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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To remind people of the exercise rules

349 replies

Orangeblossom78 · 25/04/2020 09:56

Keep seeing all this stuff where people are making up their own rules and telling people off! we were even glared at while having a family picnic on a long walk yesterday! Please stop with telling people off when they are within the guidelines.

Here is the current situation, as updated about a week ago.

What are the current rules when it comes to exercise in the UK?

Daily exercise, including walking, running, cycling, tending to an allotment or doing yoga is allowed.

You are allowed to drive somewhere to take your exercise. The guidance says, ‘it is lawful to drive for exercise.’ However, ‘Driving for a prolonged period with only brief exercise’ is also deemed ‘not likely to be reasonable’. The rule of thumb? You’re allowed to drive somewhere to go for a walk or run as long as you spend much more time walking than you do driving.

Exercising more than once per day is likely to be allowed if you have a ‘reasonable excuse’ for needing to leave your home.

You are allowed to sit and take a break from exercise, say, on a bench or sitting down in a park. However, this must be for a short time only and, as before, you must spend markedly more time exercising than resting.

OP posts:
Thread gallery
7
PennyGold · 25/04/2020 09:58

I'm in agreement regarding the exercise.
However, I wouldn't say a "family picnic" was a short sitting break from exercise.

daisypond · 25/04/2020 10:00

And where does it say you can have a picnic? Of course you were glared at. You’re taking the piss.

HelloJohnGotANewMotor · 25/04/2020 10:04

Family picnic!!!!

Abreadsandwich · 25/04/2020 10:04

I guess it's open to interpretation. To me "a short break" is stopping for a few minutes not putting a rug down and having a picnic.
If picnics/sunbathing were allowed I think they would have explicitly said so.

DysonFury · 25/04/2020 10:06

A bloody picnic then the cheek to come on here preaching.

BrieAndChilli · 25/04/2020 10:07

That’s actually only rules for England now

Wales have published updated guidelines from today and it states that
you must not cycle further away from your home than you can walk, eg 20 miles away from your home is considered too far
You must not drive to exercise unless you have a health problem that makes this absolutely necessary, you must exercise in your immediate area
You can exercise more than once a day if you have certain health conditions and have been advised by healthcare worker to exercise more than once.

CecilyP · 25/04/2020 10:07

Unless you wolfed down that picnic in double quick time, you were breaking the rules that you so kindly reminded us of. No wonder you were glared at! YABU!

BuddleiaTime · 25/04/2020 10:07

Why can't people just mind their own business?

You keep to the rules as you see them and leave everyone else alone.

Orangeblossom78 · 25/04/2020 10:08

And were does it say you can't stop to eat or drink? We had a long walk, we were stopping for a short time, we were within the guidelines.

People were out playing tennis, golf on the golf course, in the botanical gardens which has been re-opened...and yes having picnics and doing yoga, it was lovely. Nice to see to be honest.

OP posts:
Iwalkinmyclothing · 25/04/2020 10:08

I am sick to fucking death of lockdown vigilantes, so yanbu op, but I predict a bunch of them are going to be attracted to this thread and take great pleasure in telling you off.

Orangeblossom78 · 25/04/2020 10:09

you were breaking the rules-

No, as we had walked for over an hour and stopped for 20 mins, so no we had not broken the rules

OP posts:
Bumblebee6789 · 25/04/2020 10:09

Ummm a picnic?? I’m not surprised you got glared at!

Orangeblossom78 · 25/04/2020 10:09

Don't really care if they do tell me off to be honest, it's quite funny! Grin

OP posts:
Sidalee7 · 25/04/2020 10:10

I would interpret “a short break” as getting a water bottle out and maybe resting for a few minutes, not a family picnic!!!!
Your tone is very preachy but you are totally in the wrong. This must be a wind up.

BlackKite · 25/04/2020 10:10

It depends on what you mean by picnic. Do you mean a sandwich on a bench?

StoorieHoose · 25/04/2020 10:12

You don't care about being told off but some random stared at you and you felt the need to start a thread? Attention seeking much?

Orangeblossom78 · 25/04/2020 10:12

www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/coronavirus-lockdown-uk-police-law-rules-a9468471.html

Picnics are allowed anyway!

I think it is confusing as the guidance has changed, maybe takes a while to get your head around it.

OP posts:
ANoiseAnnoys · 25/04/2020 10:13

Yes, we’ve had picnics - sat down in a field for about 10 mins to eat a sandwich/drink. After walking for about 90 mins. No one else around us. A few people walked past and looked over - didn’t feel like it was “glaring” though and to be honest I wouldn’t give a shit anyway!

Umnoway · 25/04/2020 10:14

If you’re stopping for a sandwich quickly then that’s fine but sitting down on a blanket and pulling out a F&M basket filled with a three course lunch is BU.

Ihopeyourcakeisshit · 25/04/2020 10:15

A short break is to get your breath/have some water/energy bar, you get the gist.
A picnic doesn't count and you bloody well know it.
You'll be justifying a barbecue next.

Ontopofthesunset · 25/04/2020 10:15

Of course there is no actual risk to sitting down in your family group and eating some food and then walking on. You are not more infectious (if you have the virus) sitting than moving, nor are you more at risk of catching it, unless you are in a crowded area and are not far enough away from other people. I think the problem with sitting down for any length of time is that it can make it more difficult for others to observe a suitable distance.

user1488464056 · 25/04/2020 10:15

@Orangeblossom78 I'd be interested to know which golf course this was. All golf courses are closed in accordance with Government guide lines and the English Golf Union.

Ihopeyourcakeisshit · 25/04/2020 10:17

But there we go, "I wouldn't give a shit" good job not everyone has that view.

R2519 · 25/04/2020 10:17

We go out for a walk with our 22 month old. She isn't a carry from most of the walk. We stop part way and have a drink and a snack. Maybe for 10 minutes. If thats all you did OP I don't see anything wrong with it. If you stopped for more like 20mins + and got out sandwiches, crisps etc then yes I would say you are not supposed to be doing that. If everyone adopted the attitude of pushing the boundaries of whats acceptable people would keep pushing boundaries until everyone was basically doing what they wanted.

daisypond · 25/04/2020 10:18

A walk of an hour is hardly a long walk that needs a family picnic in the middle of it - just so you can try to justify it by saying the exercise part was longer than the sitting down for a rest part.

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