80 minutes exercise today

[Bubblebu]

What kind of exercise are you getting?

If I went out for my (otherwise usual) 40 min there and 40 min walk back usual rural walk today, (apart from having been told not to mix with people which I would not) will I be arrested?

Have I missed some kind of gmt mandated time restriction on out doors exercise which would make this indefensible? (if confronted I would say the purported reason is a trip to my local supermarket tho ive no reason whether it is open / stocked so that would not be the principle reason).

I think the problem is that we were told that we can leave the house to exercise for as short a period as possible. And that bit seems to have passed everyone by so that people are now out in their droves for long periods of time.

I do appreciate that not everyone has a garden but if those who can exercise at home do exercise at home - whether through exercise videos, physical labour in the garden or whatever is best for them - then this would dramatically reduce the number of people out and about and that in turn would enable those without any outdoor space to use the parks and streets more safely. The upshot is then that these restrictions get lifted more quickly.

Instead I fear they will tighten by the end of the week.

Aiming to minimise contact with people, rather than time or distance, is surely what we ought to do. Unfortunately some people have no common sense so chances are more prescriptive rules will need to be introduced. If you live in a village, a distance limit would mean you'd be likely to be closer to more people rather than fewer spread out further, on narrow pavements rather than country paths. If I walk for longer, again I'll get to parts fewer others reach.

I took the DC out for a very dull 30 min walk around over village yesterday to get some fresh air and a slight change of scene. Just after we set off, I saw a couple in walking boots, with poles carrying a map and felt rather envious of them being able to enjoy the sunshine and go exploring. On our return leg, I saw them sat on the bench by the bus stop having a picnic and then putting their rubbish in the bin and my thoughts changed. I still can't work out whether I was being xenophobic on a very local level and irrational or whether there is some substance to my thoughts that they will have touched gates, stiles, bins, benches that they needn't have touched. The message is to stay home and whilst you are permitted to exercise once, this isn't within the spirit of that message.

We are semi rural so we are out in the fields for an hour before DD gets bored. We saw four people this morning but it’s a huge area so people were very far away anyhow.

I had a walk in a very remote area for about an hour. Met a few people, all at a huge distance apart and had morale boosting shouted concernsations.

Got home and did maybe 40 minutes of exercise using resistance bands.

I am really sufferring at the moment as I have a connective tissue disorder that leaves many people profoundly unwell and disabled.

Through strict exercise (usually 20+ hours a week) I have managed to stay relatively healthy and reduce the constant pain I am in.

I usually go to the gym for 1-2 hours 5-6 times a week plus additional exercises. I am doing my best to stay well but am worried about falling back into disability. just have to do the best I can and be grateful for what I have

Yes, there is substance to your thoughts, cobweb. The added risk may be minimal but it's not zero - and public transport shouldn't be being used for leisure purposes, if that's why they were at the bus stop. Those people may pick up something from using the same transport as key workers who are more likely to have been exposed.

I think too many people are sure they're not infected so they're not a risk and so can carry on, but don't properly consider that they may be unnecessarily exposing themselves. And then spreading it before they realise.

I'm alternating between a long park walk every other day, and gardening/labour in the home the other day. There's a little-used country path that starts about a mile away. Considering driving down to see if it's used at the weekend.

Luckily my garden is in a right state, so that will keep me occupied for the foreseeable.

Incredibly jealous of my parents. They live in a remote Lake District valley - not one of the popular ones. They are the last house in the valley, no neighbours for a mile, so they can easily go for miles direct onto footpaths without encountering anyone. Plus they have huge gardens. Bastards.

I went out for a walk yesterday. About 1.5 hours. Fairly rural. Saw 4 people - all kept more than 2m away, but was nice to say hi and have a brief chat. I think it really does depend on where you live and how many people you are likely to see on your route. I'm planning on doing the same again today and have no qualms about doing so.

Yes, it does depend on where you are. Which isn't fair, but none of this is and people being dog-in-the-mangerish and prescriptive towards people who can walk for hours without coming close to anyone aren't really doing anyone any good.

But don't go further than your bladder allows!

I went for an exquisite run at 5.30am
Passed may be 3 people.
8k circular route

Matt Hancock was asked the question directly by a journalist yesterday. He looked a bit puzzled for a moment, and then said, well, just do the exercise you normally do, run your usual distance, but only go out once a day (words to that effect)

I walked round my quiet residential area today, met a few people and most people smiled and said good morning, and everyone observed social distancing.

For those who are worried about leaving the house to go for a walk/get some exercise, this is the PM's transcript from Monday: www.gov.uk/government/speeches/pm-address-to-the-nation-on-coronavirus-23-march-2020

Nowhere does the PM say you can only leave the house at certain times of the day.
Nowhere does the PM say you can only leave your home to walk/run/cycle, etc within a certain distance.
Nowhere does the PM say you can only leave the house for short periods of time to exercise. There have been no stipulated time limits so far.

For all those wanting to impose the stricter limits in place in Italy etc on themselves, crack on but please stop spreading misinformation.

You walk sounds fine, OP. I probably do something similar myself most days. I am careful not to touch anything or sit on anything when I am out. Obviously stay well away from other people as well.

The written government guidance does say for as short a period as possible. But no point arguing over it.

Either dh or me brings the toddler out in the buggy and walk to the cemetery at the back of our house. Then walk the little legs around, looking at flowers and birds etc. Never see a soul in there, or if we do it's off in the distance.

I did a 15 minute YouTube work out this morning and we have up to a 60 minute walk in the woods each day when DH takes his lunch break.
I'm 5 weeks pregnant though and just starting to feel a bit sick and tired so that's enough for me I think really.
We'll probably go for a cycle at the weekend.

The written government guidance does say for as short a period as possible.

No it doesnt

We went out for a good hours stomp in local forest and will do the same. Won’t be less than an hour as want the children to really roam and run free

No it doesnt

Actually I agree, the long form one doesn't now. But it certainly did.

Anyway whatever - people will do what they will do. All you can do is look out for yourself and your family. We will carry on exercising at home and getting fresh air by being in the garden. Others will do them

I live about 500m from the fringe of open countryside. I'm happy under current circumstances to drop some of my regular routes that go through busier parks and town particularly those that intersect with my 10 mile route. I am continuing with my 4-8 mile loops that take me into open, pretty, uncelebrated countryside where the risk is low. There are far more famous parts of the county to attract thè masses.

I am more concerned about having to go to supermarkets to keep the family fed than catching the virus off a remote stile. We haven't made close physical contact with anyone outside our household since school finished on Friday. We are low risk of complications.

Working from home brought a lot of dog walkers out from last week, so running loops close to home because that's what some countries are prescribing is a higher social risk than going to carefully chosen, quiet places further affield.

I'll save the frustrating tedium of prancing about in a carpeted, badly ventilated room until that is the only viable option for burning enough energy to be able to sleep.

MN classic topics about loo brushes, shoes in the house and contact with young babies show that even at the best of times (which this isn't) there is a significiant proportion of MNers who have an overly zealous approach to hygiene and risk assessment. Yes follow the rules, but don't scaremonger and make up new rules to inflict on people already abiding by current guidence.

I live rurally so it's very quiet. I'm disabled, though, and can't walk far. My husband, working from home, is going to take me out in my wheelchair. At least that way I get out more than I ever usually would and my husband gets a bit of exercise.

I think your plan is fine, OP. Maybe cut it to half an hour each way, though. I know from miserable experience that being stuck in the house all day isn't good for us, physically or mentally.

I would hardly say a walk to the top of the South Downs is a stroll, and if you do see anyone they are a very long way away from you.

Bella2020. Thank you for your email and noted will do best wishes to you.

Joe Wickes does not solve this problem (however much money he is making out of it)

Wow, I could have sworn BJ said for an hour. Does no-one else remember him saying this? Really confused. Must be the Mandela effect