Even as life continues to plod back toward its normal pace, half a year of living with the coronavirus is forcing residents of cities and towns to rethink their routines. In New York City, the subway now shuts down at night for the first time since it opened 115 years ago, and daily ridership remains down by roughly 75 percent compared to last year. Meanwhile, the city’s bike-share program has seen only a marginal decline in use, and let’s not forget about the national surge in bike sales that’s responsible for continuing shortages.

With businesses and schools reopening, people will need to move around more. Even though some question evidence of the virus’s spread via public transit, many will look for alternative means of doing so. Here’s a bold idea: run.

Run commuting is easier than it sounds — take these working pros’ word for it — and even though it’s slower than riding a train, bus or bike, it efficiently integrates a workout into getting from A to B. Key to the program are some clothing essentials, like Tracksmith’s recently released Run Commute Collection. The line includes a new jacket, pant, short, baselayer and briefs made with merino wool, which won’t stink like synthetic layers will. The outer layers include features you’ll need, like pockets for your phone, wallet and keys. And like everything Tracksmith, the gear looks and feels great, too.

Run commuting doesn’t mean leaving your laptop and larger items behind, either, thanks to a few backpacks designed for the task. Tracksmith teamed up with Mission Workshop to add the Mission Backpack to the mix. The bag has space for your computer as well as extra clothing, groceries and a hydration reservoir. Chest and waist straps secure the load from bouncing, a mesh back panel and shoulder straps keep things from getting too sweaty and exterior weatherproofing limits your available excuses for calling an Uber instead.

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