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Original poster

What are the rules re exercise??

205 replies

Chocolatedaim · 05/04/2020 08:56

Hey everyone
Just wanted to clarify are there any rules on how long it is acceptable to be outside exercising?
I live in NE London in a converted flat, no access to outside space. I have been going out for a walk with the kids, usually before 9.30. Walking for about 5k over the marshes.
Then later on in the day, about Dusk, I have been going for a 5-7k run by myself. Always observing the social distancing rules, only going out with my children or husband, or alone, never meeting anyone outside our family. But I’ve started to see things appear online that suggest you should be out for less than an hour a day. I haven’t been able to find any official guidance stating this so wanted to clarify on here? Any advice appreciated.

OP posts:
Bearbehind · 05/04/2020 12:07

I'm not doing that. I'm saying that the problem is not individual people going for a run late in the evening, it's people meeting up to socialise with other people and not keeping a distance of 2 metres away.

And do you really not see how people going out multiple times, and or for extended periods leads to more people being around and to the sense of ‘normality’ which in turn leads to people hanging around in the parks etc

Hearhoovesthinkzebras · 05/04/2020 12:11

YgritteSnow

Then you won't have cause to complain when exercise is explicitly prohibited as in Spain or Italy.

Bearbehind

Exactly. I can't understand how people think "it's fine because it's only me doing it". How can they not comprehend the cumulative effect of everyone going out 2,3 or 4 times a day to "exercise"?

Bearbehind · 05/04/2020 12:14

For the OP, a walk with children is not exercise. She needs to go out once a day to get actual exercise.

FGS - there’s literally no point in discussing this with those people who insist they are more special than the next person and are clearly using others who similarly breach the guidelines to justify their own actions, is there?

Going for a walk with the kids is ‘one form of exercise’

Just because it doesn’t maintain the OPs fitness level, that does not give her the right to go out again and do something more strenuous

tegucigalpa13 · 05/04/2020 12:19

Worst comparison ever. None of those things risk transmission to other people and nearly all of them generate tax income to help fund the NHS

Thats just not true is it? The cost to the NHS of mitigating these poor lifestyle choices are huge at normal times. They far exceed the revenue from tobacco and alcohol taxes. And smoking in particular has a hugely detrimental impact on the health of other members of the household.

tegucigalpa13 · 05/04/2020 12:21

@Bearbehind

I live in a remote location. I never see anyone when I go out walking. Should I only go once a day?

YgritteSnow · 05/04/2020 12:22

Then you won't have cause to complain when exercise is explicitly prohibited as in Spain or Italy.

Oh I will because I am not doing anything wrong. All my food is delivered. I don't go shopping, so do not leave the house for any purpose but to exercise myself for about forty minutes and then I have a disabled child who needs to be assisted to exercise - I am his carer. Most days he's resistant to going out anyway so we probably only get out 3 times a week. Also when I take my run I go out between 6 - 7 am and see no one. I don't have a husband to pick up any of the slack in any area of my life, exercise or otherwise. I am operating well within the guidelines and honestly don't GAF what a few rabid MNetters think about it Smile

Spikeyball · 05/04/2020 12:29

"Then you won't have cause to complain when exercise is explicitly prohibited as in Spain or Italy."

I don't know about Italy but in Spain some people are still allowed to exercise and in France the rules are relaxed for that group of people.

YgritteSnow · 05/04/2020 12:31

@Spikeyball just seen last night that in France autistic people are to be allowed to go to the familiar places they need to to feel safe and happy. I think it's great they've implemented this.

Hearhoovesthinkzebras · 05/04/2020 12:42

Ok. So what other special dispensations shall we implement? How about dying patients allowed to have family with them? How about the bereaved allowed to go to the funeral of their loved one?

YgritteSnow · 05/04/2020 12:44

How about dying patients allowed to have family with them? How about the bereaved allowed to go to the funeral of their loved one?

Wouldn't these all entail a number of people being close together? So in no way similar at all.

Spikeyball · 05/04/2020 12:47

I agree YgritteSnow. I'm glad it has been recognised that some restrictions that are difficult for most are intolerable for others.

Hearhoovesthinkzebras · 05/04/2020 12:49

So, autistic people being allowed to go to the places that they feel comfortable and safe in won't mean people close together then?

Every one who wants special treatment only ever wants it for themself. Interesting isn't it? No one else's needs are ever as important as their own.

So a person dying alone isn't important. A close relative of the dying person having to live with the fact that their loved one died alone isn't important.

Flixsfoilball · 05/04/2020 12:49

Of course you can go for a run AND a walk with your kids in the same day, as long as you keep your 2m distance from others. Totally within the spirit of the law.

Apart from the fact it isn't as the guidance clearly says once a day

Spikeyball · 05/04/2020 12:51

Dying patients where possible are allowed to have a family member with them. My sister is a nurse on a covid ward and says they do try to get a relative in when the end is close.

Spikeyball · 05/04/2020 12:53

"So, autistic people being allowed to go to the places that they feel comfortable and safe in won't mean people close together then?"

You don't know much about autism do you.

YgritteSnow · 05/04/2020 12:56

I'd take your issues with allowances being made for autistic people up with the French government HearHooves and definitely the U.K. government if they implement it, which I hope they do. Seems that you too only want to follow the regulations you feel are worthy. Do you feel you know better than the government about that guidance then?

YgritteSnow · 05/04/2020 12:56

You don't know much about autism do you.

Grin
Spikeyball · 05/04/2020 13:01

The other side of it is that is better to relax restrictions as long as it doesn't compromise social distancing instead of hundreds maybe thousands of families saying I can't cope with this /won't put my family member through this and insisting the state has to take care of the family member or ending their own lives.

Bearbehind · 05/04/2020 13:01

I live in a remote location. I never see anyone when I go out walking. Should I only go once a day?

Yes - because the rules apply to everyone 🤔

Hearhoovesthinkzebras · 05/04/2020 13:05

But every family spikey could claim that. Me being isolated from my children is terrible for my mental health - can we be a special case?

My parents friend has just lost his wife and is suffering terribly - can he be a special case?

Two families in the news this week unable to attend the funeral of an adult in one case and a child in the other, no doubt suffering terribly. Are they special cases?

Spikeyball · 05/04/2020 13:19

No every family could not claim that. The examples you have given are nothing to do with being allowed out to exercise.

Hearhoovesthinkzebras · 05/04/2020 13:31

So, no one else's needs matter?

Who are you really to say that your case is more important than someone else's mental health?

This is the problem - everyone thinks that their situation is unique and matters more than anyone elses situation.

RollaCola84 · 05/04/2020 13:31

For the final time there is no such thing as "rules". There is law, there is guidance and there is the garbage that some people are making up. The first is legally enforceable, the second isn't, the third is just unhelpful.

The law (in England) says you may only leave your house with a reasonable excuse, which includes but is not limited a number of reasons including exercise. The supplementary guidance gives examples of exercise and recommends no more than once a day.

If everyone including police and councils were to apply a bit of common sense this would work fine. Unfortunately some selfish arseholes, some idiots who can't see that walking in a quiet rural area at 7am is not impacting on anyone and some curtain twitching, sanctimonious idiots who can't wait to grass their neighbours are making it harder for everyone.

SonicVersusGynaephobia · 05/04/2020 13:34

Exactly Rolla.

Hearhoovesthinkzebras · 05/04/2020 13:36

No. The selfish ones are those who think that they are unique or special in some way. That it's fine for them to go out two or three times a day to exercise or to go out for three hours, without grasping that if they are allowed to do it, so too is everyone else. Then where do we end up? In total lockdown with no exercise allowed at all.

At the moment they can only have the luxury of going out twice a day or for three hour long walks because most people are being responsible and are doing what's asked - following the guidelines. Keep pushing the boundaries and more people will follow suit and then no one will be allowed out.

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