Life without Races

The Corona virus isn't going away any time soon and, although we have seen many restrictions lifted since my last post, the running world is by no means back to normal.  Although some races are resuming, conditions are very different with limited numbers,staggered start times and no pre-race/post-race mingling, so it's bound to be a very different experience. Parkruns don't look set to resume any time in the immediate future and right now it's difficult to see how they could operate safely.

It saddens me that I won't be running the Sheffield 10K this September.  It's very special to me as it was my first 10K and I was looking forward to doing it for the fourth time.  But I understand totally why it can't happen and frankly, I would rather wait for races to return in something approaching their traditional format than rush to sign up for socially distanced races which feel a bit weird.  For me personally, if you can't mingle freely before and after a race, if you can't huddle together on the start line, if you can't be cheered on by enthusiastic high-fiving spectators handing out jelly babies and if you're not going to be handed a medal and goodie bag at the finish, you might as well just run the distance on your own. 

I have always been a fan of virtual runs but they have really been my saviour during lockdown.  I think before lockdown, some people tended to look down their noses at those of us who liked virtual events,  seeing it as something a beginner might do before they have plucked up enough courage to do a 'real' event.  But with the absence of 'real' events, the virtual run became a real 'thing' during lockdown.  Suddenly all that running snobbery vanished and everyone was giving virtual runs a try and from what I've seen on my social media feeds, people are loving them.  Bling is bling, whether you get it in a 'real' race or a virtual one and running is running.  Why should the sense of achievement be any different?  I've been saying that for years of course but I think lockdown has converted many runners to that way of thinking.  I've had lots of fun with my virtuals.  I recently completed a challenge with It's Grim up North Running to run the equivalent distance of the Pennine Way (268 miles) and that definitely gave me something to focus on. As an added bonus, the T-shirt was fab!   I took part in Ministry of Medals' 5K Race to save the Pangolins, a cause very close to my heart and a 5 miler for Yorkshire Day (Its Grim up North again.)  I'm currently doing the GNR Solo challenge, a minimum of 40 runs to celebrate the 40th birthday of the Great North Run. 

I've increased my weekly mileage considerably since lockdown and I'm about to hit the 1000 km mark, something which I don't usually achieve until November.  I'm starting to believe that I can achieve 1000 miles in the year for the first time ever, something that I'm quite excited about.  As long as I keep running every day and don't get ill or injured, I should make it.

So, far from losing my focus over lockdown, I feel I have upped my game.  It's helped that my husband is furloughed, so we've been able to get out together and run most days.  We still miss our parkruns, but we are keeping up the Saturday morning 5Ks and we make sure we pop a flask of hot coffee in the car, which is almost as welcome as the traditional post-parkrun breakfast used to be.  We've also had fun inventing our own multi-stage run around our local town, a similar concept to the Round Sheffield Run.  As we run at different paces, when we go out to run together we only usually see each other at the start and finish, but having a route where you stop at the end of each stage and walk to the next stage means that we actually get to chat when we're out running.  It's a great way of discovering new trails and routes in your hometown too.

I still can't imagine running returning to how it used to be before the pandemic, but I hope one day it happens.  Until then, I'll just keep getting out there and keep finding new ways to feel inspired.  There are times when I do feel a bit low when I think about all the parkrun tourism we're missing out on this year and I wonder how much longer things will go on like this.  But running has a way of surprising you and sending you little reassurances now and again, reminding you that even without the parkruns and the races, it's still a fabulous thing to be doing.  For example, a few Saturdays ago after my 'not parkrun' along the wooded trail at Torside, a deer shot out of the bushes and ran just ahead of me along the path.  Then there was our early morning run at Winscar Reservoir when we were treated to the most stunning rainbow ever.  The colours reflecting over the water were just beautiful.  Special moments like that are as memorable to me as any race or any PB and I feel privileged not just to be a runner but to be alive when I get to experience such things.  Amidst all the bleakness and uncertainty, there is still plenty of joy to be had.

But, yes, it would be nice to get back to normal one day.