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Original poster

If we lockdown, is outside exercise allowed?

188 replies

WhoahThereCrazyHorse · 15/03/2020 19:32

I’m interested to understand what’s allowed and not in places where lockdown has been implemented. Reading about Spain and it says people are to be allowed out ‘for emergencies, to buy food, or for work’. What’s the reality of how it’s policed, how would they know you were going, and if you wanted to go for a bike ride, really what’s the risk - given that you wouldn’t come into contact with anyone. And you could just say you were going to work. I do cycle to work by the way so that could be true. And my husband runs to work a few days a week.

OP posts:
CathyandHeathcliff · 15/03/2020 22:47

We live very rurally and will be going out for walks on the moorlands where there are no people around. We never see a soul. We have a one year old and no garden, he needs fresh air, so unless any of us are unwell, we’ll be going for walks. I can imagine it being different in cities, but we hardly see anyone around here.
My other half is a dell runner and I know he won’t stop doing that (again he never sees anyone) unless he’s ill and self isolating of course.

CathyandHeathcliff · 15/03/2020 22:47

I meant *fell rubber

CathyandHeathcliff · 15/03/2020 22:47

RUNNER !

Enoughisenoughhhhh · 15/03/2020 22:50

I'm sorry if it's been asked, I haven't rtft.

For the people saying (re. countries in lockdown) that journeys must be solo, or passenger must sit in backseat away from driver of car, or similar... can someone explain what the point is of this?

expatinspain · 15/03/2020 22:50

bythehairsonmychinichinchin The police are the ones who are implementing the lockdown obviously. If you are out of the house they can stop you, question you as to what you are doing and fine you. People were being fined today for running and cycling. There is also the possibility of the army being used to implement the lockdown if people don’t adhere to it. There are a comprehensive list of rules under which you are allowed to leave your house; going to work, going to the supermarket, doctors, pharmacy, cash machine, care for elderly relatives (dropping food etc for them), taking your dog for a wee or an extenuating circumstance. You are permitted to travel alone and not in groups/families.

MadamePewter · 15/03/2020 22:56

@Astressie I’ve been putting off going bonkers by arranging lots of out of the house gym sessions/social events/seeing my lovely partner for breaks from the responsibility and mental stress of life. I have loads of things I could and should do, but it’s not that simple. There will be loads of people like me, I’m not saying I’m special. But surely it’s reasonable to be worried?

Enoughisenoughhhhh · 15/03/2020 22:56

@expatinspain can I ask you some questions about how things are working?

If the police stop you and ask where you're going, how do you prove that you're legitimately doing the items on the list?

What is the thinking behind travel only alone?

Are there police on literally every street? I can imagine having officers in city centres here and main roads... but every suburban / rural road? How is that realistic?

That all sounds like I'm looking for ways to flout a potential lockdown, which is not the case. I'm just trying to think through how it's potentially going to work here.

TheHumansAreDefinitelyDead · 15/03/2020 22:58

If we need to self isolate but are lucky enough not to be ill, I shall get my exercise by using the excercise bike, doing yoga in my bedroom, and I will work in the messy scruffy garden.

It sounds preoccupied and self obsessed but I had to think about this, as I normall do 1-2 hrs exercise a day and find the idea of being at home for days on end panic inducing (I have done this when I lived in another country with political unrest, and ended up with bad panic attacks, for me exercise is essential to maintain my mental health. I have been through depression and panic attacks and it took years to tweak my life and lifestyle)

That sounds OTT and self indulgent, but I honestly do not know how people maintain mental health without serious exercise.

I could not. But there are options (yoga with Adrienne etc.)

We just need to think about what we CAN do, and not on what we can’t.

expatinspain · 15/03/2020 23:00

drippingwet People are taking it well here. There are designated times going round on Facebook where people are congregating on balconies and terraces and singing, clapping for the drs and nurses, playing the national anthem, there was even a guy DJing on his balcony for his whole neighbourhood today 😂. My cousin lives in Milan and he said the Italians are the same. There is a real sense of public support for the lockdown and a kind of ‘we’re all in it together’ attitude. I’ve only seen a few Brits complaining on FB, but the Spanish are just getting on with it really. There’s a kids balcony party at 2pm this Friday which DD is looking forward to 😁

poppym12 · 15/03/2020 23:02

I have one of the high risk illnesses. I'm having to bury my lovely dad who died unexpectedly a couple of weeks ago in a few days time. I also have to move house within the next 3 weeks as our landlord is selling and we've been given notice.

I would stay indoors for sure but I can't miss my dad's funeral. And the 4 walls I'm looking at right now can't and won't be the same 4 walls I'll be able to stay within for a period of isolation.

It's all shit.

Justaboy · 15/03/2020 23:03

Now if i was feeling that illl i'd take to me bed and stay there!

Now if i was to go out for a walk right now at 23:00 Hrs Sunday night and i was shedding virus and no other person was around or anywhere near me do you think thteres any risk of infecting them?

Nope theres not.

Enoughisenoughhhhh · 15/03/2020 23:06

Oh poppyn12 this sounds so hard. I'm so sorry to hear about your dad. And a house move on top of everything. Shit doesn't start to cover it. I hope someone is taking care of you.

todayisnottuesday · 15/03/2020 23:07

poppym12 Flowers

expatinspain · 15/03/2020 23:07

Enoughisenoughhhhh The police today have been stopping people in running gear, on bikes and at the outdoor sports areas where I live. I think there’s going to be a big move towards home working next week, then there will be traffic stops and people will be questioned. Everyone has to carry ID here all the time, so I guess they’ll take a note of your number and run you through the computer.

The idea of travelling alone (both walking and by car) is to basically stop people congregating in groups or going to their friends/families house etc. I guess the thinking is, if you’re alone you’re just going to do one of the sanctioned things?!

Where I live, there aren’t police on every street, but I don’t live in a big city and we’ve got very few virus cases here. That may change in the next few days. Today was day 1.

Oakmaiden · 15/03/2020 23:09

Makes me think about the Olympics.

Japan are insistent it will go ahead - but so many athletes in so many countries will have had their training regimes completely fucked by this - so what is the point if the best athletes are not going to be able to compete at their best.

Cohle · 15/03/2020 23:13

Why on earth are people already looking for ways to circumvent a lockdown that hasn't even been imposed yet?

You'd have to be a total arsehole to risk other people's lives because you fancied a little bike ride. The entitlement is unbelievable.

MadamePewter · 15/03/2020 23:16

@Cohle maybe read what people have said? I’m not looking to circumvent anything but am very about how I’ll cope. I don’t understand why that isn’t valid.

Enoughisenoughhhhh · 15/03/2020 23:16

thanks expat

The unknown-ness of it all is presenting a struggle for me. I feel like I could make a plan to get through whatever it is if I knew what the restrictions were going to be.

18m and 3yr old in a small house. If we ever have a day when we don't go anywhere, the little one stands at the window and points longingly at the world outside. I don't know how I'm going to cope with an unknown number of weeks of having to keep them cooped up indoors.

Totally appreciate it is the smallest of problems compared to some.

Jaxhog · 15/03/2020 23:21

I'm planning to skip rope and possibly hula hoop in the garden.

Cohle · 15/03/2020 23:22

maybe read what people have said? I’m not looking to circumvent anything but am very about how I’ll cope. I don’t understand why that isn’t valid.

I have Hmm

Lots of people will struggle. They'll still be better off than the people who will die because others think they're too special to follow the rules.

expatinspain · 15/03/2020 23:24

Enoughisenoughhhhh It must be really hard with little ones. DD is 10, so happy to watch Netflix, chat with her friends on WhatsApp, play board games, sleep in late etc. I'm going to go crazy, but she's kind of looking forward to it!! I've made a list of things we can do and she's got homework as well, so we should be ok. Bored, but ok. If it gets extended that will be really depressing to be honest.

MadamePewter · 15/03/2020 23:26

I just don’t get why mental health deaths are less worthy @Cohle and why fear of a physical illness is acceptable but fear of a mental illness is apparently thinking you are special 🙄

Derbygerbil · 15/03/2020 23:29

I live in the countryside. I can’t see how going out into the forest near my house would be a problem. I’d be 600ft away from the nearest person,
not 6ft!

Cohle · 15/03/2020 23:29

Because deaths from coronavirus are a fact. Mental health deaths because of self-isolation is a theory you've come up with.

What about the mental health of those who will lose loved ones because of other's refusal to obey lockdowns? Is their mental health "less worthy"?

MadamePewter · 15/03/2020 23:30

@Cohle no point trying to explain. You’re clear in your hierarchy