As many jurisdictions around the world escalate their responsor to COVID-19, including shelter in place orders no longer allowing you to leave your home, we ask the running and walking community to do their part to help ensure the safety of our communities.
When going for a run or walk please do so alone (or only with the people in your own household). Do not go with a neighbour. Do not go with your running friends. Do not meet up in parks, on the trails, or around the city. Now is the time to flatten the curve and ensure we have a running community to come back to when this pandemic passes.
This is going to be hard for many of us as running and walking are very social activities. We are so used to running and walking with friends, toeing the start line and races, and greeting people on our runs and walks with a high five. For the immediate futire we need all of this to stop.
We don't want you to stop running, walking, or being active, but we have to use caution and common sense. Acticity is vital to our mental and physical health so keep moving. Just do so alone.
What can you do to help?
- Run and walk close to home. Stay out of the parks and off the usual trails.
- Run and walk alone or with members of your household.
- Share your runs and walks on social media instead of running and walking together.
- When all this is over, celebrate with your fellow runners and walkers at a local race.
We all have a role to play in these unprecedented times!