Really scary news for 70+ runners from Matt Hancock yesterday. He says the misgovernment will ask all over 70s to self-isolate soon.
Well unless otherwise instructed, my morning run is what is keeping me healthy enough to defeat the virus. And I am not giving it up.
Fortunately my only companions are sheep. So I consider it to be self-isolation.
Edit: For the avoidance of doubt, read: So I consider it to be social distancing.
You go out and run theoldfellow. I did hear on the radio this morning that the advice had been expanded to say that over 70s would be allowed outside, not like China with an armed guide at your gate.
I think we have to keep a bit of perspective and common sense with all this madness, and are old enough to know how we can best avoid infection. Even us over 60s are being treated as ancient at the moment!
We have just closed the church here, as all the clergy, apart from me, are self-isolating due to pre-existing medical conditions. I'm also Chairman of Churches Together in Keswick, and while we are trying to assist the town in getting ready for +70 isolation, the very cohort of willing helpers are all over 70!
Hope you guys are okay.
God help us all!
Yes it's very sad that the Army of volunteers is reducing over time. The over 60s I know are all busy caring for their grandchildren and do not have the same free time as those before them, and of course the pension age has gone up too.
Good luck with your efforts. This is the very time that many people need the support of their faith and their church.
We are okay so far, apart from my ski injury that is. I can only walk as far as the seafront at the moment, but I would so love to be running on a beautiful day like today. I will sit on a bench and watch all the runners pass by and look forward to joining them again, hopefully within 4 weeks.
My Dad is a church pastor and he has had to cancel all church gatherings for the time being and he's finding it a bit stressful in the midst of all this
My local church has cancelled all gatherings too. ☹
Scottish government certainly say over 70s should be out taking walks so really cant see problem with running. Isolation would cause a horrendous mental health problem . Happy running 🤗
The NHS advice that @roseabi suggests we all read (see the pinned posts) says taking a walk is one of the things we shouldn't do. The NHS has been known to say stupid things before (maybe not quite as often as me though...)
Yep, be Happy, best advice ever.
Maybe I don't understand but if you're out running or walking on your own you are not with other people. Like Grannyhugs says it would cause a rise in mental health problems😊
Let's make this quite clear, I am NOT NOT criticising @roseabi for pointing us to the NHS advice!
I just find the NHS advice (as I read it today, it may have changed) as saying 'don't go out' unhelpful in my context.
The difference between being told the 'self-isolate' which is what Matt Hancock said yesterday concerning the 70+, and 'Avoid Social Contact' as per Boris Johnson's briefing is rather important.
The NHS have updated the page in line with yesterday's government briefing.
But the advice still says clearly that is is people with a cough and a fever who should not be going for walks.
We are an NHS-affiliated community, and the Admin Team have agreed that the NHS advice is the best resource for us to share. Don't forget that, governmental statements aside, the NHS is the front line in dealing with the health effects of the pandemic.
As I have said privately to theoldfellow, I welcome all comments and criticisms about anything I post - if I have made a mistake I want to know about it! Please work with us to help make the best out of this situation xxx
Good run for you today theoldfellow, nice to have sheep for company, the latest advice is that we over 70's CAN GO OUT, say for a walk, run or bike ride, but as long as we don't mix with large crowds, that of course would also apply to people under 70.
The way I see it , if you're running on your own I don't see it as a problem and like you say your running is keeping you healthy 😊😊🏃♂️
Go running TOF! Those sheep pose no threat and you’re keeping yourself in tip-top shape!
I belong to a choir, and there’s a fairly high proportion of people over 70. It’ll be sad if they aren’t allowed to come along - and very sad if none of us can if they ban all mass gatherings. I’d love this all to be over .....
Take care of yourself in the meantime! 🏃♂️🏃♂️
I didn't know you sang in a choir, I do too! What sort of music do you sing? My choir isn't meeting until September now unfortunately... I ☹
I think it would be positively sinful not to be out there enjoying the views and the fresh air. 👍
Indeed, especially after all the gloomy wet days with +30 winds we have had in the last 2 months. First run in shorts and tee this year for me - glorious!
Good for you! I fear far more serious consequences if older people become inactive and isolated, for both their physical and mental health. And, as you say, there are so many volunteers over 70 that vital services could have to close.
I don't usually do religion on this forum, but maybe I can forgiven just once (admin feel free to delete).
C H Spurgeon, a very famous Baptist preacher of the 1890's was caught up in the Cholera epidemics of that age. He said: "Fear to die? I do not. The Cholera may come again next Summer - pray that it does not. But if it does, it matters not to me. I will toil and visit the sick by night and by day until I drop. And if it takes me, sudden death is sudden glory."
I don’t do religion, but that does just go to show that society will continue. We will get through it, as we always have done, hopefully being sensible and with compassion
Well please don't visit my 90 year old mother!
I was looking round my local food bank this morning. If all the over 70s self isolate, I'll be there on my own!
If you have to self isolate, NHS guidance says you shouldn't go out. If you are asked to practice 'social distancing', you can go out, but not with lots of other people.
If you are symptom free I imagine you are going to be advised to practise social distancing, to keep you safe from others rather than self isolation - with symptoms - to keep others safe from you.
If it's the former, and you don't encounter anyone else I can't really see it being an issue .
I agree that the post is misleading.
Perhaps we will get more clarification over the coming days.
Stay well 🤩
How big is your back garden???
theoldfellow has the beautiful ale district as his back garden. a superb place for isolation.
Ale district? I’m moving 🤣
Yep... the lakes are great... I assume it’s only the sick that have to self isolate... while the over 70s will be merely advised to.
Whoops 😬. UTS will be moving there too.
The photo IS my back garden...
Those are the lower slopes of Skiddaw, England's 4th highest.
😄
Lovely part of the world.
Love the Lake District, visited many times and walked most of the fells. You are lucky to be able to run in such a beautiful place. Keep running and enjoy all that beautiful fresh air!
Scampering past a few sheep sounds thoroughly isolated to me. 😄
If we are going out in a way that is avoiding contact with other people, & avoiding touching doorhandles etc, it seems less harmful than stodging on the couch. 😄
Hi Oldfellow
I know it’s really confusing, because the government keep changing their advice, but if you check the BBC website here today, it’s now quoting:
“The over-70s have been told they are allowed to go out for walks when their period of staying at home begins.”
I saw another quote somewhere saying the over 70s would be getting advice on “social distancing” (which I’m already trying to do due to my heart condition), and would in fact not be asked to “self isolate” for a long period.
Enjoy your runs in the fresh air! ❤️
❤Thank you so much for that.
Talk about a Nannie State.🙈🤣TV licences extended for over 75’s.🤔Self isolation and self restriction are consistent.🤔
Enjoy your isolated runs.
🏃♂️⭐️👏👏💥
My understanding from the latest guidelines given this afternoon is that anybody with mild symptoms should self isolate for 14 days, along with anybody that lives with them, and I think that means not going out at all, but only for 14 days.
On top of that anybody over the age of 70, or any pregnant woman, or anybody that has underlying health conditions i.e. qualify for a free flu jab each year, should start social distancing and not got out unless it’s a necessity - they can go out and exercise, but should stay away from other people.
The guidelines appear to be to stop the more vulnerable people possibly contracting the disease as they are more likely to become seriously ill, and also to spread the impact on the NHS as it has very limited capacity. If it breaks under the strain then more people are likely to die.
My opinion is that we should follow the guidelines however much we might not like them, as the guidance comes from Scientific experts, albeit voiced predominantly by the government. The alternative of ignoring it doesn’t bear thinking about.
So he can run along the lanes of the Lake District for exercise 🏃♂️
Yes, the guidelines have got a lot clearer today.
Matt Hancock DID use the words 'Self-Isolate' in respect of the over 70s, yesterday, and that was contrary to the scientific advice, which is 'Social Distancing'.
It's also worth pointing out that there is conflicting scientific advice, that the British government are not taking - most of it even more draconian!
Sensible Wenderwoo. We all need to stick to the plan- it seems to make sense. Hope you are ok!
Will be working from home for the foreseeable future. At least I can run! Have an admission to make though - I panic bought a treadmill! Just in case...
Yes it looks as if even though I am 'only' rising 65, by virtue of my type 2 diabetes I may also fall into that category TOG - waiting to get clarification. A good job running can be a solo sport!👍
In many ways the very solo-ness of it is it's biggest attraction. I love Parkrun, and will miss it for the duration, but even then we 'run on our own, together'.
A shadow of my former self
What is your running form like? PS. I am in love
My friends think I am a bit Mad. 
My birthday present to self 😇
I have no idea of how far I am running 🤔
