I am a late-in-life evolved runner. Been historically over weight (obese), took up park-walking, when realised one may walk at parkrun, which I dismissed when launched close by. Gradually evolved into running, the odd road-race, trail-running events, frequent organised night running events, membership and time-trial of a local running club. Then level 5 lock-down happened.
Having become accustomed to, and having realised my need for, regular exercise, I embraced the elliptical with enthusiasm, get done and showered before working from home from 08h00. Soon as 06h00 to 09h00 individual exercise within a 5km radius from home had been permitted, took advantage thereof exploring the neighbourhood roads (the nearby park off limits at the time) at 06h00. As the winter chill intensified and limitations with regard to exercise were lifted, I worked my lunch-time and shifted my runs to about 15h00 in the afternoon. As spring wedged some warmer days in, I shifted my running later, starting after 16h00.
Things I realised about solo running in the neighbourhood:
- Whereas before I needed the context of an organised night-run, trail or race (but disliked the travel and wait to get started) solo running is actually quite nice
- Whereas before I relied on the organiser’s timing devices to register (or claim in some cases) medical aid points, it is inspiring to actually make better use of the sport watch features
- Starting each run from in front of home and returning there has distinct advantages, such as zero travel, home conveniences accessible immediately after (no delay), and no excess baggage to cart to the car and back to home after.
- The time-span is restricted to the actual run, no added travel, registration or waiting time.
- Being part of an event has inspirational value deliverable from others passing on the way, or moving ahead further away, in contrast to running solo, which is self-reliant
- Busy roads with limited or no side-walk are best avoided. Map a route with few main road crossings.
- Limited encounters with free-running aggressive dogs, and a motorist with a stun gun coming to my rescue, encouraged me to acquire and run with a rechargeable stun ‘gun’/taser
Virtual races did not quite appeal to me. Several event organisers offered self-timed, own-choice of route, opportunities, with medals and T-shirts. I’ve been quite satisfied with my sport watch uploading my efforts to my medical aid. However, I embraced the notion of (not)parkruns and eagerly captured both my solo runs and walks with my wife on alternative rest-days.
Along with the lessening of restrictions, as the alert-levels of the South African Covid-19 Risk Adjusted Strategy were reduced, exercising opportunities increased. In addition to private facilities, parks and nature reserves reopened. Event organisers took advantage and introduced non-gathering staggered starts pre-booked time-slots with individualised timing. Much as I valued the initiative, and completed a few, I weighed up the disadvantages (such as vehicle insurance benefits related to limited travelling) associated with distances.
I realise that I game to a proverbial fork in my running trail, where I decided some and ponder other:
- Would continue alternating between solo running in the neighbourhood and walking with my wife on my rest days
- Would attend nearby myrun social runs/walks, which reopen Sunday 4 October 2020 under Alert Level 1, with strict COVID-19 compliance procedures in place to ensure that every person can do so safely
- Would be very selective with regard to participating and registering for any other runs/trails/races, taking travelling distance (and accommodation costs) into consideration
Reflecting on this blog’s journey, it is interesting how it commenced in September 2018 with regular blogging until end October, followed by a three-month gap. There after less frequent until May 2019, then a jump to December 2019, another space to February 2020, and dormant until September 2020.