Jane Phare talks to “active commuters”, Kiwis who don’t need the gym because they keep fit by running or cycling to work. They say they save money, help the environment and improve their physical and mental health. Nic Mead, aged 39, commuter runner Auckland sea kayak expert Nic Mead devotes more than two hours of each working day running to and from work.
As far as he’s concerned, that’s not a minute wasted. Mead, who runs from his Titirangi home to his business, Auckland Sea Kayaks, in Mt Eden each day, views it as precious me-time. With two youngsters at home, aged 1 and 4, life is full-on after work.
“When I get home my time gets stolen,” he says. “I was getting a bit disgruntled by not having any time for myself.” After moving to Titirangi in 2019 Mead used to drive to work, assuming that was the only option.
“I always thought work was too far away to run or bike to. I had this mental block in my head.” But then sitting in traffic and feeling grumpy when he got home didn’t seem a good option either.
“I wanted to go to the gym and get more fit but the issue was I never had any time.” He started biking to work a year ago and switched to running four months ago, dropping his gym membership which he was no longer using. He runs 13.
5km each way to and from work, with each leg taking about an hour and 10 minutes. To trick his brain into thinking each 70-minute run is the first for the day, Mead wears a different set of clothes and changes his runnin.
