After the challenges of the storms of February, I was confident that March would be a quieter and easier month. I really could not have been more wrong, as it turned out. March will be a month that many of us won’t forget in a hurry…

It started brilliantly – we were delighted to welcome Caroline as a Run Leader, enabling us to start to offer more running sessions, starting with a Sunday morning social run of at least 6km. The first session was a great success, and Caroline proved to be a natural. We also had a new set of recruits for our popular 0-5km, beginners running course. Tuesdays and Thursdays were going well, as ever, and we were all looking forward to the clocks changing at the end of the month, bringing us lighter evenings and the prospect of running whilst being able to see each other!

As you will know, all of this changed as Coronavirus continued to spread across the country, and we were instructed by England Athletics in mid-March to suspend all face-to-face activity and running groups until at least the end of April - this has already been extended to the end of May. So – what to do? A running club that many people had joined because they wanted to run with others was now not able to offer group running!

After a heart-breaking few hours, cancelling all runs and letting everyone know that we were unable to meet, I had to think of ways to keep the spirit of Earlswood Running Club going without actually being together. Last year, we ran a fun competition of Tops on Tour – this seemed a good place to start, so we now have Tops in Isolation! Every week, runners are sending in pictures of themselves, wearing their tops and exercising or running alone, or with their family member, or dog!

We also now have ERC Virtual – a closed Facebook group where we share photos and route suggestions, as well as offering support, motivation and encouragement to each other in these challenging times.

We are, of course, adhering to government advice, and running alone, making sure we are social distancing when we meet others out and about – our catchphrase being to “run as if infected!”  If the guidelines change and we are no longer allowed outside to exercise, we will think again!

Happy solo running, and keep safe and well!

Kate x