2020 has been a challenging year for many of us and the Tier 4 restrictions announced just before Christmas have been an unexpected further stumbling block as we end 2020 and move to 2021. However, we are being encouraged to exercise for both our physical and mental health and so the coaches at Ealing Eagles and our mental health champion Dan VandenBurg have put some thought into ways to keep us motivated.
Social Distancing and Covid 19 Etiquette
The Government's announcement suggests that runners in Tier 4 can meet outside with one person of another household for exercise. We know, from the first lockdown, how important exercise is for managing our mental and physical health, so we hope that you continue to find opportunities to run.
Please stay safe when running
Maintain at least a 2m social distance where possible
Be courteous to other people who may be running, cycling or walking in the same area
Make sure you're wearing high viz in darker hours
Adjust your routes to the weather conditions
If you're running alone, please let someone know where you're going and when you expect to be back
January Bingo Card
Exercise can be a tool to help us manage every day stresses. The sense of achievement gained by setting a goal and seeing it through, along with the physical effects of regular exercise can help to transform our mental health and our approach to managing it. Dan VandenBurg, our mental health champion, has put together a bingo card of 31 suggested activities for you to do in January. The idea is based on a challenge called Red January – as their website says:
‘January seemed like the perfect month for such an initiative, providing an opportunity to kick-start the year in a positive way. It’s a time when many are setting new goals, are low on funds and motivation, with less social occasions to keep us connected. RED was an empowering colour for dark times that could inspire those taking part to ‘get active every day, to beat the blues away.’
The bingo card is not a training plan and the activities can be done in any order and at any level from simply going out for a walk and trying new activities to long runs for marathon training and designing Strava art. The bingo card can be downloaded from here (for some of the ideas, there is a link to a webpage with further information).
Dan hopes to make use of his weekly Wellbeing Wednesday facebook post to encourage us to share ideas and how we are getting on with the January Bingo Card.
Eagles virtual support for Couch to 5k
Even before the Tier 4 restrictions, the run leaders for the beginners programme had decided that we could not offer an in-person beginners programme while social distancing and rule of 6 restrictions applied. However, we are conscious that there are people both inside and outside the club who might benefit from regular input and encouragement to start running again after time away. The beginners run leaders have therefore decided to offer virtual support for people wanting to start running again with a combination of facebook, zoom sessions and possibly other social media starting in the first full week of January with a zoom on (update) ***Tuesday 5th*** January. If this would be of interest to you, please email beginners@ealingeagles.com using the title “Virtual support: couch to 5k”
Eagles 5k time trial
Blast away those January blues and set yourself a New Year challenge with the first 5K Eagles Time Trial of 2021. The window to complete your TT is between Saturday 2 January and Sunday 10 January. The google sheet will be open from 2 Jan for entries (use tab = Jan - Input). Newcomers welcome, please enter your name and details at the bottom of the sheet and please read the tab 'The Rules'.
Virtual Relays
The Eagles Coaches are playing with the idea of offering another Virtual Relay, possibly in the second half of January or February. More information in January 2021.