Most of my runs are pretty boring. I go out for a few miles. I listen to podcasts. I watch out for distracted drivers, dog walkers, cyclists, walkers, or cracks in the sidewalk.

Today’s long run wasn’t boring. First, I saw a rat blocking my path 2.5 miles in. I stopped 15 yards away. I hate rodents. I usually scream, but this time I just stopped and paused my watch. I looked at the rat again hoping it was just a squirrel. It wasn’t. For a minute, I watched to see if it’d go back into the bushes. It didn’t move. Then, I considered crossing the street, but jaywalking in the dark on Pico Blvd isn’t a good idea. The crosswalk was a few yards past the rat. I briefly considered making a ruckus to scare it, but nixed that idea. I ran up the hill past the rat fast as if doing hill repeats and looked away from the rat.

The middle miles around the park were uneventful except for when I almost tripped on a root and later when a nice man gave me a thumbs up and said “good job!” as I ran by.

Unfortunately, everyone in my neighborhood wasn’t so nice and encouraging. As I was approaching the last mile of my out-and-back, I got egged.

I was running on a familiar street in my neighborhood when I saw a car approach. I moved closer to the curb as I always do when I’m on a street with cars. The car slowed down for a speed bump. As they neared, a passenger threw an egg at me. I didn’t see it, and if they said anything, I didn’t hear it. The egg smacked me hard on my left thigh and broke. It stung and I instinctively reached down to inspect what had just happened. I felt the sticky yolk and realized I’d just been egged. I thought I heard laughing and called out “assholes!” as they drove away.

I wanted some sort of revenge or justice, but there was nothing I could do. I didn’t see the eggers. I can’t even tell you what kind of car they drove aside from a red coupe or sedan.

Instead, I continued home and sped up a little. I wondered if the eggers were out egging people or homes. It was dark, but seemed early for such mischief. I thought about the waste of a perfectly good egg, or more. A moment later, I saw the lights of another car approaching and worried that the eggers turned around and were coming back for round two. I moved on to the sidewalk. Fortunately, it wasn’t them and I made it home without further incident

As I wrote above, most of my runs are uneventful. I’m grateful that my usual routes are in a pretty safe area. I know other urban runners deal with icy sidewalks, harassment, aggressive dogs, careless drivers and worse. In perspective, a rat and an egg that left a welt (maybe a bruise) isn’t going to keep me from running in my neighborhood.

I have races to train for.

Excluding weekend long runs, I’m not a morning runner. I could be if I didn’t go to bed so late.

Still, I’m not about to change my habits since running after work fits my schedule. Working out between 5-8 is a big improvement over my old habits. When I first started working out regularly 3 years ago, I rarely made it to the gym before 10. That worked for me then too. I was was a super self conscious newbie uncomfortable about working out in front of other people. So, working out in a nearly empty gym was just what I wanted.

Now, I’m used to running on weekday evenings. In the spring and summer, getting in my post-work run in is not a problem. I look forward to it during the day. I don’t mind running at dusk or in the dark. In the winter and fall my motivation wanes when it’s very dark at 5 or 6. At least it’s not very cold here. It’s worse when I leave work around 6, have a 45 minute commute (if lucky) and don’t get a run in until after 7. In January, that feels late.

One way I’ve found to deal with the winter running is the run commute. I’ve seen other bloggers talk about running to work (Runner’s Kitchen). I could do that, but I prefer the run home. It fits with my evening running habits. Plus, it’s logistically easier and the route is almost all downhill.

Here’s how I do the run commute:

1. Pack shoes and running clothes in the morning or the night before. Make sure not to forget the sports bra. I’ve done this twice before and I’m genuinely upset that I can’t run home, especially when I’m on a bus inching through Westwood traffic and it takes 20 minutes to go less than a mile.

2. Bus it to work. This is convenient for me thanks to a direct bus route and a subsidized bus pass for students/staff at the university.

3. Work, work, work. Make sure not to eat a heavy lunch that might upset my tummy later.

4. Clock out and change in to running clothes, shoes. Stash clothes/shoes under my desk at work. I could carry it in a drawstring bag, but it’s really uncomfortable to have the straps digging in to my collarbone and feel the bag bouncing against my lower back. (It works for some, see Runner’s Kitchen’s tips.)

5. Add on all the other running accessories (see photo). In the winter, I make sure to wear reflectors slap bands for greater visibility on some busy west side streets. I want to get home in one piece after all. I also carry ID, bus pass, some cash, key and phone in my iFitness belt. I typically run while listening to a podcast or music, but I keep it low enough to hear what’s going on.

6. Begin run commute! I usually choose a direct 5 mile route, which is fine for most of my weekday runs. If I need to get in a few more miles, I can extend the route as needed. I pass by a park and playground on my route, perfect if I need to make a water or bathroom stop.

7. Laugh inside at motorists traveling slower than you in their cars on clogged west side streets. Watch out for distracted drivers, especially those who roll through stops or zoom out of parking lots to make a right turn while only looking left.

8. Get home in about the same time it would have taken to actually commute via bus (or even bus+car).

9. Next day, don’t forget to bring home clothes.