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Covid-19 – when will I be able to run with others and when might races return?

From Runner's World

  • On Monday 22 February, UK Prime Minister, Boris Johnson unveiled his 'roadmap' out of the current coronavirus restrictions. The 'cautious' four-part plan to lift lockdown begins with the reopening of schools on 8 March.

  • With vaccination rates rising, Johnson hopes by 21 June all 'legal limits on social contact' will be removed, meaning a return to events like parkrun and races.

Until Monday 8 March, as outlined on gov.uk, people in England must adhere to the following rules:

  • You should minimise time spent outside your home.

  • You can continue to exercise alone, with one other person or with your household or support bubble.

  • This should be limited to once per day

  • You should not travel outside your local area.

  • You should maintain social distancing.

The rules relating to other activities that are deemed a 'reasonable excuse' to be outside of your home in England can be found here (as can information for Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland).


Can I still run with others?

Yes, but only with one other person from another household, or with the people you live with, or your support bubble, and you should ensure social-distancing measures are in place.

From Monday 8 March, runners will be allowed to run with one person from outside their household, then stop for a coffee or a chat on a park bench, or a picnic.

From Monday 29 March, runners will be allowed to exercise with five other runners outdoors, under the 'rule of six'. People should still stay as local as possible. Outdoor sports facilities, such as golf courses, tennis courts and basketball courts will re-open.

If rates are still staying low, from Monday 12 April gyms will be allowed to re-open and you will be able to stop in a pub garden for a post-run pint.

From Monday 17 May, adult indoor group sports and exercise classes can start up again and from Monday 21 June, hopefully, life will begin to feel more normal. The government have said they will be running pilot events to help determine how large events can return safely.

What about sessions with my running club?

At the moment, these are not permitted. On Monday 22 February, UK Athletics posted the following update:

'We welcome the UK Government’s statement today [22 February] on an initial step towards the resumption of outdoor sport.

'We have been in regular dialogue with both Sport England and the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) during this period and, at the same time, scenario planning around the safe and progressive return of our sport ahead of the Prime Minister unveiling his plan for the gradual easing of lockdown restrictions in England.

'We will now seek further clarity from Sport England and DCMS on the details contained within the UK Government’s roadmap and remain optimistic about the return on 29 March of athletics, running, training and other activity in clubs and groups and then for the safe return of competition and the sport more widely.'

Can I still run on the treadmill at my gym?

No, gyms are currently closed. Hopefully, they will be amongst the businesses that can re-open on Monday 12 April.

Are there rules on how many times or for how long I can exercise?

Yes. Outside exercise should be limited to once per day and you should not travel outside your local area.

Can I still go outside for a run if I have symptoms of Covid-19 but feel OK?

The most common symptoms of Covid-19 are:

  • a new continuous cough

  • a high temperature

  • a loss of, or change in, your normal sense of taste or smell (anosmia)

If you have any of the symptoms of Covid-19, you should stay at home and arrange to have a test. Do not go outdoors for exercise. If you live in the same household as someone who has received a positive test result, you must stay indoors and self-isolate for 14 days.

Am I likely to catch Covid-19 when running?

Scientists agree this is unlikely. Professor Chris Whitty, England’s chief medical officer, has previously said the risk of transmitting Covid-19 when out running is ‘extremely low’. Whitty said that fleeting contact outdoors, such as two runners passing each other, is ‘very low risk’.

‘It's the much longer contacts in close proximity that can still happen outdoors - if people, for example, are crowded together in a queue... if they're really huddled together around a market stall or something, that is a risk with this virus.

We spoke to Dr David Nieman, health professor at Appalachian State University, US, and director of the Human Performance Lab at the North Carolina Research Campus, about how runners can stay safe during the pandemic. Nieman said, ‘It’s safer to be outside than inside when it comes to disease transmission. When people congregate together and someone sneezes or coughs, droplets get onto objects that people touch and then people touch their face’.

When we’re outdoors, we’re much less likely to come into contact with infected surfaces. Tiny particles of the virus (called aerosols) are dispersed by fresh air and by staying two metres away from other people, you are less likely to come into contact with the virus. Breezes, air currents, rain and wind all dilute the possibility of the virus particles being passed from one person and landing on another.

Do I need to wear a mask when running?

The guidelines state, ‘If you can, wear a face covering in an enclosed space where social distancing isn’t possible and where you will come into contact with people you do not normally meet. This is most relevant for short periods indoors in crowded areas – for example, on public transport or in some shops.

'A face covering is not the same as the surgical masks or respirators used as part of personal protective equipment by healthcare and other workers; these supplies should continue to be reserved for those who need them to protect against risks in their workplace, such as health and care workers and those in industrial settings like those exposed to dust hazards.'

The government has published guides on making your own face mask here.

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