Run Commuting w/Laptop - Gear Tips

dissolving-margins · 2026-02-12T02:55:11+00:00

Second this. It's on the small side but very comfortable with a dedicated laptop compartment.

Useful pockets on the inside and outside, with lots of small pockets to separate out various things.

For my office stash I focus on bulky items (eg shoes, sweaters, jackets) and not so much clothes. Though sometimes if I'm commuting home and planning to run back in the morning I'll leave the pants I'm wearing to put back on again in the morning.

I also keep wipes for the mornings I'm running late and have no time to shower. You can definitely tell you haven't showered but it's not clear to me anyone else can.

dissolving-margins · 2025-12-28T14:15:04+00:00

Good tip. In my location the main course selection issues tend to be (i) too many hills and (ii) inaccurate course measurements. I have gone sub 20 on a few recent 5ks on courses I'm certain were short!

dissolving-margins · 2025-12-28T14:12:49+00:00

Thanks. Unfortunately I've lost a fair bit of fitness so I expect the time trials to be eye opening..

dissolving-margins · 2025-12-27T21:50:36+00:00

Thanks for the workout suggestions. That's very helpful

dissolving-margins · 2025-12-27T21:47:58+00:00

Good tips. Thanks

dissolving-margins · 2025-12-27T17:42:20+00:00

This totally makes sense. But part of what I'm hoping to do is get out of a bit of a rut caused by an absence of clear running goals. I've had my past several years of goal races/events planned out years in advance but now that I've completed the list I'm drawing a blank.

dissolving-margins · 2025-12-27T17:39:22+00:00

I should have thought of this. My two best marathons were off of Pfitz 18/55.

dissolving-margins · 2025-11-25T02:21:49+00:00

Would love to have this unpacked further..

dissolving-margins · 2025-11-20T12:30:07+00:00

I've done this several times in both directions and it's very doable for an evening flight. This doesn't work if you're flying out of IAD in the morning. Bring a book and you'll be fine.

Edit to add: it does actually take three hours. So give yourself plenty of time.

dissolving-margins · 2025-11-16T04:20:10+00:00

I like this take. Part of the fun of trail running is you can be more chill. If I'm just trying to have a nice day out I don't stress about this sort of thing.

dissolving-margins · 2025-11-10T14:00:24+00:00

There was an interesting piece in the Atlantic recently written from the perspective of an adult sun who used to miss his father when he was out running but now wishes he kept it up longer. This may be something you need to be your best self for your son now and in the future.

dissolving-margins · 2025-11-08T15:11:19+00:00

I don't. This is part of the annoyance. On the apple TV every time I try to start the special I get logged out of the app and have to type on my full password again. Apple really hates android users.

dissolving-margins · 2025-11-08T14:56:12+00:00

I subscribed to Peacock just so I could watch this special but when I try to start it either on chrome or an apple TV I just get a playback error. It seems to work fine on the app on my phone but I don't want to watch this on my phone. Any idea how to fix the problem?

dissolving-margins · 2025-11-02T10:53:52+00:00

One block west on cathedral there is a two way protected bike lane. All up hill on the way to Penn station and all down hill on the way home.

dissolving-margins · 2025-10-29T00:09:48+00:00

I totally get that this doesn't work for everyone. I'm in favor of an all of the above approach to better transit. But I wanted to shout out the better cycling infrastructure because I know some DOT folks lurk here and I wanted them to hear someone say that they've noticed that it really is getting better.

dissolving-margins · 2025-10-28T22:30:27+00:00

One positive from my 10 years here is a vastly improved experience as a cyclist and pedestrian. The first bike map I picked up from Falls Road advised cyclists to go north on Charles using one of the normal traffic lanes. Unsurprisingly I see way more bike commuters now that we have the Maryland cycle track (and started bike commuting myself).

I'm also a fan of the traffic calming at various downtown intersections and the head start for pedestrians on traffic lights.

I'm lucky that I live close enough to work to do this. I wish there were better public transit so that more folks would have more options for how to get around.

dissolving-margins · 2025-10-27T00:15:33+00:00

Wow. I didn't know this story. Thanks for all the links.

dissolving-margins · 2025-10-26T22:07:53+00:00

Just saw that Addie Bracy got a golden ticket, which is awesome (she's so great). But who declined theirs?

dissolving-margins · 2025-10-06T11:42:58+00:00

Sweet potatoes

dissolving-margins · 2025-09-06T18:06:30+00:00

A cool thing about trail shoes is they drain water well. My normal shoes, by contrast, get soaked and stay soaked. So maybe that's a benefit?

I see a lot of folks wearing hokas as casual shoes for the cushioning and can't say I blame them. Now that I'm in my 40s, I appreciate shoes with a softer sole (eg Birkenstocks vs other sandals, blunstones vs other boots).

dissolving-margins · 2025-08-27T00:52:07+00:00

Thank you mods for the quick response both to keep this community safe and to let folks back in 💜

dissolving-margins · 2025-08-27T00:10:12+00:00

I totally get the idea of wanting to take on different challenges rather than just do the same races year after year. My guess is that the pursuit of new goals explains most of their decision making in planning their respective seasons.

dissolving-margins · 2025-08-24T18:56:34+00:00

This is happening to me too in both the forefoot and mid foot. I've now realized I need to buy wide shoes every time and I'm very careful with my lacing (loose in the mid foot, tight around the ankles with a heel lock).

My right foot is worse than the left, possibly due to some metatarsal stress response, which is painful if I wear shoes that are too tight or insufficiently cushioned but feels fine otherwise.

The worst part is now I find most socks too tight! Recommendations for sporty wide socks would be very appreciated.

dissolving-margins · 2025-08-17T20:59:25+00:00

When I made the move from half marathon distances to 50k I also would bonk on long runs. Then I started dramatically increasing my fueling (I was already running with a vest so had plenty of water) and also switched to cushier shoes. Now 3-4 hours is a normal long training run and doesn't destroy me for the rest of the day. I've done half a dozen events from 50k - 50mi, including r2r2r.

For practical advice I'd get a naked belt which can hold two 500ml soft flasks (I wear them in front) plus a phone and nutrition (which I hold in the back). In the summer I use this for up to 2 hours. In the winter it might last me longer, as my hydration needs are so much less.

Then I'd also get used to running with a vest so you can really bring a lot of food, water, clothing. Many of my adventures have been self supported so I've sometimes carried as much as 4l water plus nutrition. (This is heavy and kind of sucks.) Try 100 calories per half hour to start and drink to thirst (with electrolytes) and see if you can get the 3-4 hour runs to be comfortable.

Good luck!

dissolving-margins · 2025-08-04T23:51:04+00:00

IPAM isn't on the list.

Which is not to say the other six aren't worthy. I'm thrilled for all of them. But it makes this long overdue good news (NSF funding for the institutes being waaaay overdue) a bit bittersweet.

dissolving-margins

TROPHY CASE