Running event tomorrow

[niceberg]

I'm signed up to a 10k tomorrow (Sunday 13 September) but am starting to think it's a crazy idea. From Monday we're not allowed to gather with more than 6 people. I haven't done this 10k before but imagine it will have a couple of hundred runners. But even if it is much less than that, it will still be lots of people picking up race packs and hanging around the start line - and as the roads will not be closed to traffic, it won't be possible to use the full road width to run.

I will be gutted to miss it (first event since lockdown, and wanted to bag one more medal before my 50th 🙈). But it seems illogical not to see it as a public health risk right now.

I'm getting ready to go out for most of the day but will be very interested to hear people's thoughts when I have chance to read later as I think it will help me make sense of mine.

If you were happy to do it last week, I'd still do it. However, I'm in a classroom with 30 children for 6 hours a day and that's apparently still okay to do after Tuesday, so I feel being outdoors with people I will not be that close to and for minimal time is no big deal.

For me, it would depend where it is. Bolton, probably not. Cornwall, yes I would.

I'd also be finding out how many people are on the start list, and what the plans for start/finish areas are. I wouldn't want to be shoulder to shoulder with hundreds of people on a start line right now.

also, purely selfishly, in your shoes I'd be influenced by what I'd hope to get out of the race.
If I was doing it for a fun run...nah, no chance. I can run 10k on my own any time.
But if I was on top form and this was a chance to win it/go sub 40 for the first time/be first v35/bag a PB or whatever... yes I'd be more tempted!

OP, I have been a stickler for the rules (have to cos of dh job but that way inclined anyway). If it is a formal, organized event then it shouldn't be affected by the change - the rule of six doesn't apply to them as they have their own procedures and checks. If it isn't then it is against the current guidance (though not the law) and I wouldn't be doing it.

On the more personal level, assuming it is within current guidance for a formal event and therefore still legal after Monday, I would consider how much it matters to me. To keep schools open, we all need to cut back - do less not more. It doesn't mean one is safe and the other isn't. I am going to outdoor exercise classes because they matter a lot to me but cutting back in other ways, and doing no indoor socialising. I haven't seen anything to suggest that passing contact outdoors is high risk - think it is more the getting there, gathering after in cafes etc.

I have a race next Sunday

The evidence is strongly that the chances of outdoor transmission are very weak. Parkrun announced their intention to return in the near future following a review of the evidence. A global organisation is not going to taint their reputation by putting their volunteers/ runners at substantial risk at hundreds of events, and if parkrun is "safe" so is a sensibly managed race.

For me the benefits of having a goal, an event to train for and sense of social connection are strong benefits. I've run solo for the last 6 months... well, not exactly, I had to start again in August after neglected muscles and lack of motivation ground me to a halt in June.

Thanks everyone for sharing thoughts. It's helped me decide what to do.

Hope it goes well, OP. I have one on 25th October (postponed from April) which I hope will still go ahead, they are currently planning to.

Thank you cologne4711 and I hope your event is able to go ahead!

If you check the Run England web site there are details of the ‘rules’ that have been agreed for covid secure racing. From memory it includes stuff like no race packs on the day, staggered starts and collect your own medal. Good Luck

I've done one event. Closed road events are very unlikely to be possible, race packs are sent out in advance, and queues at info desk were pretty much non existent. No bag drop (but if you wanted to leave stuff near the finish one at your own risk, no one was stopping you)

No gun time. Line up was marshalled into a socially distanced queue, from which runners were called forward in 4s to start not a 2m square, at least 20secs between each 4

Water available, but pick up your own

Collect own medal from a pile at the end

I was quite worried about how it could be made safe enough, but I thought they did brilliantly.

Was it worth the effort though, @AuntieStella?
The more I've thought about this, the more I've thought that I go to races for the crowds, the camaraderie, the general hubbub and excitement..without that, what's the difference between a "race" and doing 10k or a half or whatever on your own?

I've done two virtual races so far, a 5k and a 10k. The 5k, I managed to get in the right headspace and it was fine. The 10k, I just couldn't pull out a race effort and it was a disaster - started slow and slowed down from there

Yes, for me it was. The venue was close by, and although the hubbub was missing, the camaraderie was there (saw loads of people I knew, and could chat and catch up, albeit standing at a distance and only briefly), and the PA system was good, so it still sounded like an event and the marshalls still had music/tambourines.

It was a local-ish event, so there wouldn't have been big crowds anyhow.

I've done quite a few virtual events, and I just don't see them as races, it's more like a training run you can give a catchier title on Strava