22nd March 2020 – Mother’s Day
What a difference a week can make. Last Sunday life was normal, we had all heard of the Coronavirus in the news but here in the North of England it wasn’t affecting us.
Now the world seems a completely different place. I did go to Tesco’s yesterday morning, not panic buying, I just went for a few essentials and some flowers for Mother’s day, probably all that mother’s in our family will get this year. I was pleased and relieved to witness just the average number of shoppers in the store and no obvious signs of panic buying and the stocking up reported on the news. In the main the shop was well stocked apart from there was very little pasta and tinned food. I forgot to look down the toilet roll aisle. So well done to the shoppers in Leigh for being relatively responsible. There was a very different mood in the air, it was very quiet, people looked more serious than normal. People seemed to be trying to keep their distance from one another carefully moving round each other, not rushing as much and being more polite which was actually nice to see. Although there was little talking in the store, I could tell everyone had the same concerns about Coronavirus.
This time last week I knew major events, including mass participation marathons had being cancelled but I hadn’t imagined that small events, the likes of my Gin Pit Marathon would also not be allowed to take place. We were all ready to hold the event, everything was in place, I wish I had arranged it for last weekend as it would have then been able to go ahead. Anyhow no point in pondering over the “What ifs”, we are where we are.
To confirm the situation, the Gin Pit Marathon event is NOT going ahead next week. I appreciate runners who have entered have paid me money and trusted me to hold the event. It does say in the entry rules that should the event have to be cancelled all money will go to charity. Obviously I have spent a proportion of the money arranging the event, on medals, water etc. I don’t want to simply cancel the event and simply give the money to charity, I feel a duty to still offer the race or at least something. This said I have no idea when we will be able to do this. I see some spring events being re-arranged for October but will they still be allowed to go ahead on their new dates?
Some of the runners entered have contacted me, they have been very understanding of the situation and are fine with my proposal to postpone the event, others have asked about running it virtually as they have built up their training especially for the event. In light of this I think I will offer the following options:-
- To complete a virtual run. Run on your own, keeping in mind social distancing as laid down by the government keeping 2 meters from other people, certainly no large groups, the Half Marathon, 1 Full Marathon or 2 Full Marathons in 2 days. Send me proof, with a link to Strava or a photo of your Garmin and I will post you a medal. I will also create a set of results for those who do this and post it on my website. I will put a time scale on this from today until the end of April. Obviously if the Government impose restrictions on us running outside then I will immediately stop collecting data and issuing medals because you shouldn’t then be doing it and I won’t support this. If you decide to take part in this virtual run I will still let you run the postponed event if/when it is arranged but you will not get a medal a second time.
- Run the postponed event. I don’t want to start to arrange another date without knowing we have the all clear to do so. I would like to still hold it this year and all I can do is keep you update as this Coronavirus develops and hopefully we come out of this situation as soon as possible.
Happy Mother’s day to all the mums out there, I hope everyone can still enjoy the lovely sunshine and spring weather. Let’s hope people of the UK listen to Boris Johnson’s instructions and keep a 2 meter social distance apart so we can continue to enjoy going out in the fresh air, throughout the spring and summer. If we don’t, I can see the Government making us have to stay inside meaning not only are races cancelled but we won’t even be able to go out, train and simple enjoy running.
Be good and stay safe,
Malc
