Back to normal

[damienair]

The footpaths are empty again. All the Armies of COVID-19 walkers who once filled the paths and tutted at us runners when we ran past on the road whilst keeping our 2m distance are now back to their old habits again. The only people I meet on my runs now are the same recognised faces I see walking, jogging and running throughout the year. It’s amazing really. When people were told to stay in and stay home they were all out. Now that they can go out as much as they like, they are staying in. But that’s great for us crazy people who run and jog on the paths in the rain, wind, cold and heat throughout the year. I’ve got the path back to myself and I’m waving a big friendly hello to all the fellow runners that I pass. I’m glad there is more bits of normal coming back.

Damien

[RunaroundSue Graduate10]

Ha ha. So true. I don't know what our Saturday run used to be like because we were always at a parkrun, but the last couple of weeks there have been fewer people about, mainly runners plus one or two dog walkers that are probably regulars

[RunaroundSue Graduate10 in reply to RunaroundSue]

Thinking about it, I recognise some of those runners from parkrun, so they probably didn't run there on Saturdays until lockdown!

[damienair Administrator in reply to RunaroundSue]

It’s so weird. Our 11 year old boy celebrated his 11th Birthday last week. We wanted to buy him a new bike as his previous bikes were all second hand knock offs and as he was growing up they were worn out. Tyres were threadbare. My wife walks 5K everyday throughout the year and the boys sometimes go with her on their bikes. Can’t buy a bike now. They are as rare as toilet roll was 3 months ago.😂 Imagine all the brand new bikes parked up all over because the big family COVID-19 walks are no longer.

[AlMorr Ambassador Graduate10]

Yes it's nice to see things slowly returning to normal, it would even be

better to see a Saturday morning at 9.30 also returning to normal, not sure when parkruns will be back in Ireland or the UK

[damienair Administrator in reply to AlMorr]

Hopefully in another couple of months Al. Fingers and Toes crossed 🤞.

[Buddy34 Graduate10]

I agree with all you said , its pouring of rain here in Scotland and that keeps even more people in 🤣👍

[Irishprincess Graduate10]

Haha so true! Our country roads have been really busy with cyclists but on wet days they are deserted 🙂 weather wimps the lot of them 😂

[damienair Administrator in reply to Irishprincess]

The die hards stand out in the rain. My runners are still trying to dry out.😂

[UnfitNoMore Graduate10]

What strange folk there has been out there... I’ve yet to see a picnic since they were permitted, lots before of course... Maybe we are just surrounded by the rebellious type 🤷‍♂️

So pleased that the covidiots are back indoors... that means parkrun will return sooner!

[damienair Administrator in reply to UnfitNoMore]

😂😂😂 I love it. Covidiots. That’s so funny. Yes the covidiots are the same all over the world, panic buying, toilet roll hoarding, banana bread baking , queueing for IKEA the night before they open for the first time again and tutt tutting at me for running. 😂😂😂😂

[limberlou Graduate10 in reply to damienair]

And don’t forget the Primark queuers on the first day open. Half way down the street in some places!!! Desperate for cheap pants!!

I’ve been waiting for them to open so I could replace the 3 pairs of jeans that died on me over lockdown. 1 zip went and 2 went through the bum eventually ... they WERE old though. But I waited until it had quietened down before I sneaked in early one rainy morning and out again v quickly.

[damienair Administrator in reply to limberlou]

It was the same here. I have not been near a shop other than for groceries. I can’t stand queuing. Life is too short. It’s bad enough being in a queue to do the weekly grocery shop. Although it is so much more comfortable to shop when you do get in. I tried to buy new running shoes last week. But there were 6 people queuing outside. And it was raining. I just turned the car around and drove home.

[limberlou Graduate10 in reply to damienair]

I said to my daughter that to be honest I dont miss going in shops. I have my food shop delivered and I think I’ll carry on with that. I do pop in Coop on my way back from running at about 7.30-8 am and buy bananas a couple of times a week but I buy my cat food online. And most other things

[Mudiwa in reply to UnfitNoMore]

“Cavidiots”🤣🤣🤩

[Dexy5 Graduate10]

Our conditions definitely vary according to the weather. If it’s sunny and dry, everyone comes out - cyclists , scooters, roller skaters, runners, dog walkers and prom plodders. The latest winds have stopped the madness of large groups converging on beaches and the common thankfully.

Enjoy your runs damienair

[damienair Administrator in reply to Dexy5]

Thanks Dexy. You live in a very popular spot. It’s always going to be busy.

[cheekychipmunks Graduate10]

Ohhhh I do hope that applies to my towpath route too Damien. 🤞 I’m starting building back up with my HM training and will need somewhere to do my runs beyond 10k. I love my common, but it’s a stretch to carve out a doable long route without too much repetition as I don’t like to include major hills on long runs! Wimpy, maybe, but I don’t want to be out all day! 😅

So I’m off to sample my towpath on Wednesday for an 11k run. I haven’t been there since Feb (maybe before that) and I’ve missed it. 🏃‍♀️🏃‍♀️🏃‍♀️

I hope you’re right! 🤞😀

[damienair Administrator in reply to cheekychipmunks]

Good luck Cheeky on your 11K tomorrow. Fair play to you, I’m training up to 10K again. I’m going to do a 7K this evening. I’ve been running away, but slowing down and sticking to 5K. I’ve lost a good bit of fitness. I need to step it up again. I’m going to enter the 13K Mountain Race again this year in November. So I’m going to start working back up towards that again.

[cheekychipmunks Graduate10 in reply to damienair]

That sounds like a fabulous race Damien. Plenty of time to train for it too, and I’m sure you’ll be back to full fitness before long. Just race Oisin! 🏃‍♂️ 🏃‍♂️

[damienair Administrator in reply to cheekychipmunks]

I’ll actually be able to race him at parkrun now. He is 11 and no longer needs to be within an arms length of me anymore.

[cheekychipmunks Graduate10 in reply to damienair]

Fantastic! ❤️

[Capri72]

Not having to dodge walkers is outweighed by having to wait to cross roads again- I loved it when they were empty!

[damienair Administrator in reply to Capri72]

Yeah especially the first 2 weeks. The roads were empty. The roads are definitely back to normal now.

[linda9389 Graduate10]

Exactly the same here! I have started to revert back to some of my old cycle routes which used cycle paths as I no longer meet anyone. 😃

[damienair Administrator in reply to linda9389]

Enjoy it. I’m really genuinely enjoying it now. No more dirty looks. Walkers , Joggers and Runners now are just out exercising as they always have. And nice friendly nods or waves most of the time.

[linda9389 Graduate10 in reply to damienair]

I agree - although I'm going to have to stop running the lanes because the traffic has built up again - swings and roundabouts 😀

[BOBOZ Graduate10]

Hahaha.

Same here in Sydney.

Looks like the covid health fad has faded and the mobs of walkers who clearly thought us runners were a nuisance have now decided to stay at home and get fat.

How nice those empty streets.

[damienair Administrator in reply to BOBOZ]

It’s amazing how it was a world wide phenomenon. 😂😂😂 No doubt social media led, most of it. Enjoy all your runs now. It’s lovely now not to have new walking families crowding the paths. It was really crazy a few weeks ago. Kind of reminded me of the first week of the New Year, all the resolutions out walking and running. A week later they have all fallen back into their old habits.

[Speedy60 Graduate10]

I'm thinking of my old route round the local park this morning. I only do it when its raining or cold. Its just lovely to have it to myself and a couple of other runners.

[damienair Administrator in reply to Speedy60]

Enjoy those lovely runs.

[sigasiga Graduate10]

Plenty of people are back at work now and some children back at school, so there won't be as many out for walks and bike rides. I still see quite a few families out though - hope they keep it up.

[damienair Administrator in reply to sigasiga]

It would be lovely if they kept it up. But they won’t. Thankfully I’m not on Social Media other than this lovely Forum and Twitter which I only use to follow parkrun news. I have a feeling that a lot of it was fed by social media feeds. Some people live their lives now on Social Media and according to Social Media. Hence why you can’t buy a Bike or even a Dog now. Our little 16 year old doggie 🐶 passed away about 3 weeks ago. We miss her dearly. We are going to wait until September and rescue a little Dog from a stupid family who purchased a puppy for Hundreds during the Covid-19 lockdown. They’ll be sick of their little precious by then and will have handed it into a Dogs Rescue Centre.

Damien

[sigasiga Graduate10 in reply to damienair]

Sorry to hear about your dog - it's so sad when you lose them. Yes I expect there will be plenty available in a few months.

[damienair Administrator in reply to sigasiga]

Ah thank you. Our little dog was a Pomeranian called Amber. She was very old, 16 years old, deaf, blind and really slowed up. She slept 90% of the day. She had a great life and we all loved her. I got her as an 8 week old puppy 🐶, she was with us for engagement, wedding, first child, second child. She shared all the big occasions with us and managed somehow to make her way into the photos.

I’d love to adopt or rescue a little dog. My two Sons will give it loads of attention and my wife walks 5K everyday. It might also enjoy running with me. I know that there will be plenty to pick from in September.

Damien

[Katnap Graduate10]

🤣 a bit like saying, don't touch!

[LurcherMum Graduate10 in reply to Katnap]

Don't open the box.

[Katnap Graduate10 in reply to LurcherMum]

Doh! Too late! 🤣

[damienair Administrator in reply to Katnap]

Yeah. Like don’t press the red button.

[Katnap Graduate10 in reply to damienair]

Behind the door saying Do Not Enter 🤣

[LurcherMum Graduate10 in reply to damienair]

Gotta press the red button.

[AnneT27091954]

I quite agree was thinking ver similar thoughts but do you really think they are staying in or have rushed out to do other things ie shopping visiting the beach/countryside & of course I for one have returned to work so as a ‘new runner’ finding it harder to get the time to run again