Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Child-safe in minutes.

Meet the Other Phone.
Child-safe in minutes.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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:
IfTheSockFits · 10/01/2021 10:34

@IceCreamAndCandyfloss

If you can walk to the forest and go at a quiet time yes. If you’ve got to drive it goes against the advice to exercise locally and just helps the spread go from area to area.
^ This. Spot on.
Lazypuppy · 10/01/2021 10:34

I give as much space as i can, i'm not gonna suddenly dart into the middle of a road where there are cars though🤦‍♀️

If i am running toward someone walking, why am i expected to run into the path of cars but they aren't expected to move space too? Its not solely my responsibility to create a 2m space.

As i said, i give as much space as i can, that includes running on the grass verges next to the pavements.

Guarantee if i said i just walked for my exercise people wouldn't be having a go.

This is why gyms need to be open. There is badically zero transmission then all us pesky runners would be off the pavements 😂

Lazypuppy · 10/01/2021 10:36

99victoria
As someone who both walks and runs I find that walkers are often a bigger problem- family groups spread across the whole pathway, couples with dogs all over the place. I often have no choice but to run between people as there is nowhere else to go

This 100%!

PugInTheHouse · 10/01/2021 10:41

You would hardly be running into the path of cars FFS. I see walkers and if no space i would start looking to cross safely. Obviously if not possible then I would stop as far away from them as I could to let them passed. At the end of the day I would be the one breathing heavier etc so I feel its my responsibility to do that. I am really shocked at some of the attitudes on here but I do agree re family groups. I absolutely insist that if the 4 of us are walking we go in single file if passing people.

DenisetheMenace · 10/01/2021 10:44

LazyPupoy

“If i am running toward someone walking, why am i expected to run into the path of cars but they aren't expected to move space too? Its not solely my responsibility to create a 2m space”

Presumably, you can see people you’re approaching from some distance? No need to dangerously dart out suddenly. Even if you both move aside on the same pavement, there still won’t be safe space between you.

As I said, if I was approaching someone from behind who was slower than me, I would act accordingly and cross over to overtake.
I think it’s beholden on everyone to move aside from people less physically able than themselves. Most runners are physically more able than most walkers.
I can no longer walk safely because not everyone is as considerate as they should (and could quite easily if they just thought) be 🤷‍♀️

DenisetheMenace · 10/01/2021 10:45

Lazypuppy

99victoria
As someone who both walks and runs I find that walkers are often a bigger problem- family groups spread across the whole pathway, couples with dogs all over the place. I often have no choice but to run between people as there is nowhere else to go

This 100%!”

Totally agree, equally inconsiderate and something that just a bit of thought would prevent.

SimonJT · 10/01/2021 10:47

@Lazypuppy

99victoria As someone who both walks and runs I find that walkers are often a bigger problem- family groups spread across the whole pathway, couples with dogs all over the place. I often have no choice but to run between people as there is nowhere else to go

This 100%!

Agreed as well. When I take my son for a walk he walks in front of me, we have done this since he has been old enough not to need a hand hold to walk safely.

The amount of times we’re on a walk or I’m on a run and a group take over the entire pavement and refused to move, some then even make a sarky comment when they realise I’m not going to make my five year old walk on a busy road just because they are incapable of walking single file.

WilsonMilson · 10/01/2021 10:47

I walk for an hour a day. Luckily I’m in the countryside and often don’t see anyone at all. It has saved my sanity over the last year, without my walks I think I’d be barking mad.

Sandsnake · 10/01/2021 10:48

God, yes. I’m the type that goes up the walls if I don’t get out, and DS is similar. Baby DD has her mind taken off teething when we’re in the fresh air too. We’re semi-rural and very lucky that we have quiet off road walks all around. Personally, I think the government should be actively encouraging exercise. My vulnerable PIL aren’t leaving the house, partly due to fear of the virus although FIL - who vocally hates any form of physical activity - is using it as an excuse to do zero exercise. As a result his weight is ballooning further and his fitness is zero - I really worry about him if he were to contract Covid.

Norwayreally · 10/01/2021 10:48

Yep, we definitely are. We’d go stir crazy without some fresh air.

TheyCallMeTheWildRosey · 10/01/2021 10:48

I work full time and my teens are off school. Yesterday, they hadn't left the house for 7 days so we all went out for a walk. It's not good for anyone to be cooped up inside. We are semi-rural so plenty of walks on our door step and they got their Vit D. As long as you keep your distance, walks are fine.
Covid is serious but then so is mental and physical health.

Oysterbabe · 10/01/2021 10:50

The people that wind me up when I'm out are the couples that will not stop holding hands and go single file for anything.

OverTheRainbow88 · 10/01/2021 10:56

@TheyCallMeTheWildRosey

You can’t get enough Vit D in Jan in the U.K. from being outside, I would suggest taking vit D tablets for the winter months.

chairthistle · 10/01/2021 11:01

@CMOTDibbler

Yes, out everyday for a walk/run/cycle (and today, a swim in the river). I think its really important to get out as much as possible for the fresh air.
A swim in the river?! @cmotdibbler which tropical paradise do you live in?
partyatthepalace · 10/01/2021 11:03

Absolutely.

Just keep your distance.

Getting out for exercise and fresh air is essential, and transmission outside as long as you maintain distance is very low.

Funkypolar · 10/01/2021 11:05

Millions of people will die over the next few years from obesity related diseases from lack of exercise and over eating.

I imagine quite a few will have mental health issues and be too scared to ever leave the house again.

TheyCallMeTheWildRosey · 10/01/2021 11:07

We do @OverTheRainbow88 but there is nothing like the real thing even in January. It's just been outside when the sky is blue and the sun is out and shining that makes a massive difference

NerrSnerr · 10/01/2021 11:08

I take my children out for a walk every day they're not in school/ nursery. We are lucky that we live there doesn't seem to be many people around and about going for walks.

Frequentflier · 10/01/2021 11:22

Am in SE London. Still going for a walk by the river without which I would go insane. My husband needs to stay fit too
We mask up if anyone approaches.

gannett · 10/01/2021 11:29

As someone who both walks and runs I find that walkers are often a bigger problem- family groups spread across the whole pathway, couples with dogs all over the place. I often have no choice but to run between people as there is nowhere else to go

Completely agree and I notice this when I'm walking, not running, as well. Add couples who refuse to let go of each other's hands and who have never heard of the concept of single file.

It's always certain groups of walkers who choose to amble down the MIDDLE of narrow paths and don't make the slightest effort to move to the side even when they see people coming towards them. Or don't seem to show any awareness that people might be coming up behind them. Just spreading themselves across a public path as if they're the only ones for miles around.

As a runner I try to be hyper-aware of whoever is both in front and behind me. I pick my side of the path as early as possible and keep close to it to give others as much space. I am careful going round corners. I can't always keep 2m space because many paths aren't big enough but if necessary, especially if someone looks like they want the space, I will run into the road.

What I ask people to remember is the concept of momentum. If I'm running fast it will take me more time and distance to come to a halt than it would a walker.

England101 · 10/01/2021 11:30

No, I live in london and I’ve been exercising at home (Static bike, yoga etc). I work in a hospital so I’m going out to work 5-6 days a week. I know I’m being cautious but I’ve seen too many covid deaths and extremely poorly patients especially in the younger age groups. When I was exercising outside at times it was difficult to social distance due to the amount of people. A good analogy is when people smoke/vape and they breath out if you smell that smoke/scent a proportion of that has been in their lungs and they’ve breathed it out. if you’re close enough to smell that then you are breathing that in to your lungs!!! However if I lived in a rural area with much less people I would exercise outdoors as long as I could social distance

OrangeBananaFish · 10/01/2021 11:31

I do, but I'm one of these pesky runners that likes to breath on people etc. Not really, but I do run. Yes I swap over the side if I need to, but I find it tends to be a mutual thing and other people have also moved for me.

Anyway back to the question. Yes I do go out for exercise. I decided to join in with RED (Run Every Day) January so will go out for at least a mile a day (while keeping distance from anyone else I may see). What I have found is so far my mental health is doing OK at the moment. I had some real dodgy moments in 2020 (suicidal thoughts included) so the fact that mentally I'm doing OK in January I'm putting that down to being outside everyday. I totally believe mental health is just as important as physical health.

BTW I live in the NE in a rural location so different from a busy London street though.

megletthesecond · 10/01/2021 11:34

Yes. Every day. Twice if I have to do both dc's. (Lone parent).
Today I'm planning an exciting ride around a business park where we hopefully won't see anyone. Mine are too old for playgrounds and realise we might have to take a very dull route to avoid people.

Sceptre86 · 10/01/2021 11:34

We use the garden most days but we have had a lot of snow so not been out much in rhe last two weeks. I would go for a walk around our estate but no further than that.

Attictroll · 10/01/2021 11:35

Walk every day although we will do a 10 minute drive to somewhere hopefully quiet today... walked in local park yesterday and we were literally tripping over people and dc run and see kids they want to play with so a nightmare we are driving less than most people would to shop to hopefully escape exercise crowds!