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Original poster

To clarify the one hour of exercise 'rule'

426 replies

Itstheprinciple · 14/04/2020 12:19

I've seen this mentioned on so many posts and I've seen people clarify it within the post but I've not seen a specific post about it. I thought this could help people who seem confused about what is 'allowed'.

Michael Gove was asked on the Andrew Marr show what he considered to be reasonable exercise. This is his response:

"I would have thought that for most people, a walk of up to an hour, or a run of 30 minutes or a cycle ride of between that, depending on their level of fitness is appropriate."

So it is not a hard and fast rule or law. No one is standing with a stopwatch as it gets to 59 mins. It's guidance and it will vary between individuals as Mr Gove says himself.

OP posts:
LolaLollypop · 14/04/2020 15:42

I thought all parks were shut and that you weren’t meant to stop to eat?*

Nope, London. They haven't shut the parks, they've shut the play areas.

ErrolTheDragon · 14/04/2020 15:59

Jeez, they have even closed all the graveyards

We strolled around a country graveyard a couple of weeks ago, the gates were wide open. It had some lovely snakeshead fritillaries blooming in it, but no other (live) people.

errol thank you for clarifying. I see loads of people cycling in the rural area where I am. I wonder how far they've actually cycled now....

There was an 'if' in what I wrote...some may have repair gear etc, some may have come further than was sensible.

Statistician999 · 14/04/2020 16:03

Gove was not expecting this question and waffled. As he did with the question of non custodial parents.

As a result the messaging has been muddled and this has undermined confidence in the governments measures.

That’s why the first rule for government ministers on TV is not to deviate from the brief.

But Gove does not think the rules apply to him.

TabbyMumz · 14/04/2020 16:27

"I thought all parks were shut and that you weren’t meant to stop to eat? Jeez, they have even closed all the graveyards so assume you are outside UK somewhere?"
Not all parks have gates. You can walk right in.

Kordelia · 14/04/2020 16:37

The parks and graveyards are open where I am, though not children's playgrounds.

Gove did say one hour but he was put on the spot and gave a length of time he presumably thought would suit the majority.

I go out once a day with my dog for two hours. I see very few people in the quiet residential streets whereas in the more scenic popular areas I'd see far more in a fraction of that time.

TimeAintNothing · 14/04/2020 16:38

I have a 3 year old DS with autism and no speech yet I can stick to the bloody guidlines of going out once for exercise.

And that's working for you so keep doing it. I have two DC who are autistic and each has different needs. One needs to be out more than once per day otherwise he will be bouncing off the walls and when he gets energetic to but can't burn it off he ends up getting angry then he gets overwhelmed then he has a meltdown so he goes for a minimum of two walks a day. The other DC is fine with one walk but needs quiet at times and help to relax which is why I took him for a drive in the car yesterday to help calm him down as he was getting very emotional and overwrought.

One size does not fit all which is why there needs to be commonsense in applying the guidance.

megletthesecond · 14/04/2020 16:41

"Unfit badger". GrinGrin

PicsInRed · 14/04/2020 16:57

It seems like some people are absolutely gagging for stricter and stricter lockdown until they effectively bury themselves beneath their own house in a live reenactment of Blast From the Past.

vanillandhoney · 14/04/2020 17:03

I thought all parks were shut and that you weren’t meant to stop to eat? Jeez, they have even closed all the graveyards so assume you are outside UK somewhere?

None of that is true in my area, and last time I checked, Cumbria is still in the UK!

My favourite walk with the dog involves going across several open fields and through a graveyard (all open to the public). The other is to the enclosed park (again, open except the play equipment) so he can run and chase his ball.

Just because things are closed where you are, doesn't mean it's the same everywhere in the country. The only things shut here are the bits of parks that have play equipment in. Everything else is open as normal.

ineedaholidaynow · 14/04/2020 17:07

Thing is, it's all very well saying it's not the law that you can only exercise once a day, it's just a guideline, if more people spend more time on the streets etc, our lockdown is likely to get stricter like it is in other countries, so you won't be able to go out at all.

So maybe some people who don't actually need to go out more than once a day, and would just like to go out more than once a day, be a bit more considerate and go with the guidelines to enable everyone to go out. Because surely that is better than the alternative of not going out at all. If ever there was the time to think of others this is it.

Zaphodsotherhead · 14/04/2020 18:23

Thing is, it's all very well saying it's not the law that you can only exercise once a day, it's just a guideline, if more people spend more time on the streets etc, our lockdown is likely to get stricter like it is in other countries, so you won't be able to go out at all

But that's just the thing. Many of us aren't spending time 'on the streets'. Those of us who are out more than once live in places where we don't see another human being from one day to the next. We are presenting no risk to the general public however many times we are out.

Duvetday8 · 14/04/2020 18:35

Gosh I couldn't imagine only doing a 30 min run, I like to run for well over an hour or I don't feel much benefit

Theukisgreatt · 14/04/2020 18:49

If I find out any friends are abusing the rules, they won't be friends anymore.

ineedaholidaynow · 14/04/2020 18:50

@Zaphodsotherhead how do you know it's only people who live in the middle of nowhere that only go out more than once a day?

Lifeisgenerallyfun · 14/04/2020 18:50

I love all the “guidance isn’t law” shit, good luck with that in court when the judge interprets they legislation for you on light of the spirit of the legislation the government have been very clear in referencing repeatedly.

I mean there’s no law against sticking your fingers in a plug socket, but people are happy to stick to guidance not to do this.

People have been infantilised for so long they really can’t take all the information and work out what it means, instead they act like tantruming toddlers trying to be clever, trying to find ways round very obvious instructions.

YappityYapYap · 14/04/2020 18:55

TimeInPlace, yes, that's why I said if you have a care plan in place for a child once a day might not work. You know what works, you have your plan, you stick to it. What I was trying to point out is that if a 3 year autistic child can totally change their routine and stick to the guidlines, an adult can. My DS is more speech delayed than anything else so meltdowns aren't really an issue for us like they are for you. My DH has had to take DS out in the car twice during the lockdown to get him to calm down though.

One size doesn't fit all but an autistic child that is throwing themselves about the house and screaming due to cabin fever is worlds apart from an NT adult failing to give up 'what they are used to'

Zaphodsotherhead · 14/04/2020 18:56

ineedaholidaynow - obviously I don't, but most people are prefacing their 'I go out several times a day' with 'I live in the middle of nowhere'. So there may be some people who don't, but I'd guess most intelligent people can risk assess their own circumstances.

PicsInRed · 14/04/2020 19:01

Lifeisgenerallyfun

The laws asks only for a "reasonable excuse".
I'm sure most could come up with one.

Feel free to remain steadfastly indoors if you like. No one's stopping you.

PicsInRed · 14/04/2020 19:04

And just to be clear, I actually am following the "guidance", because my privileged circumstances permit me to do so.

I object to the one size fits all applied by the more puritanical - most particularly since the government clearly left the legislation vague to protect those with atypical circumstances.

Hearhoovesthinkzebras · 14/04/2020 19:04

So, as it isn't against the law it's fine for people to go out multiple times per day, for as long as they like then?

Mustbethewine · 14/04/2020 19:11

I go out twice a day to take the dog for 2x30 minute walks. I use routes I know people dont necessarily use, keep my distance and regularly sanitize my hands

ErrolTheDragon · 14/04/2020 19:13

Not if it has a negative impact on other people. If it genuinely doesn't .... what's the objection?

PicsInRed · 14/04/2020 19:19

So, as it isn't against the law it's fine for people to go out multiple times per day, for as long as they like then?.

If necessary, yep. Fine. Practice social distancing, get some fresh air and a bit of a head clear and don't beat the kids or murder your entire family.

I have no objection. For a lot of people, needs must - we need to balance the harms and be very, very careful not to project our own circumstances and inherent privilege onto others. There are people, including small children living some terrifying and grim lives. Let them have a 2nd walk FFS.

Butchyrestingface · 14/04/2020 19:24

I have been walking for around an hour or running/walking for maybe 3/4 hour (I am a runner in 'normal times' but have been ill (not corona virus related) so am back to being a beginner). I live in a rural area and for the first time in my life I have seen the police regularly driving around the area. They see me regularly and have never done anything other than give me a friendly wave, and they have been very much overstepping the mark in my local area, so I can only assume that they are not in any way concerned about people walking or running on deserted country roads.

Same. I’m semi-rural and have been going out once a day. Just so happened I was out for 6 hours the other day. Granted, that was the longest time outside by far but I don’t think too many people in my neck of the wood are limiting themselves to this “one hour”.

LolaLollypop · 14/04/2020 19:24

@duvetday8 I guess their guidelines is aimed at a quick 5k round the park rather than a longer run. Ive no doubt most "proper" runners will go for longer than this. I'm 8 weeks post partum so 30min is pretty much my maximum at the moment anyway!