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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:

HalfTermHalfTerm · 14/04/2020 19:29

That’s Gove’s opinion. And even he says should be enough for most people which suggests even he thinks some people will need to exercise for longer.

The bloke puffs round his park like an unfit badger. I’m not surprised he thinks a 30 min run is enough.

But there Legally is no time limit.

While I agree that people should be using their common sense, nobody needs to be exercising outside for longer than 30 minutes. NHS guidelines say we should all be doing a minimum of 30 minutes moderate exercise a day, and if you want to do more than the minimum for whatever reason (which I agree is very sensible) you can do it inside.

ErrolTheDragon · 14/04/2020 19:33

The NHS guidelines are pitched at being something achievable by ordinary people. They don't represent the optimum amount or anything like what a really fit person does.

Duvetday8 · 14/04/2020 19:42

@LolaLollypop well done for getting back into it. It's so hard to get started again x

HalfTermHalfTerm · 14/04/2020 19:56

That doesn’t mean that anyone needs to be outside for more than 30 minutes though. I’m not saying that people shouldn’t do more than 30 minutes exercise a day, I’m saying they don’t need to be doing more than 30 minutes of exercise outside.

chomalungma · 14/04/2020 20:16

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 th

I wouldn't be arrested for sticking my fingers in a plug socket.

A judge can't prosecute someone if they aren't following guidelines.

It's if they aren't following the law.

In this country, you can only be prosecuted if you aren't following the law.

chomalungma · 14/04/2020 20:18

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

The law doesn't need interpreting.
The law is clear.
What bit is unclear to you?

Hearhoovesthinkzebras · 14/04/2020 20:20

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

But it doesn't say that in the law does it? Where in the law does it say you can go out, as long as it doesn't have a negative impact on anyone else?

ErrolTheDragon · 14/04/2020 20:26

The law (as I'm sure you know by now) merely talks about 'reasonable excuse'. So, is going out longer or more frequently actually unreasonable if it doesn't negatively impact anyone?

Xenia · 14/04/2020 20:30

The guidelinse can be ignored. Only he law is the law as we don't want a police state. he law does not limit the number of times you can go out to exercise as far as I am aware www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2020/350/regulation/6/made/data.pdf

If the state wants Parliament to change the regulations it would need to do that.

Hearhoovesthinkzebras · 14/04/2020 20:37

The law (as I'm sure you know by now) merely talks about 'reasonable excuse'. So, is going out longer or more frequently actually unreasonable if it doesn't negatively impact anyone?

But how does anyone know if they're negatively impacting someone else?

If by law, we can all go out as much and for as long as we like then places will likely get very busy. What stops that from happening? If someone walks to their local green space, sees it's busy so turns around and goes home how does anyone know that they've negatively impacted that person? Those people in the park might be on their third outing of the day or have been there all day and the person who walked away might not have been out.

What you're asking is that everyone acts unselfishly but is that very likely?

EnthusiasmIsDisturbed · 14/04/2020 20:37

MN seems full of posters who rather than follow the guidelines would rather just use their common sense because what they know better

The little unnecessary drive that made me feel better, the going out more than once a day because i want to run in the evening

Let’s just see how long lockdown lasts and how many will moan then

ErrolTheDragon · 14/04/2020 20:41

Some of us know where we live is never going to get busy because the population density is low.

chomalungma · 14/04/2020 20:42

MN seems full of posters who rather than follow the guidelines would rather just use their common sense because what they know better

As I said upthread, I would say that I have followed the guidelines.

However, were the police to stop me and say that they wanted me to go home because someone had reported me for 'going out to exercise for more than an hour or twice a day', I would ask them what part of the law that was against.

Darbs76 · 14/04/2020 20:43

I just don’t understand the whole ‘it’s not the law’ etc etc. So many people seem to have a reason to want to flout the guidelines. I think for some people they just can’t stand being told what to do. Around an hour once a day is perfectly reasonable. Just adhere to it. It’s for your own protection as well as other people’s and to keep the NHS above the line where it might have to start making very difficult decisions

SinglePringle · 14/04/2020 20:44

Those who think people going out for regular, hour+ exercise are going to ‘cause lockdown to be longer’ really really don’t understand the concept of a virus.

If lockdown were lifted tomorrow, the virus would still exist. If it’s lifted in 6 weeks, the virus will still exist. We haven’t ‘killed’ the virus; a vaccination or herd immunity are the only two things that can do this.

The vaccination is a good year away.

But herd immunity only works if people come into contact with the virus.

So... Lockdown is about a steady flow of that contact in order that emergency healthcare is available for those who need hospitalisation.

If you think the government have backed away from their initial ‘exposure’ policy, you are not paying attention. We are in for a good 8-12 months of lockdown / release / lockdown / release till the herd is safe.

Darbs76 · 14/04/2020 20:46

And I do 30-45 mins walk with my dog (who I walk daily come rain, shine, mud, snow, ice, not a fair weather walker or Covid-19 walker where these poor dogs who are never walked surface so that people have an excuse to walk). I then do laps of my garden so burn off calories as I’m not walking around much now I’m working at home rather than walking to train station / round the office. I do a minimum of 70 laps a day. I play fetch with the dog at the same time so tire him out too, two tasks done for the price of one!

chomalungma · 14/04/2020 20:46

It’s for your own protection as well as other people’s and to keep the NHS above the line where it might have to start making very difficult decisions

Why is it for an hour?
Why not 20 minutes?
Why not 15 minutes twice a day?

Or is some arbitrary figure they made up with no evidence that this is the correct maximum amount of single time out to keep people safe?

Mascotte · 14/04/2020 20:47

The law says that exercise is one of the reasonable excuses to leave your home.

There is NO time limit NOR “once a day” specified within the law.

Butchyrestingface · 14/04/2020 20:49

Let’s just see how long lockdown lasts and how many will moan then

The lockdown won't be extended because people who live rurally go out for a three hour walk in the arse end of nowhere and maybe happen across the odd sheep in their travels.

Full disclaimer: I spent 6 hours out of doors last Sunday, including a goodly portion where I sat in a field on my own eating my lunch and reading a book. The only humans I saw were several hundred metres away.

EnthusiasmIsDisturbed · 14/04/2020 20:50

That might be the case ErrolTheDragon

It’s not for everyone

I would love to go on a drive after a really stressful day at work that my way of relaxing but I don’t why I drive more I need to go to the petrol station more I am in contact with more people (also obviously the low risk of an accident)

Life is fucking shit at the moment for many or us yet many of us manage to not think well I know better and use my common sense

It’s almost as though some love to boast about this

chomalungma · 14/04/2020 20:53

Going for a drive isn't exercise though, is it...

EnthusiasmIsDisturbed · 14/04/2020 20:54

SinglePringle I am well aware why we are on lockdown thanks

EnthusiasmIsDisturbed · 14/04/2020 20:54

Read my post the reference to going for a drive

ineedaholidaynow · 14/04/2020 20:55

Farmers near us have asked people not to go through their fields and farmyards.

Butchyrestingface · 14/04/2020 20:57

Farmers near us have asked people not to go through their fields and farmyards.

They haven't near me (yet). But I'm certainly not 'seeking the sheep' and would avoid farmyards in any case.

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