June is when Colorado celebrates National Bike Month, and June 27^th marks bike-to-work day in the Springs. That’s the one day of the year I'll pull my mountain bike out of the garage.  There isn’t much I won’t do for free food, even if it means seeing the mayor in spandex.

A lesser celebrated alternate form of transportation is the run to work method.  Over the past two years I’ve made this my preferred way of travel to and from work at least once a week.  No free breakfast, no special day or month, but it has cut my gas bill by 20%.

I live about five miles from my office.  Sometimes, if I can get out of bed early, I’ll add a mile or two to the morning run, usually taking about an hour to get to work.  The trip home is when it gets fun, as I can easily cut over to Bear Creek Park and hit Section 16 and Red Rock Canyon before arriving home.

Some weeks I’m on top of things logistically, and I’ll bring my clothes to the office a day early.  But the usual routine is to just throw everything needed for the day into a backpack.  I just tell myself that the extra weight is good training for some fastpacking trips I’ve had on the back burner for about ten years now. 

Luckily there is a shower in the office, so I don’t smell any worse than normal.  Which is good, since going without a car, even for one day a week, has already made me the office weirdo.  Folks who read this website understand, but for the majority of people out there going without a vehicle is something they can’t fathom.  Never mind that the work day here always starts off with everyone bitching and moaning about traffic.  But as soon as I mention that my run commute was smooth and relaxing my co-workers start dropping Unabomber jokes or asking what it’s like to be Amish.

Anyhow, looking forward to the Garden.  I just ended a 30 day period which saw me cover two marathons, two 14ers, a 50K, and two 50 milers, so it will be nice to have a short distance weekend.  I think I have a decent shot at a sub 70.  Even though I can’t remember the last time I ran a seven minute mile, I run in the Garden so much I know all the good shortcuts.  

Good luck to everyone getting ready to throw down this weekend (unless you’re in my age group)!