Due to the outbreak and now pandemic scale of Corona Virus all running clubs have been asked from 17 March to completely cease any training sessions and meetings until at least the end of April*. All races and large gatherings have been cancelled. Following government guidelines and England Athletics advice https://www.englandathletics.org/athletics-and-running/news/coronavirus-statement/ all Foxy Ladies sessions were stopped with immediate effect.
As a club our members health and well being is at the forefront of everything we do, we have been closely following and adhering to the governments guidelines at every step.
Pulling together
It is of course one of the most worrying times we have ever seen, most of us have never experienced or seen a pandemic like this before. Everything grinding to a halt, NHS pushed to the limit, schools and colleges closed, airlines and travel halted, restaurants and pubs closed and small businesses forced to close with no certainty when or if they will reopen.
Many of our members are affected in one form or another, we have many who are self employed, NHS and care workers working long or extra shifts, self isolating with medical conditions, home schooling and caring for vulnerable and the elderly.
We are all pulling together as a community, I have been touched by our members buying shopping for each other, conducting their solo runs by passing peoples house to wave through the window and bring a smile to their faces. Alternatively simply getting together virtually for interactive online calls to keep each other going .
Keeping it going
The one thing we are all clinging on to at the moment is that we are allowed out once a day to exercise, whether that’s a walk, run or cycle and for many this helps their mental and physical health and well being.
We continue to encourage our members to take their outdoor exercise whilst we are allowed, by setting virtual solo or team challenges. We are also putting on classes for strength and conditioning and injury prevention videos. Our members are enjoying live workout videos and we aim to get the whole family involved with fun challenges to keep them engaged and motivated.
*Update England Athletics have now extended this until the end of May.
