Making use of a Virtual Running Club during the Pandemic

Over the last few months, there have been some huge changes made worldwide to how we live and do things in a world experiencing the worst pandemic. COVID-19 has had a serious impact on when we leave the house, it forces us to do social distancing and more and more we have moved to do things online. Avoid people in supermarkets by shopping online. Avoid the people at the bank by banking online. Avoid the people at the hospital by having doctor appointments online. People who love to run are also discovering the wonderful world of joining an online running club. This has been around pre-pandemic, but its popularity in these times is seeing a huge rise.

No more running in groups

As people enjoy weather that is improving one of the things many runners love is to join up with other runners and run together. It is a social thing, connecting with people who also love to run. You want to put on your run shoes get out there and see how your friends are doing as you feel the breeze and the warm sun on your face and you finally feel alive, and not scared. But physical distancing means this no longer possible. Or not as possible as it once was. You can run with a friend or two but you need to maintain a distance between you. Most of the runners you see out there are running alone.

Shifting how we do things

As well as runners talking to each other on places like social media platforms, there was also a bigger shift to looking at what a virtual running club could offer them in these times. These clubs were created for people who were not close enough for in-person group meets, who prefer to run alone, who enjoy the challenge of virtual races, but still want to connect with other people in the same group. People today have to shift how they do things. But it does not mean we have to give up running, or any other things that we love to do. It just means we have to think about how we can do it and still keep ourselves, our families and others safe.

Coming together

Perhaps more than ever people who love to run are coming together, just virtually. Sharing photos of the scenery they see as they run, of them out on a trail or road, of something unusual they see as they run. They are running with their dogs, their kids, their partners, or on their own, but also are connecting with the online running community. Whether you run once a week or every day of the week, are a beginner or an athlete, runners in an online running club are coming together from all walks of life.

Summary

There is a lot to be worried about right now, but with the support of a great virtual running club, you can still do something you love, stay fit, and connect. You might find it is something you keep with even when the pandemic is done, having bonded with some other virtual club members who feel the same way you do.