Noon Jog

Another of the main when-to-run options is the middle of the day. When I was training for the 1976 Olympics, I was employed as a teacher. Running before and after school every day was starting to get to me, so I asked for and received permission to run during my lunch hour. This was a huge help. It broke up my work day, gave me a boost for the afternoon, and allowed me to get in a better quality workout than when I was continually dragging myself out of bed to run. (I’m not much of a morning person.) Running at lunchtime is also nice because, as with morning running, you have the post-work hours free to spend with family and friends. During the winter, running in the middle of the day often can be your only chance for any real sunlight until the weekends. This is also usually the warmest time of day in the winter. (It is in the summer, too, when it can be a good idea to look for a different time of day to run.)

The biggest problem you’re going to face as a noontime runner is logistics. Your employers might not see the value in you dashing out the door every day for a vigorous run, especially if they’re not exercisers and think that you’re going to spend the afternoon asleep at your desk. That’s why it’s a good idea to do what I did and discuss your desire to run at lunch with your boss. As you should with your family, explain why this time is important to you. (You could also hit them with the statistics that show that the fittest employees take the fewest number of sick days.)

You might need more than the standard time allotted for lunch in your company to get in your run. It’s not in your long-term best interest to sprint out the door at 12:01, return at 12:56 and be back, dressed, at your desk at 1:01. Account for the necessary pre- and post-run activities as you should when planning a run in the morning. Present your boss with a good plan, such as taking an extra 30 minutes in the middle of the day in exchange for arriving earlier or staying later.
After getting the thumbs up from your boss, you’re going to have to assess the surroundings.

The number of businesses that have showers on site is growing, but they’re still rare. Check for health clubs near your office at which you can stretch and shower afterward. If reasonable, this option is often a good one for helping to maintain your professional identity—you’ll leave and return to work in your office attire, rather than your coworkers seeing you in shorts and a T-shirt.

When there’s not an accessible shower, some runners towel off in the bathroom. This is a judgment call, based on your preferences, as well as the degree of formality of your office and the closeness of contact with your coworkers. Let’s just say I wouldn’t want to be around some runners a couple of hours after they’ve run if they had yet to shower.