COVID and exercise

[NewtoFulham]

I’m wondering if anybody else’s exercise regime has changed dramatically since COVID? Or perhaps more interestingly if it hasn’t?

I stopped my gym membership that I only got to use a couple of days each week and instead took up near daily running! In March I could do a 3 mile run (max) at about 8:30-9 mins/mile. Now I'm easily managing 6 miles at around 7 min/miles! I feel really healthy and stronger than ever. Dropped down to a size 8 at 5"6 too which has never ever happened before and was a nice added bonus. How about you?

I'm still walking, running and strength training the same as before, but my daily cycle commute has stopped as I'm wfh now.
That's a bit annoying as I'm losing an hour a day of cardio there. I've also had to stop spin classes as the gym is closed, and I hate the turbo trainer as its such a faff.
Doing more Joe Wicks-type stuff with the kids though, which partially makes up for the lack of cycling.

Pre Covid I was probably running x 2 a week (15-20k), gym for weights once then yoga at least once, perhaps twice. I absolutely love the headspace running gives me, seeing nature and the seasons change, saying hello to dogs and their walkers in the park, watching the sun rise on a day like today. And I feel so strong after. It's the bomb.

I'm now feeling very sorry for myself as since March I've had a few back niggles (they seem better at the mo) and something not right in my knee so I've not run since 21 December. My exercise now is walking everyday (god, its so boring), yoga every other day and gradual resistance training/balance to get strength back in my knee.

I'm hoping like mad, as it seems to be SLOWLY getting better, knee will be ok to start gently running in Feb. But right now I'm so jealously the zillions of new runners whizzing past me while I'm walking like an old lady. Especially on a cold, frosty but gorgeously sunny morning like today, a run through my local park is the most lovely thing.

Gah I'm feeling very sorry for myself. First world problem obv but still.

TheVeryHungryTortoise thats an amazing improvement in such a short time! Were you into running before and do you have any tips to get so fast?

I'm all over the place. Currently struggling with headspace, and floorspace with family being around constantly. I'm normally a regular runner, but the hills are shin deep in mud, and my flat routes chest deep in river. That leaves tedious undulating suburb.

Fitness classes (outdoor) have been on and off like a strobe light. As soon as I get back on form, they stop again.

This time I was doing Run Every Day, had a fresh pb at parkrun and was training for a HM.

Change is... less active travel, far less swimming & kayaking, more dog-walking, more cycling for leisure, more off road cycling especially, more cycling with others. Less net activity.

I started a weight lifting course just before Covid and finished it after the first lockdown. Got hooked, carried on. Bought weights when it became obvious lockdowns were going to be a thing. Now I exercise slightly more than I did before (which was always daily but now I am doing it for about 90 mins rather than 60). The big change for me is hiring a PT to set me a programme to follow, and following it.