Another month into the racing season and more races cancelled or postponed. The bigger picture is required – yes. People are suffering from this indiscriminate virus and (most) people are doing their best to make sure it stops. But as usual there are always those that think they are an exception to the rules.
Example #1: Neighbours who are constantly having their family round. Not just one household but at least three that I’ve counted. Additionally they had a builder round to size up a job for a patio at the end of last week so I guess they must be immune or something!
Example #2: On my solo runs over the past few weeks I have seen countless people drive out into the countryside and take their kids and/or pets out for a walk when the government have explicitly said this must not be done.
There are many more examples but need I go on – probably not.
Some would say I could be flouting the rules – each Wednesday and Sunday I ride outside on my bike. Wednesday between 1 & 2hrs but Sunday up 4hrs. Do I think I’m an exemption – no.
I guess the question that needs to be asked – do I come into contact with people on my ride – no. Am I increasing the risk of an RTC thus needing valuable resources that are needed elsewhere – maybe. My perception is that an RTC would need a vehicle for me to come into contact with – the fact that over 95% of vehicles are not on the road due to the lockdown does reduce this risk drastically. Since the governments’ announcement last Friday that people can now travel to exercise I have seen more cars on the road (yesterday) but not that many in comparison to normal traffic. I’m still extra careful but I guess the drivers of the vehicle must also be vigilant – as they always are naturally!
So – what’s changed in the last month?
I’m still the “socially distant” person I ever was I guess. I’m personable – yes, but I still like keeping myself to myself and weirdly contradictory I worry about not being included in things in the outside world. Part of my anxiety/mental makeup unfortunately which I try to keep a lid on!
The training is the same (as such). I have new direction and although my training before prescribed by me for me was going along an upwards curve my fatigue was too. I needed a fresh set of eyes on my plan and this has helped me look at it differently. A few things have changed, no swimming of course due to no Health Clubs being open and the ban on open water swimming (if I got into trouble then I’d need emergency services to assist) so that’s a definite “no no”.
Instead I’ve got a few new turbo sessions to add to the outdoor riding mentioned above and a new look at the running schedule which within a couple of weeks has seen me not struggle when I do the long run (only 90-mins at present) quite easily instead of suffering with fatigue towards the end and then eating into my Sunday ride and me hitting the wall within 2hrs on the bike. A new pair of trainers always makes you feel as if you’re going quicker in those first few weeks so that’s a plus.
As a key worker at a warehouse, supplying supermarkets with product and now the NHS hospital just round the corner my job along with my colleagues is more important than ever. In fairness it’s “just another day at the office” as I’m fairly desensitised to the whole outside world but, of course, I’m careful around delivery drivers and my hand hygiene is on-point each time I return to my office. No change in my working hours as a rule so training is always after work. It’s quite clear when swimming comes back into the schedule, sooner or later, it will be a “before work” activity as my evenings are full up with the other two disciplines. It’s nice to get a lie-in at the moment – that will change!
At the time of writing the last Blog I was looking at Challenge Roth still going ahead, this was quashed pretty quickly – within an hour of me publishing the blog. So that’s been deferred to next year – July the 4th 2021.
Nottingham Half Outlaw was already deferred and it now looks as though The Championships at Samorin has been tentatively postponed to Mid-August 2020.
Challenge Paguera in Majorca is all still on, so far but you never know what decisions will be made in the coming weeks/months. This was my season-ender but may soon be my season starter!
On the plus-side my GB Placement at The World Championships in Almere in September has been given the green light. Again, I think this one will be “tentatively” as the Dutch Government have stated that no sports requiring mass gatherings will take place until August 31st. The event is only 12 days after that date so who knows what decisions/announcements will take place between now & then.
If my placement is deferred to next year I may have to opt-out as it’s apparently in Australia 🙁
So, all in all it’s business as usual. With a few restrictions of course.
And then there’s Suzy, my wife, my rock, my sounding board – she’s working from home so feeling the isolation more than ever, she’s burying herself into her new job and training with the hope that things will return to some kind of normality soon.
Hopefully come next blog the light at the end of that tunnel will be clearer.
