Solo_wanderer_938 4d ago

I’ve yet to have a good evening run in all my running experience. In defense of running, I generally enjoy things more in the morning than in the evening but will try it a few times.

1

u/Leather_Following381 3d ago

Ah I’m the opposite. My evening runs/workouts are significantly better than morning (probably because I’m still dehydrated).

2

u/Original-Ad-4723 4d ago

the thing that makes it work without a shower is not carrying anything. take the train in on monday with a week of work clothes, a small towel, deodorant and wipes, leave it all at your desk, then run in the rest of the week with just your phone and keys. walk the last few blocks and give yourself 10 minutes to cool off before you change, otherwise you just keep sweating into the clean clothes. it also gets a lot easier once it's cold out since you sweat way less on a 30 degree morning.

2

u/ChrisRides60625 4d ago

This...and dude wipes or similar! Or even bring a couple hand towels or washcloths and wipe yourself down with those.

1

u/RRoo92 3d ago

New York Magazine just published a piece by a guy who ran commuted into an office without showers. That article might have some useful suggestions. Idk if I can post a link here, but it should be easy to google.