I am just going to say this. I smoke, I drink, I have never been an athlete, and I do my 7mile commute in the morning in under 25 minutes. If it is taking you an hour to go 8.5 miles you aren't trying, or you are using your gearing inefficiently. How many stops do you make to rest? I know it seems counter productive, but doing that will seriously dent your performance. Keeping a steady, even pace will keep your body less exhausted, and cut down on your time lost to starts and stops.

Buy a slower car

Enjoying South Carolina much? I'm climbing 900ft one way and 1200ft the other. The last hill ... my car struggles to get up.

I could do it in under a half hour, too, if my commute was as flat as the girl next door.

I live in the foothills of the Appalachians. If you think this place is flat you would be wrong.