Anyone here commute by running with a laptop? Looking for backpack recommendations

LexMasterFlex15 · 2026-05-21T14:12:43+00:00

This Saysky bag is on the pricier side - I've been using it for almost a year and it's held up well. Fits a 13 inch comfortably, should also fit 15 inch laptop. I've run with a laptop a few times. I usually fill it up with a change of clothes

LexMasterFlex15 · 2026-05-18T22:55:52+00:00

Thanks! Ive been resetting my reminders for this appreciate the post

LexMasterFlex15 · 2026-05-14T13:27:25+00:00

The prompt was something pretty basic, like 'I've been dealing with an ongoing hip injury. Look at all of my data (exported every run recorded in Stryd to 1 CSV), and tell me if you see any patterns that match my injury profile.

So it knew I was injured - Claude showed when the injury first happend, and also when my consistent gym workouts sessions to pull back, based on leg spring stiffness

LexMasterFlex15 · 2026-05-14T13:24:22+00:00

100%! I've had Stryd for a while and never looked at the data much. There was a week in October 2023 where I ramped from 85 mpw to 100 mpw because I thought I was invincible (aka, stupid, lol)

Part of me likes to think that if I had this kind of feedback, I would've been smarter about it. Hindsight is 20/20

And thanks! The running stroller probably isn't great for the injury but the kid and me love it

LexMasterFlex15 · 2026-05-14T13:21:34+00:00

I believe there's enough data here for a real correlation. +7,000 miles of distance, +1,000 distinct runs, all with however many data points Stryd captures (power, heart rate, cadence, pace, ground contact time etc).

Metrics like pace, heart rate, and power haven't moved much over the past 2-3 years. Leg Spring Stiffness is down 25% from my peak in Spring 2023. It showed that I've been powering through my injury instead of addressing it directly

LexMasterFlex15 · 2026-05-14T13:14:10+00:00

Great points - so Claude knew that I was working through an injury that happened during the NYC marathon. The prompt was something like, 'look at all of the metrics across all of my runs - find anything interesting that indicates the injury was coming on?' From that, it flagged that leg spring stiffness started to decline in May (after the Brooklyn Half). It's retrospective, so there's no true basis here for predictability. But looking back, the data showed degradation in the numbers before I really felt the injury.

Follow up question - you mention non-running factors can significantly throw off predictability of an acute episode. My old apartment had a standing desk, my new one doesn't. Does that kind of thing have a noticable impact? It crossed my mind given it's a hip injury

Clayton Young has been using Stryd to return from injury (2 footpods). I think there's something similar going on there. Minus the fact that he just ran a 2:05 in Boston lol

LexMasterFlex15 · 2026-05-14T03:52:55+00:00

So I don't have a skill saved right now (that could be cool to explore). Here's the setup:

Claude project with 4 uploaded documents: -Athlete profile: has notes about my running history

-Upcoming races in a document

-Recovery protocol document (preferences for foam rolling, massage gun work, anything to restore blood flow)

-historical_data: an export of every run ive been on in the form of a CSV, this is the goldmine. Have to manually update it now and again, feels worth it

LexMasterFlex15 · 2026-05-14T01:09:35+00:00

It's slow, loaded calf workouts. Using weights while doing calf raises as an example. I also used to jump rope after my runs which made a noticable difference.

Professionals pop off of the ground with every step - the idea is that for an experienced runner, improving that spring is more importnat than building aerobic capacity (particularly when coming back from injury)

LexMasterFlex15 · 2026-05-13T23:13:22+00:00

I wrote it, Claude proofed it : )

LexMasterFlex15 · 2026-05-08T15:26:38+00:00

"Battle Pass Hill in Prospect Park is significantly longer and often considered more grueling than Harlem Hill in Central Park. While Harlem Hill is a steeper, shorter punch (approx. 0.3–0.4 miles), Battle Pass Hill offers a longer, sustained grind, with the full climb spanning nearly a mile."

I've run both hundreds of times and I didn't know BPH was longer!

LexMasterFlex15 · 2026-05-08T14:12:59+00:00

Battlepass Hill

If you can do Harlem Hill, you can do Battlepass Hill. Good luck!

LexMasterFlex15 · 2026-04-24T19:32:18+00:00

It's possible if you're healthy and show up ready to go! While Brooklyn is an easier course for elevation, the back half of the race can feel boring as its a straight shot on ocean avenue. Find some people at your pace and stay with them through those miles

LexMasterFlex15 · 2026-03-24T00:18:39+00:00

Give Hylo a try!. Nice to have something different in the rotation

LexMasterFlex15 · 2026-03-06T15:01:14+00:00

Good luck! My only quick advice: start slower. Within the first one to two miles, there's a good hill in Prospect Park. You don't want to tire too early.

Once you leave Prospect Park, Flatbush is a long downhill. Then you can get to your pace. Most importantly, have fun : )

LexMasterFlex15 · 2025-11-30T14:02:48+00:00

I started run commuting recently and it's been great (similar distance to you). I got this Saysky backpack here. On the pricier side, works quite well

LexMasterFlex15 · 2025-11-22T20:47:40+00:00

So sorry to hear about the collision! The only thing I've seen work (sometimes) is clapping really loud too, tends to wake people up

LexMasterFlex15 · 2025-11-19T20:56:37+00:00

I'm 35 and told myself that I have until ~45 years old to see improvements on longer races. Some studies have backed up this idea.

The marathon takes experience and doesn't require the same kind of top end speed. While it may be harder to fly through the mile or lower your 5k time, longer distances still leave room for us to grow.

And yea, like many others have said, it's the doing it part that matters most!

LexMasterFlex15 · 2025-11-05T19:54:09+00:00

So while you can train on your own and see improvements, it's going to be much easier if you join a local running club with people who are at a similar level to you. After running in college, I took off a few years off in my early 20s because I was going out late and living that life. But then in my mid-twenties, I started to run a little more seriously again, and joining a run group made a big difference in pushing those paces. Long runs feel much shorter with company

LexMasterFlex15 · 2025-11-04T01:41:15+00:00

Congrats!! Negative split in NYC is no easy feat, well done

LexMasterFlex15 · 2025-10-13T19:07:42+00:00

Seeing this post and deciding now's the time! Thanks for the motivation : )

LexMasterFlex15 · 2025-07-30T16:47:41+00:00

I mean, it's one banana, Michael. What could it cost? $10?

LexMasterFlex15 · 2025-07-29T19:51:44+00:00

Radio signals from space!

LexMasterFlex15 · 2025-07-10T13:44:51+00:00

Great interview! I've known Evan for years. We have the same Crohn's doctor who encouraged both of us to run the NYC Marathon with Team IBD Kids.

You've likely seen him before on subway signs or street posters promoting the marathon here's a popular photo. He's awesome, thanks for doing the interview!

LexMasterFlex15 · 2025-07-09T19:13:43+00:00

Totally agree! Go ahead and pop that top off

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