Dear runners and cyclists,
As a now pedestrian (former runner), thank you to all of you who are maintaining an appropriate distance to people you come across. Thank you to those of you who are going out when things are quieter in parks, or around side streets. Thank you to those who might be out for a run or a bike ride in the park when things can get a little busy, who will slow down, speed up, take a slight detour, all to get the appropriate distance from others. Thank you to those who are constantly reminding your kids to keep their distance. Your run or bike ride might be slower than usual, it is what it is.
For those that don’t, get a grip. I’m certainly not saying don’t run, don’t cycle. What I am saying is NOW IS NOT THE TIME to race past with less than a metre between you and someone you see in the park who is not part of your household. NOW IS NOT THE TIME to run between people who are chatting at the appropriate distance. NOW IS NOT THE TIME to go for PBs on training runs in busy parks, with people walking, with kids on bikes, with dogs having a run about or sprinting after a ball. You will ruin it for everyone.
You, like all of us, are at risk of catching this bloody virus, you may already have it. You are at risk of passing it on to your friends, to your family, to your neighbours, to carers, doctors, nurses, to all those workers who are maintaining essential services. You are at risk of catching it from others. Social distancing is there for a reason. It’s so that we don’t overwhelm the NHS. It’s so we don’t get sick, make others sick, and watch those daily numbers of deaths continue to jump in leaps and bounds – each one a tragedy. Already the numbers are devastating and they will get worse. NOW IS NOT THE TIME to contribute to those numbers rising even further.
Yes, this is shit. This is all shit. But get a grip. We all have a role to play here. And what each of us does, counts.
Now is the time to chill. To be mindful. To not get in others space. Think of the distance that you have to maintain between you and someone else as the length of a hospital bed, the length of a coffin – this is roughly the distance you need to keep.
Take your time and don’t be a dick.
Kind regards….
So that’s it for Day 10. Stay safe, stay well, and stay home!
I heartily agree. I am being so careful, but people were OK this morning. At 6.20am on a Sunday …
Cheers Liz. I’ve started skipping the park when a little busy…thankfully a few streets away there are some very wide footpaths, and little traffic so I can jump into the road if needed!