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Running to work

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Running is the perfect way to get active – it’s free and you can start right outside your door!

Tips for the run commute

Some tips for the run commute are included below:

  • Use a running journey planner or a running app to map your journey to work and find out the time, distance, elevation and calories burned.
  • You might not run both ways – Taking public transport to work and then running back means that no shower is required at work.
  • You don’t have to run with a backpack, a bum bag for essentials like keys and a wallet is a great alternative. An airflow backpack will avoid getting too hot and a hip belt will help to keep the backpack in place.
  • You don’t have to wear fitness gear, but this will be lighter and more practical. Look for clothes with wicking fabrics and outer layers with vents.

Visit the Travel Devon website for more run commute tips.

Couch to 5k

If you need a base level of fitness before you try to run your commute, try the NHS Couch to 5k running plan.

It has been developed to help beginners get into running. It starts with a mix of running and walking to gradually build up your fitness and stamina.

Couch to 5k comes as an app or a podcast, which tells you when to start and stop running, as well as offering motivation and duration information along the way.

Running for leisure

A park run is a free timed 5 km running event that takes place every Saturday morning in countries all over the world.  You only need to register once to turn up and take part wherever you want, whenever you want.

Joining a running club is the perfect way to keep motivated and most clubs have running groups for different levels. Clubs are a great way to find running partners to run with outside of club sessions. Run Together is the national body for running – use their website to find a local running group or route.

Active Devon also provides information of local running groups.

Further information and support

Want to encourage smarter travel to work at your organisation? Businesses in Exeter, Barnstaple and Newton Abbot are eligible for free business support to start travel planning, including support offers for individual members of staff. Email traveldevon@devon.gov.uk to find out more.

Active Devon is a community-focused, non-profit organisation dedicated to inspiring and supporting people in Devon to be active. They can help you get your workplace more active and support you with behaviour change campaigns, workplace challenges, programme management, design, consultancy and more. Please contact Active Devon via 01392 925 150 or hello@activedevon.org.

 

Please note: When following our toolkits, please also refer to the government guidance for safer travel.

This page was last updated November 2020.

URLs

traveldevon@devon.gov.uk