It used to be quite simple when preparing to go out for a morning run, taking me seconds to throw on a shirt, shorts, socks and a pair of trainers.

Nowadays, it takes me as long to prepare for a jog as it does to finish the exercise.

There’s knee pads (dodgy knees), calf stocking (dodgy calves), ankle supports (dodgy ankles) to adjust before glasses and now a mask to secure on my face.

Mind you, with the coronavirus pandemic at its peak I suppose you can’t be too well prepared.

A friend just sent me a link to an article on brg.com which made frightening reading. Research conducted by an international team including scientists in Belgium and the Netherlands, studied the impacts of current social distancing mandates when applied to outdoor exercise. 

What they found was that staying six feet apart might not do you any good when it comes to running, walking, or cycling outside.

However, outdoor trails present a unique challenge, as individuals are breathing heavily and potentially even coughing or sneezing along the way. If a second person is following behind, even at what would be considered a “safe” distance for indoor interaction, they would quickly come into contact with particles in the air that could contain the virus.

Based on the simulations and data, the team suggests that individuals who are walking outdoors should maintain a minimum of four metres (13 feet) of separation. Runners and casual bikers should try to stay at least 10 metres apart (33 feet), and fast cyclists should attempt to remain at least 20 metres (66 feet) from others using the same trails.

The researchers also note that avoiding the direct path of the person in front of you is vital, even when maintaining these distances.

Of course, finding a trail or exercise area outdoors where nobody else is around is ideal, suggested tech writer Mike Wehner recently in an article on the research, adding that if you’re in a smaller city, town, or rural area, this should be relatively easy. However, if you’re stuck in a large city it’s important to keep this advice in mind when you’re trying to get your daily sweat.

It used to be so simple ...