I haven’t posted for a while, but I’ve been reading and responding to lots of posts, interested to hear how everyone’s managing in this surreal time.
I’ve been running regularly (highlight was my virtual Bath Half Marathon a couple of weeks ago) and now with things as they are, I’m fortunate in that I have a lovely common near me. It has good variety - hills, flat, grass, mud (currently dry as a bone 👍), narrow trails and broad expanses - basically perfect for social distance running as visibility is good for changing route at short notice if needs be. It’s also perfect to exercise my dog, Flossie, off the lead safely at the same time. 🐾🐾 It’s pretty exposed to 💨💨, but beggars can’t be choosers.
But ..... it’s about a mile away from my house so I normally drive there. Our road is mostly pavement free, quite narrow and often busy. Even with less cars around, it’s not ideal for runners as the few cars that are out decide it’s fun to see how fast they can go. 🙄😡 Or there are the tractors which are downright massive! 🚜
The other morning I’d gone to the common as usual and I was stopped by a lovely young policeman asking where I’d come from. I told him, and he asked if I’d mind walking there in the future as it’s not an essential trip. Fair enough - but it means I’ll need to brave the road and leave Flossie at home - Beachcomber66 will know the kind of eyes I’ll get! 😩
I attempted the field behind my house yesterday. Not my favourite for running as the chance of turning an ankle in the many ruts is high as everything is so dry. (Not that I want rain I hasten to add!) I minced around for a while and did a very slow 5.5k. 🐌
Oh well, the field will suffice for walking Flossie, but it’ll be solo running on the common for my runs from now on. 🏃♀️ Or in my garden if we end up being restricted further! 😳 I’m going to start a sweepstakes to see who can guess the number of laps it’ll take to reach 5k! 😅😅
No complaints from me though. We’re safe and all together as a family - and I DO have running options. 💕
Take loads of care everyone. Can’t wait for life to return to normal. ❤️
Written by
cheekychipmunks
Half Marathon
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Yes they really are IP. 🙁 He explained it’s to stop people driving out from further afield, and it would be impossible to police them all. There are a few houses dotted around and residents had noticed more cars than usual. Boo. 👎
Haha yes, he was actually “young”, honest! I know what you mean though! 😅
How can it only be a week since lock down cheeky? I’m glad to hear that your family are all safe and well. It must be like Christmas having everyone around at once.
Strange that the policeman thinks you’ll be safer walking to the common where you have to share the narrow road with cars and other walkers than being in your own capsule in the car. But I guess it’s as a result of so many people driving so much further to beauty spots.
We are lucky that we can walk to the prom but as everyone else wants to be there for their daily exercise we have been avoiding it if it’s busy and walking at canoe lake and the rose garden. My ligament isn’t up to walking on the pebble beach yet.
I’m hoping we don’t get restricted to our gardens, although at least we have one. It must be so hard for families living in flats.
That’s just it Dexy. It’s a great dog walking location so people have been driving from further afield and the residents noticed an increase in cars parked up there. Such a shame, as it served both mine and Flossie’s exercise purposes. 🙁
So could you find a time of day which is less busy on the prom? It’s the perfect walk for you with your knee in rehab isn’t it? I hope UTS is still able to get some runs in. 🏃🏃
I hope it doesn’t come to gardens! That would be pretty comical! But you’re right, at least we have them ...... 👍
That makes sense then, but a shame for you as you always run there.
If this cold wind keeps up it keeps a lot of people indoors so the prom will be fine. But when it was warm last week it was even busy late into the afternoon. I prefer to stay away and stay safe - the prom will be there when this is over.
UTS went for a nice long run on a quiet route last week so he is happy. Two runs a week are enough for him at the mo.
That's a shame when you have a perfect solution. That's the problem with rules, unless they're taken to the letter there's always options for people to abuse them, but invariably there are unwanted consequences such as yours. Good luck settling into your new routine. Take care 😘
Spot on Linda. We’re only 7 miles from the centre of Bristol and the residents near the common had noticed a large increase in cars parked. It was the police’s only option unfortunately. 🙁
Still, I can get out which is something. Keeping everything crossed we’re not restricted to gardens ...... 😳😳
Strange days indeed Cheeky - and as you say, we must enjoy being able to get out at all while we can. Some of my run routes are busier than usual so I have been trying to make sure I seek out the quieter paths (i.e. the muddy ones and the paths around fields!). Should we lose the freedom to run then my garden is really to small to run in so it will be the exercise bike for me I think along with PE with Joe Wicks on YouTube! Take care and stay safe.🙂
Totally bizarre isn’t it Sandra? I’m just thankful I got to run my HM before all this. Doing zillions of laps around gnarly trails or rutted fields or the garden wouldn’t have been my bag at all! 😳😅🏃♀️
Let’s hope we don’t need to be restricted further. As long as people keep doing the right thing ...... 🤞
Oh bother. I can see the logic but the outcome is illogical. I've left my tools at the allotment because I suspect eventually I will have to walk there. Luckily I can walk to the canal 😉 however I can't go far without passing moored boats so that is out. This isn't going to be a short term thing either 😕.
Indeed Baddie. I am a legit “local” but the majority using the common of late haven’t been, and I can, in theory, walk or run there. I’ll just need to go even earlier to give myself the best chance of meeting less traffic. 🤞
I don’t usually wish spring away, but I am this year.
Unfortunate we have a kleptomaniac. He seems untouchable too for some reason that no-one can fathom My cooker, kettle, stool and fantastic little trolley along with a new roll of chicken wire we’re pinched I went nuts and got my cooker, stool and kettle back. He nicked someone’s barrow to nick that then pinched the wheel off the barrow He nicked a fence panel from my neighbour, 18 sleepers they were massive and wrapped! The police got involved as there was a scuffle. He got away Scott free although they found the sleepers on his plot 🤷♀️ He is sub-letting and all sorts He stuck a note on my fence about my bonfire and my 45 gallon oil drum disappeared I replaced it with a small galvo incinerator but I hope he’s not nicked that He’s stolen from lots of plotters who have challenged him and gone to the council Nothing done about him 🤨My mower is in my shed My tools are fab. I’d be heart broken if they were to go missing
Yep you’re right BC, and I think that’s what the problem was with the common. So many more cars parked than usual and the residents alerted the police. Fair enough. It just makes it harder for legit locals like me. 🙄
Good post from you Cheeky, it's nice to hear from you, wow, being stopped by the police, in the nicest possible way, sorry that if do go to that place you won't be able to take Flossie, better to run nearer home with her.
As for me, yesterday I ran a "virtual 5K parkrun" at the time parkruns are run in Scotland, 9.30am, my time was 33.25, this morning I walked almost 9 kilometers, just over 10,000 steps, I had Mapmywalk with me, interesting 5K split time, 52 minutes compared to yesterday's 33 minutes.
Stay safe and when outside keep well away from others.
Hi Al. I’ll miss Flossie on my runs on the common, that’s for sure, but it’s so much nicer running there than in our neighbouring field. I can still walk her up there, which I’ll do on my non-running days. Fortunately there are plenty of others in the household who can walk her the rest of the time! 🐾😀 She’s possibly the only member of the family who is enjoying this whole scenario!
Good for you with your virtual PR yesterday! Good time there. Nice walk today too! I’ll be heading out shortly, although the wind is biting today. 💨💨💨💨
For some some strange reason that 5K yesterday has been added to my total distance on the Vitality World Running Cup, before yesterday it was 40Km ran, despite it being postponed, yesterday's 5K added my total distance to now 45 Kilometers.
Hi cheeky! Sorry Flossie won’t be able to get to the common for a while but I’m sure she’ll enjoy the smells in your field ! If lockdown completely confines us to houses I’ll have to resort to running up and down stairs. My garden is only about 6 mtrs square, great for sitting in but not much else! Let’s hope it doesn’t come to that, for me and all those in flats or who are gardenless! Stay well!
Oh wow OGR, you’ll be the fittest of us all if you end up having to run up and down your stairs! 😅😅😅
Flossie enjoys the field, you’re right. All sorts of smells to investigate! It’s horrid to run in though. 😩 I did literally my slowest ever 5.5k run in it yesterday - in fact if my Garmin had a mince setting, that’s what I should have chosen! All those ruts! 👎👎😅
Running- I’ve not been out for a run, but, I have been doing daily exercise for several weeks now.
If I’m honest, I think the way things have been progressing, sadly, I have felt uncertain about going out to run.
Fortunately, I do have a decent size back garden, which I have mowed and tidied up last week and I’ve done a few of my exercise sessions out there. Gardening was a good distraction & time out with lovely weather too 😃.
It’s hard to feel so helpless and running is a good way to release the feelings that build up, sometimes without even realising it. I’d be interested in a garden run challenge. How many laps to 1k, 2k etc!! If swimmers can do it, I’m sure we can 💪🏽. I might set myself up with that challenge 😃! Or choose an app coached run and see how my time improves. That could be fun! 🤩
I’m grateful as always for this great community of support. And I wish you and all your families, safety, health and wellbeing. 🤗🤗🤗❤️
Fantastic attitude Fab! I’d be up for a garden challenge! Ours is rather slopey round the back but I could make myself some kind of course. At least Flossie could rejoin me, plus I could be the family‘s daily entertainment! 😅😅
It is such a shame about the common, but I do understand the logic behind it. Some idiots breaking the rules ruins things for everyone else. 😡
Oh that’s a shame when you’d found the perfect place. But rules are rules I suppose and as you say there are other options and at least we can go outside to run. I’m managing trotting round my normal routes mainly - although I have crisscrossed the roads a bit more when I see people heading towards me.
I have a small paved back garden (borders round the edges) so I could trot round and round in circles and I have a treadmill but just before all this, when my freezer packed up and I had to get a new one, we cleared a pathway through the garage to get the old one out and new one in. And that involved folding the treadmill up. And my lovely son tightened the knob that holds it in place. I’m not strong enough in my wrist to undo it so I don’t think I’ll be able to use it. And nine of my kids are at mine at present- just me and the cats. 😩
I did plan a Parkour course round my house ( in my head when I couldn’t sleep one night) so maybe that’s my next fitness move???? Perhaps not!! But I did find my old Step in the cupboard last week ( looking for the cats tunnel for some variety for them) so maybe I’ll dig that out and find a YouTube class.
Ooooohhhh a step class sounds very appealing LL! I’m an 80’s person through and through and it was my favourite thing to do, clad in my pastel leotard and leggings combo, complete with headband and leg warmers! I would happily revisit those days! 😅😅
Personally I’d rather run garden laps than use a treadmill! It’s one thing I’m not missing, the gym!
Take care of yourself and have fun running while you can. 🏃♀️🏃♀️
I joined a gym once with my friend and step classes were free with our package. We loved it except we’d both get left and right muddled and had many a collision. I always think of Victoria Wood now when I think of step class. 🤣🤣🤣did you ever see her routine? Classic!!
Oh poor Flossie! She’ll miss her runs on the common, but I did see a really funny cartoon the other day of a dog sitting on top of a high cupboard with several people saying “walkies” and the dog saying “I’ll be glad when this is all over and I can just sleep all day again” 😂😂 Is it really only 2 weeks since our half marathons? It feels a lifetime ago 😩 This morning they were saying social distancing could last til October. Please no! It’s about 60m round the edge of my back lawn so I dread to think what the grass would be like after 5k. Keep smiling, keep running xx
OCTOBER? Pleeeeeaase say that’s not going to happen? 😩😩😩😩😩😩😩
You’re right, all our dogs are getting so much more exercise than usual aren’t they? Whoever goes out offers to take Flossie! 🐾🐾🐾
I think we should all at least have a go in our gardens - just in case it comes to that! We could provide free entertainment for our families in the process. 🏃♀️🏃♀️🏃♀️🏃♀️🏃♀️🏃🏃🏃🏃🏃
Take care, and see you on the other side of this. 👊 😘
Well be careful in that field CC and stay safe.😊 I’m not liking the government rumblings today about Possible tighter restrictions perhaps we won’t even get past the garden gate soon. 😳
I suppose we’ll both be in the garden then hopefully it won’t come to that 🤞I have access to a treadmill but I’d rather run round the living room than use that that thing just can’t get on with it. 😊.
I must admit I'm not understanding much about the new rules - I would have thought that you were LESS at risk (on main road, plus not being able to pass other runners or walkers on a main road by more than 1.5m on foot), if you drive there in your car, not more, but we have to follow the rules I guess.
It's great that you're still running and Flossie will still get her walks, just a change of scenery!
(My dogs are loving having me home 24/7, they are going to sulk when I have to go back to work)
Yes you’d have thought that wouldn’t you BIT .... but I think they’re trying to dissuade non-locals from getting in their cars and driving out to us. Otherwise they’d need to ID every driver. It’s such pain isn’t it?
Flossie is in her element, like your dogs! She’s never had so much attention and offers of walks. I’ll miss her running with me though. Having said that, if we’re restricted to just the garden she’ll be back with me! 🙄🐾😅😳🏃♀️
Stay well and happy running, whatever you can get of it. 👍
This is so tough on everyone and I had never considered the impact on dogs who’s owners rely on driving even a short way to take them for a good walk.
I hope you still find your runs enjoyable, I am still getting out of the door but I have to admit I am struggling to motivate myself to do anything more than 10km.
Yes it does restrict where I can take her, tiggs, but I have a decent sized garden plus the fields behind our house, so I’m fortunate. It’s just that I don’t like running in the fields now that they’re so dry and rutted 👎
I agree about distance. I’d like to think I’ll do 10k at least once in April, but it really depends on where. Oh well, we’ll get through this won’t we?
Great post cheeky. Poor Flossie, I hope she doesn't miss out too much. We take it for granted how easy it is for us to run somewhere from ours, forgetting that others need to drive somewhere to be safer. We're able to run on the roads at the moment, which is a joy as they are so flat and bouncy! We do have to be careful though because some drivers do seem to be taking advantage of the empty roads to see how fast they can go 🙄
Bet you're glad you got your HM out of the way! I'm contemplating the back garden and it's not very big at all!!
I'm sure you'll find a solution Cheeky - I think we're all getting very creative in how we adapt to this unforeseen (word of the year😋) situation. I'm lucky to be able to run from my house - even if it is pavements. Also veering into the road to avoid a walker or another runner has become less risky given the reduced traffic, thank goodness . Take care😀
I thought it was ok to drive to a local quiet spot and exercise provided you maintained social distancing while exercising. Has something changed or am I misinterpreting this? Probably am tbh.
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A little update from me.
A Lovely Morning Run 😁