No car, no gnar, not far: exercise and covid-19
Here in Vermont, we’re under a stay at home order, which thankfully allows outdoor recreation. But there are some considerations that we wanted to share with our community, whether you’re exercising at home now or when we’re able to re-open the Center at some point in the future.
Staggering is caring
We all miss our exercise buddies. But It’s been shown we need to be super thoughtful about slipstreams. While drafting often plays a part in all sorts of sports, researchers have shown that at higher speeds of running, riding or skiing you could be exposed to covid-19, even when staying 1.5m apart.
Given that, they’ve come to recommend staggering or running side by side (when traffic allows) as safer from the point of view of virus exposure. (Read the full article)
No car, no gnar, not far
This catchy saying comes from Singletrack Magazine in the UK. It’s a great way to remember guidance around planning your exercise to provide a safe outlet for you and your community.
No car: Stay close to home, less than 10 miles is recommended. The further you travel from home, the more of an impact you have on a community that may not be that exposed to COVID or may not have the health infrastructure to help.
No gnar: Stay well within your abilities, avoid gnarly terrain, features or moves. Our healthcare system is already overwhelmed without injuries.
Not too far: Going into the backcountry, somewhere remote, or just pushing the limits of your endurance is not appropriate at this time.
Stay safe and healthy at home. It’s our best hope of flattening the curve and getting out of this situation as soon as possible.
A great visual guide for decision-making at this time, from Vermont’s Department of Forest, Parks, and Recreation.