Publication details
More than "Ready, Set, Go!": complexities and directional fluidity of run-commuting
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| Year of publication | 2026 |
| Type | Appeared in Conference without Proceedings |
| Citation | |
| Description | Run-commuting—the practice of running as a form of functional transportation between home and work—represents an emerging yet frequently overlooked phenomenon within active mobility research. While mobility studies traditionally focus on cycling and walking, run-commuting remains a significant research gap despite its growing popularity in urban environments. This paper investigates run-commuting as a complex social practice, drawing on qualitative data from personal diaries and semi-structured interviews with Czech run-commuters. Using social practice theory as a foundational framework, this study categorizes run-commuting through its essential elements: materials, competences, meanings, people, and environment. Furthermore, it expands this framework by incorporating the critical variable of directionality. Our findings reveal that run-commuting is not a uniform practice; rather, it is continually negotiated, both within the runners themselves—in terms of their physicality and embodied experiences—and in relation to their social and physical environment. Consequently, the experience and logistical requirements of this practice differ significantly, shifting with weather conditions, seasons, and bodily sensations. Ultimately, the significance of these elements and the spatiotemporal behavior of runners depend heavily on the direction of the run. By highlighting how spatial needs, environmental factors, and personal characteristics influence the practice, this paper argues for a multi-factorial understanding of active travel. The results contribute to a deeper knowledge of how everyday life is reshaped by mobile practices and offer important insights for both urban and workplace planning, as well as future mobility research. |
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