Stories from the run commute: Running to the Dartmouth ferry

This summer, we’re asking runners to tell us stories about their run commutes. This week, Chris Kennedy told us about running from Cold Harbour, Nova Scotia to the ferry that takes him to Halifax Harbour. 

Chris Kennedy is ready for work. He’s clad in workout gear and running shoes with a backpack of work clothes and a pair of binoculars around his neck. Set for the day, he’s ready to shut the door behind him and cruise through Cole Harbour in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia on his dash the the ferry that will whisk him across to Halifax. When he gets off, he’s got a 500m cool down run before he arrives at the office.

This is a typical weekday morning. Ever since January 2015, Kennedy has been running to work about three days a week, give or take even through the brutal winter eastern Canadians experienced this year. The run commuting started when he moved to a new house in Dartmouth. The regular commute was becoming too much. He was simply seeking a more efficient way. “Previously, I’d either take a bus or commute with my partner, Rebecca. However, because Rebecca and I work in the opposite ends of town, this meant a lot of backtracking and added traffic,” says Kennedy. “This added backtracking fell to Rebecca as her workplace provides free parking.” A 6.5K morning run was much more simple.

Kennedy works as an environmental scientist at CBCL Ltd., an engineering and environmental consulting firm based out of the old Alexander Keith’s beer brewery building in Halifax. In it, there are two solo-person bathrooms with full showers. That solves the issue of being sweaty upon arrival. Like many run commuters, he has days where he doesn’t run and is able to take home clothes that accumulate during the week and switch them for clean clothes which he stashes in drawers at work.

As for the route, it usually stays around 6.5K but varies. “Dartmouth is a reasonably-scenic place to run, if you know where to go. There are hundreds of pedestrian-connections that connect streets that would be inaccessible to a motorist,” says Kennedy. He weaves through paths that take him through green space, lakes, ponds and parks. In the summer, he really has fun exploring these areas. Kennedy is a bird watcher, which explains his need to bring binoculars on the run commute. Showing up on the morning ferry in full running gear and binoculars garners strange looks from other commuters, he says. But Halifax Harbour is great for birders, so it’s worth it.

“While I run I’m often listening for birds as well, it’s just a habit. I’m a birder and can identify birds by their song and calls, its one of the things I do for my work,” says Kennedy. He’ll take less traveled routes for a chance to hear more uncommon calls while he’s out.

Since January, the rewards of run commuting have become more and more obvious. The couple saves time and money spent on gas. He has more time in his days now too. One of the big wins: the runner’s high before work.

“The added bonus was the great after-run feeling I get to experience when arriving at work,” says Kennedy. “This can be a big boost especially on Mondays.”