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\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t \t\t\t\t\tWe ran through the Holy City, chasing bridge views, salted-lime lagers and lowcountry calm<\/p>\n Where Did \u201cRunching\u201d Come From?<\/p>\n The rise of the lunchtime run (the runch!) can likely be attributed to two factors: A) hybrid workflows in the post-pandemic era, and B) the running boom<\/a> of the last few years. <\/p>\n Of course, one result of the run-club craze is you\u2019re more likely to see more people running at any time, in any weather. I was flabbergasted to see so many runners braving the cold last winter; and it looks like they\u2019re still going strong<\/a> in 2026, too, sidewalk snow tunnels be damned. <\/p>\n But there does seem to be a specific preference, among some runners, for the hours of 12 to 2 p.m. Years before anyone had heard of COVID, hundreds of Redditors delighted in the convenience and excitement of their runches. This thread\u2019s OP said<\/a> that as a parent with sole custody of their kid, they found it difficult to fit runs into the week. Runching helped \u2014 and maybe even gave them a speed boost, thanks to the carrot (and stick) dangling at the end of the effort: \u201cI find that I\u2019m running my fastest mile splits during my lunch break because I\u2019m looking forward to having lunch and need to get back into work on time.\u201d <\/p>\n Others said they can\u2019t run in the morning because they need the sleep, or look to avoid night running because it\u2019s unsafe. Their runch mileage varied from two all the way up to 10 miles. All agreed that runching was a game changer, which allowed them to log the training needed to run a marathon (or just plug a mental reset into the workday). <\/p>\n According to my research, the runch trail went cold for a while \u2014 just blogs here and there of triathlete-types singing its praises (they\u2019re always looking to fit in another workout). Until recently, when coaching app Runna announced<\/a> that within their company\u2019s Slack channel, it\u2019s common for colleagues to announce they\u2019ll be offline for a little while. Gone runchin\u2019. <\/p>\n How to Pull Off a Runch Routine<\/p>\n Obviously, not everyone works at a company where a runch is feasible (let alone celebrated). But if you can find a way to integrate running \u2014 or frankly any daytime exercise \u2014 into your daily routine, you definitely should. <\/p>\n This is especially relevant for adults who\u2019ve never been able to establish a morning workout routine. \u201cLate chronotypes<\/a>\u201d are often forced to exercise at night, and those sessions could negatively impact your sleep<\/a>, if they\u2019re too intense or close to bedtime. <\/p>\n When you stop to think about it, a lunchtime workout is ideally placed: you\u2019ve digested breakfast, your caffeine has had the right amount of time<\/a> to settle in, lunch is waiting when you\u2019re through. (Why not have it outside of your designated \u201clunch hour\u201d? You were probably going to eat it by the computer, anyway.) Plus: aside from summer, the weather\u2019s generally better at at noon, and there are fewer cars on the road. <\/p>\n One commenter wrote: \u201cIf this is an option for anyone reading, I can\u2019t recommend it highly enough. There is a certain awkwardness in starting out and getting all \u2018PE Class\u2019 during a workday, but once you get past that, it\u2019s really great.\u201d I\u2019m glad they said that last bit, because I was thinking it: how do you possibly sit back down at your desk after a runch? I\u2019m remembering sitting for math tests, absolutely soaked with sweat, right after recess battles on the basketball court.<\/p>\n In-office runchers better take a shower, in other words. Or be prepared to use lots of antibacterial wipes. Try to find out if your office has any sort of shower access (even if it isn\u2019t on your floor), or consider paying the membership at a nearby gym. If you can pull it off, it\u2019s worth the effort. This commenter said: \u201c[I] return to the desk with my gym bag, feeling fitter, happier\u2026more productive.\u201d<\/p>\n Absolutely. I don\u2019t runch, I just go for long walks. But midday exercise has been my not-so-secret weapon over the last seven years. For one, my disappearing act always reminds me that the workday is also a day \u2014 one that belongs to me. And then, go figure, catalyzing bloodflow catalyzes creativity<\/a>, so I return and get a bunch done anyway. I don\u2019t think any one of us truly knows what work-life balance looks like. But I\u2019d start right there. <\/p>\n \t\t\tMeet your guide<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t \t\t\t\tTanner Garrity<\/p>\n Tanner Garrity is a senior editor at InsideHook, where he\u2019s covered wellness, travel, sports and pop culture since 2017. He also authors The Charge, InsideHook\u2019s weekly wellness newsletter. Beyond the newsroom, he can usually be found running, skating, reading, writing fiction or playing tennis. He lives in Brooklyn.<\/p>\n \t\t\t\tMore from Tanner Garrity \u00bb<\/a><\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\t\t\tMore Like This<\/p>\n The Charge will help you move better, think clearer and stay in the game longer. Subscribe to our wellness newsletter<\/a> today.<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t17 Miles in Charleston
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