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AIBU?

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Original poster

Are you going out for exercise?

273 replies

TalkSenseIntoMe · 09/01/2021 12:14

I feel stupid asking this but as the COVID rate is now up to 1 in 15 in some parts of London...are people still going out for exercise? I had planned a forest walk with my DC today but now I’m wondering if I’m being irresponsible? We know the virus doesn’t hang around in the air but the message seems so clearly focused on STAY AT HOME. Exercise is allowed, I know, but it seems at odds with the stay at home message. Maybe the new variant does hang around in the air? Oh I’m being hysterical aren’t I? Tell me to get a grip and go out please.

OP posts:
lljkk · 10/01/2021 00:16

Not busy with people walking today... yes busy with cars!
I reckon people were scared to walk bc of the icy roads so traffic went up.
We slipped around on roads having fun for hours.

JocastaElastic · 10/01/2021 01:08

Where does the figure 1 in 15 come from? I've been frantically googling statistics for Covid cases in London, and the worst case scenario I've come across is 1 in 50. If you have evidence, or have heard rumours to the contrary please share....(not goady, I am genuinely interested to know your source).

cyclingmad · 10/01/2021 01:15

@Splodgetastic

If everyone wears a mask it should minimise the risk, but obviously you can’t control what others do. Hopefully people take heed of Sadiq’s advice. Trouble is, he is a really sensible and reasonable person (unlike Boris) who people seem to take affront to, dare I say it, for no reason other than the fact that he’s a Muslim.
Oh give it a rest about it being because he is Muslim. It is quite possible that people just think he is a crap mayor and he is! Completely rubbish.

On what scientific evidence is he using to justify wearing masks outdoors in public spaces e.g. going for a walk? If the virus was transmitted by just being outside then we would have to live in sealed houses with filtered air to avoid transmission.

And you call him sensible and reasonable 🙄 God not even Boris is that stupid and he has plenty of scientists giving advice. Not even SAGE say we need to wear masks outside.

caringcarer · 10/01/2021 01:29

I am not in London and Vivid rates lower here but it is too bloody cold for me to want to go out other than quick walk of dogs and DH doing evening walk as even colder and dark then. I do have home gym though with rowing machine, stepper machine, elliptical trainer, recumbent cycle, weights and excercise ball and large mat. I just pop in there for 40 mins. If we get a warmer day I take dog on longer route around lake. If I was in London, SE or East where rates seem so high now I would stay in except quick walk very early or very late with dog and I would wear a mask. If no dogs I would stay in and just pop out into garden for 15 mins.

Cheerios444 · 10/01/2021 01:33

Go outside OP, I have been extremely cautious throughout but we are going out for exercise tomorrow every day. It’s keeping us sane. It can hang around the air inside but not outside x

Doodallysally · 10/01/2021 01:39

Yes. It's legal. And it doesn't matter what anyone else does or doesn't do, if something is legal, or doesn't matter what everyone else is doing or not. I think it's pointless to fasten yourself in the house and risk your DC's and your own mental health by not getting fresh air and exercise.

BuggersMuddle · 10/01/2021 01:43

Yes. Every day walk/run/cycle but am trying to up the cycling and running component.

I live in a house in Scotland though (urban / suburban) so quiet street and I avoid certain areas at busier times. Not sure how I’d feel if I was in a flat in central London tbh. It is important to get daylight and keep moving though - however you achieve that.

cordite · 10/01/2021 01:47

Yes, I'm taking my toddler out for fresh air and a visit to the playground. I don't feel I get that much exercise myself as I'm just hovering around her on the climbing frame, but at least she's getting out and having fun. We're in London and I'm not finding our parks too crowded, but we go quite early.

My sister (also in London) is keeping her dc at home and I think they're really depressed, personally I think she is storing up MH problems for them in future.

MrsNWT · 10/01/2021 01:50

Yes, I take the kids out daily to our local park or for a walk. We live in central London. We’d go bonkers otherwise. Please get some fresh air.

SophieDahling · 10/01/2021 01:52

Both. I do a short home workout most mornings then a walk with DC either in their lunch break or as soon as lessons are over. It is so important to get outdoors if you are able. It’s a mood lifter.

MrsNWT · 10/01/2021 01:53

jocasta it’s 1 in 30 in London, some parts 1 in 20. It’s on BBC guardian and if you watch one of Sadie Khans latest announcements, he also mentions this.

SophieDahling · 10/01/2021 01:57

Hopefully people take heed of Sadiq’s advice. Trouble is, he is a really sensible and reasonable person (unlike Boris) who people seem to take affront to, dare I say it, for no reason other than the fact that he’s a Muslim

Oh fgs, you do know Londoners voted for him? And they had a white, non-Muslim alternative on the ballot paper? He is unpopular because he hasn’t done anything good for London since being elected. He won’t win another term.

GreenlandTheMovie · 10/01/2021 01:59

Absolutely. I'd feel awful if I didn't get outside in the fresh air every day.

I've got fitter and stronger in lockdown. I run most days but I've got joint problems so I try to run on soft surfaces on the advice of an orthopaedic surgeon. There's only one local route to me that's off road and it's a slippy slide mud bath at the moment. Plus I'm faster now so I'm having to do nearly two laps of the bastard thing. It's mind numbing and horrible in places where it's a real struggle to stay on your feet as they slide from under you. I really want to run in a forest but the nearest is about 25 miles away. There's no of road tracks suitable between - I've even ordered an Ordnance Survey map and scoured Google maps satellite images to check!

SarahBellam · 10/01/2021 02:05

Yes, I’d got very slack about it before Christmas due to my workload and it wasn’t doing my mental or physical health any good at all. My New Years resolution is to get out of the house for at least half an hour a day. I go early - at sunrise - on a bike ride or a brisk walk. I use Google Fit and try to get my 40 ‘Heart Points’.

WitchesBritchesPumpkinPants · 10/01/2021 02:09

@Spidey66

Walking the dog every day. Apart from her needing it, I think some fresh air and exercise is necessary. Exercising indoors does not give you vitamin D.
Neither does walking outside in the U.K. in January.
Thisseatisnotavailable · 10/01/2021 02:09

I'm in London, and live very near to the Thames path, I looked out the window today and it was like Oxford Street out there so we didn't go out today. Luckily we do have some outside space so still managed some fresh air, and enough space to do some exercise.

I'm currently furloughed though so can be more flexible and go out everyday during the week at the slightly quieter times. I have also started wearing a mask even when outside now, I don't have in on all the time, but if I'm about to go within even about 5 meters of someone I pull it up. That may be paranoid but the numbers are scary at the moment.

Tavannach · 10/01/2021 02:22

@JocastaElastic

It's 1 in 15 in Barking and Dagenham, Thurrock, and Redbridge.
The Sunday Times Sorry, don't have a token.
Radio 4 also had a piece on this on Thursday night news at 10pm.
I heard the average for London is 1 in 30, but that was the start of the week.
1 in 50 is the national average (for England only, I think).

So yes, I'm going out to exercise to optimise my lung function and capacity but I'm wearing a mask at all times. The parks here are rammed so I stick to the back streets when possible.

StrawberrySquash · 10/01/2021 06:02

Yes, I'm still going out. London park user here. Stay at home is understandably used as a simple, this is serious, message, but I do find it a bit frustrating as it's not really accurate. What matters is staying away from other people, and walking past people is not a risky activity. Hanging around near them is more so. So get out and enjoy some fresh air.

HeronLanyon · 10/01/2021 06:13

I’m Central london. No outside space.
Had visions of long daily walks and had even planned a few circular routes I wanted to do.
I’ve found I’m v reluctant just to go for a walk despite being aware of needing to keep an eye on my mental health and how good it would be to do this. Feels an unecessary risk and I am ‘staying at home’.
Need to post something today and May go a very slightly longer way to a post box but that’s about it.

User5437 · 10/01/2021 06:14

I'm not going out for exercise because it's cold and a bit icy, DH is doing my share so all good. I rarely go out in bad weather so no different to any other winter. If I wanted to go out I would, nothing to do with Covid

MrsDThomas · 10/01/2021 08:36

I’m out 2-3 times a day. Whatever the weather im out. Its important!

Didyousaynutella · 10/01/2021 08:38

We are going for sunrise and sunset walks at the moment. Far less people around.

Covidcovid · 10/01/2021 08:41

Im going out cycling but I’m very rural. If I stick to the country lanes I don’t see anyone. I did cycle down a shared use path yesterday and there were quite a few people walking I had to overtake but it’s so brief and outside I wasn’t worried.

Cissyandflora · 10/01/2021 08:44

No. My children don’t go out either. I went for a walk and visited three shops on Friday. Regret that now looking at figures but hope I’m ok. Won’t be going out again for at least a week. It’s not worth it.

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