My new work commute

So my company just shuffled me and several colleagues out of our sweet office in Kendall Sq., Cambridge. I'll miss the beautiful views overlooking the Charles River, the Boston Skyline (including the Zakim Bridge, John Hancock and Prudential buildings, Fenway Park...) and other landmarks. I'll miss the daytime allure of Kendall Sq. and all the lunching options. I'll also very much miss the commute: a mere 15 minute walk from home in Back Bay/Boston - passing through the beautiful Public Garden and over the scenic Longfellow Bridge. With that commute, I was able to manage the flexibility of my work schedule and thereby my workout schedule, either getting up early for a run or bike ride while still getting to the office at a reasonable time, or getting home quickly after work for my workout. But no longer.

I now commute from Back Bay to Wakefield, MA - about 13 miles due north of Boston. And while I was initially pretty bummed and skeptical about this commute, after last week (my first week in the new office), I think I've found a glimmer of silver lining in this new arrangement...

I'll use my new work commute as an opportunity to train. While I could drive, I have no interest sitting in traffic and listening to morning talk radio these days. Been there, done that. Instead, in my first week, I managed to take the T (subway) and a company shuttle a couple times, work from home one day, but also run home one afternoon (13 miles), and bike to/from work another day (~30 mi round trip). My goal through the summer is to run home once a week and to bike out/back at least once a week.

It takes me roughly 1h15m to get to the new office via public transportation. In comparison, it takes me about 2h to run home (hesitating at traffic lights, negotiating cars on the side of the road and obstacles on sidewalks, etc.) and even better, only about 58m on the bike. Even with a quick shower and some freshening up at the office, it's my "no-brainer-trainer-commute"!