To wonder what all the walkers would usually be doing

[CloseSchoolsProtecttheNHS]

I live in a small village near a lovely green open space for walks. I walk every single day and have done since I moved here many years ago. It's always been very quiet - many, many times I've been the only person out and have walked for an hour+ and not seen a soul.

Since Covid - and particularly since the summer - it's been mobbed! I'm dodging people constantly when out walking and although the size of the space means I can keep 2 metres away, I now often have groups of people behind, in front and to the sides of me which makes me a bit uncomfortable. Most are considerate but some are arseholes that want to brush past you so you have to be aware and it's a lot less relaxing. I'm pretty sure that they are local people as it's not a 'day out' place or anywhere people would know about let alone go to, and it's nice that more local people are out walking but... why have they all just discovered walking? It's not like it was a closely guarded secret before and we are quite rural. What would they normally be doing (for example today on a Saturday afternoon) that they now can't do that leaves walking as their only option??

(Yes I do kind of wish they'd bugger off and yes IABU for that as I don't own this piece of land! But mostly I'm just really perplexed as to why so many people are now out walking!)

@Biscoffaddict

I’ve noticed this with running. I’ve run for the last five years, but lately I’m seeing so many more runners out and about. You can always tell that they’re novices because they don’t seem to have the etiquette figured out, I.e not running single file, not moving to let walkers pass etc. I suppose they’d normally be in the gym hogging the equipment.

Jeez, I used to think that worrying that seasoned runners looked down on me for being a slightly wheezy, fat arsed jogger, was my innate paranoia....now I realise all the holier and more lycra-ed than thou running and walking wankers, do think I am a lesser mortal, who probably spends half their run lurking in a bush for a sneaky vape and a Greggs whilst planning my next shopping trip to Poundland.

As others have said, it’s very obvious why outside spaces are now so busy. It’s ok to feel a bit irritated by it though. I live next to a lovely beach which is very busy with walkers most days now, making it a bit harder to distance from others.

Still, on the days it is pissing with rain or very windy, it tends to be much quieter so it’s just me and the other people with dogs on those days.

@Terracottasaur

The list of activities Covid has shit down is endless. Visiting people, the cinema, pubs, shopping, restaurants, road trips, gyms, cafes, soft play, toddler groups, museums, etc...

That typo gave me a much needed laugh!

Ummm? Really? You have no idea why they have started walking?

Sorry is this a serious question? perhaps you missed the fact that a global pandemic has closed down every single social activity that people would normally do, therefore the only option open to people is to "go for a walk".

Walking around shopping centres drinking coffee 🤷‍♀️.

Im always out running and walk everywhere and am fascinated by everyone suddenly discovering their outdoor legs. I wonder how deficient in vit d they must usually be. Maybe everyone will be healthier after this, but I doubt it.

I get what you are saying.but nobody is in the wrong really.

The 12 week turn around is now in about week 40 something. There were loads of people out yesterday in a usually alot quieter place near me. Families. Dogs. Kids. I can't really blame anyone. It's important to keep sane. A walk is all we have and we have the right. It's obviously not possible for it to be spread out.

I have done nothing but walks for ten months now. I put my three year old in his pushchair yesterday and took him down to the river. It's in a biggish grassy park. Probably a mile walk through. Fishing and okay areas. As well as large amounts of grass and trees. It was busy. But just letting him see the ducks and explore was a small something in his little life. He's truly missed out on being a toddler. I would hate to be annoying people being out. But sometimes we just need to get out.

Congratulations on being a walker and living rurally well done you.

So I don't really walk as is freezing right now but some of the things I can think of that people used to do :
Go out to work
Go to sxhool
Cultural stuff(big one for me)
Holidays
See family and friends
Eat out
Pub
Children clubs
Day out attractions
Gym/pool /classes
Hobby groups
Got to talks and seminars

So probably quite a lot of stuff people would be doing if they could. Hth

Since Covid - and particularly since the summer - it's been mobbed

But mostly I'm just really perplexed as to why so many people are now out walking

OP join the dots, this didn't need you to ask the internet to work this out. Or was this thread just supposed to be about how superior you are as you spend your time walking in normal times?

DH and are walkers. Since all “this” we’ve stuck to walks we can do without using the car so shorter 5-6 mile walks through local parks and woodlands; the sort of thing we would usually do on a nice weekday evening.

In “normal” times we would drive elsewhere most weekends for a more challenging walk, different scenery or to meet friends for a different walk and to try a different pub for lunch.

So, we are now walking less but to locals we probably look like we are walking more.

@megletthesecond

Walking around shopping centres drinking coffee 🤷‍♀️.

Im always out running and walk everywhere and am fascinated by everyone suddenly discovering their outdoor legs. I wonder how deficient in vit d they must usually be. Maybe everyone will be healthier after this, but I doubt it.

You sound delightful. Must be lovely to be as wonderful as you are.

@megletthesecond

Walking around shopping centres drinking coffee 🤷‍♀️.

Im always out running and walk everywhere and am fascinated by everyone suddenly discovering their outdoor legs. I wonder how deficient in vit d they must usually be. Maybe everyone will be healthier after this, but I doubt it.

Is that the only thing you think people do? You sound really smug.

I’m pretty sure the only reason people are it walking is because the government has told them to stay inside.

If the government told people to go walking they would refuse “they can’t tell me what to do” and would stay inside.

It is a genius public health initiative!

Walking around shopping centres drinking coffee 🤷‍♀️

Or at the gym, or swimming, or at an exercise class, or an art class, or taking their children to classes, or visiting family, or going to the cinema, or the theatre, or eating out, or coaching a child’s sports team, or at a child’s party, or a trampoline park, or a theme park, or a farm, or a zoo.

Or any one of those numerous things that isn’t walking round a shopping centre drinking coffee.

Im always out running and walk everywhere and am fascinated by everyone suddenly discovering their outdoor legs. I wonder how deficient in vit d they must usually be. Maybe everyone will be healthier after this, but I doubt it

What a nasty small minded thing to say, a lot of us who it seems you treat with contempt would still usually be outside being healthy just not in the same way as you. All amateur football is off as is rugby and hockey and all manner of team sports. Swimming is off apart from the most hardy and skilled open water swimmers. My dad sails dinghies on a reservoir, that is off. Park Run is off, the local dry ski slope is shut. Not all the people out walking and running would usually be in front of the TV with a bag of crisps you know!

Going to work, going to the gym, going swimming, going to football, meeting family.

It’s the only way we can now exercise as there’s nowhere else available to do it, of course it will be busy.

Do you have someone to walk with? This may sound a bit crazy but my friend has taken to cycling just before dawn. She gets to do her usual country routes without bothering / dodging everyone.

I walk a lot for leisure (one of my favourite activities) and I have to admit to missing the peace and quiet it usually gives me. As soon as the lockdown lifts EVERYONE will be able to get back to doing what they want whether that is walking or visiting friends, eating out etc. I think we're all counting down the days for very different reasons.

What a silly question. Can you genuinely not think what others would be doing?

I would usually be taking my DS to visit his grandparents on a Sunday afternoon. Or driving to a more interesting beauty spot for a walk. Or maybe if I had had a busy week at work I would just be sat in my pyjamas watching tv gearing up to head back to the office on Monday.

shops, restaurants, bars/pubs, cinemas, bowling allies, gyms, sports and visiting friends and family are all banned. I wonder where on earth all the walkers have come from now that it's literally the only thing you can do 🤔

@Sorka

Going to the pub. Seeing friends. Being on holiday. Any of the many activities that make life enjoyable that are prohibited right now, meaning that walking is all that’s left.

Also gyms are shut. I mention this separately because it’s not enjoyable.

Had to laugh at the gym comment - agree completely :)

Getting exercise as part of their daily commute.

DH often cycles about 8 miles to work. Now he has to deliberately go out "for exercise". Ditto DD would cycle to University, but instead takes a midday walk.

I dislike pointless walking so am walking two miles to a good bakery or shopping at an open air market 40 minutes walk away, or using the local butcher.

😂😂 @ at all the smug, condescending comments from people who routinely get their jollies dicking about in a field. We all enjoy different things and that's OK.

Because we all have to make choices. They’re choosing to spend their time walking, you’re choosing to spend it being a dick on the internet.

Also gyms are shut. I mention this separately because it’s not enjoyable

Im always out running and walk everywhere and am fascinated by everyone suddenly discovering their outdoor legs

Wow. If that fascinates you, lockdown is making you even nuttier than it is making me. Coupled with the OP and others who can't think of any alternative exercise or recreation that we ever had pre-pandemic, this looks even more serious than I thought it was.

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