Mass-participation races still wishful thinking
SA is into a tenth week of the coronavirus lockdown, albeit that the degree of restriction is slowly being lifted.
Every aspect of life has been affected and the mood in the country has changed too.
Looking at the situation purely from a running perspective, there is little chance that in the short to medium term any mass-participation road races will reemerge. Those 2020 events still on the calendar are probably hanging on by a thread of wishful thinking.
The world’s oldest 42,2km foot-race, the Boston Marathon, which was postponed from April to September, has now been cancelled as a mass participation event entirely. It will now go ahead as a virtual marathon, virtual being the new buzzword in running circles.
The Comrades Marathon has already attracted about 6,000 runners to its virtual events over varying distances and that may surprise many. Runners from across the world have signed up for the “happening” on June 14.
Logistically, it has to be a new challenge and will likely to be a major talking point in the months that follow.
Virtual events have been taking place in our region too, with the Loaves and Fishes 5km charity run last weekend being handled jointly between Old Selbornians and the Border Masters Association.
Sharon Eldridge told me it was successful in that the charity benefited in these trying times, and that is encouraging.
The Social Distance Championship series is also on the go and, while it was originally scheduled to be an in-house club affair, it has been opened up to all-comers and the pipe-opener last weekend attracted runners from across the nation and a couple of international entrants.
The first event was also run over 5km and is being followed by a 15km on the same weekend as Comrades, a 10km on the original Washie 100 weekend and, finally, a 21km on the 33rd anniversary of the world record set by Mathews Temane in East London.
While many runners did their best to keep training in confined spaces during the initial five weeks of complete lockdown, and were hoping to come through in reasonable running shape, it has not worked out quite according to plan for some.
The more recent, albeit still draconian, allowance of being allowed to run within a 5km radius of home between the hours of 6am and 9am did loosen the shackles, but not for everyone, especially those in essential services. Monday ushers in further latitude for runners, with streets opened up from early morning until 6pm.
It remains baffling, however, why beaches are precluded for exercise and even more why watersports remain in lockdown mode.
Surfers, paddlers and fishermen tend not to get too close to one another and are in the greatest of open spaces.
Running on the farm is great, but now I want to run from Chintsa along the beach and see only walkers, maybe a runner and the odd fisherman. It is the original definition of bliss.
Any other virtual events seeking exposure should share with me on bob@boastrunningsuccess.co.za