How are runners in Harrogate coping with the lockdown - here's how

How are runners in the Harrogate district coping with the lockdown?
Some of the current members of Nidd Valley Road Runners in Harrogate, which was established in 1984 to create a friendly atmosphere.Some of the current members of Nidd Valley Road Runners in Harrogate, which was established in 1984 to create a friendly atmosphere.
Some of the current members of Nidd Valley Road Runners in Harrogate, which was established in 1984 to create a friendly atmosphere.

All of us have been advised to keep on exercising, despite the rules on social distancing.

But the popular Parkrun, which attracts hundreds of local runners each Saturday morning to Harrogate's Stray, Knaresborough and Fountain's Abbey halted is activities on March 18.

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Club championships and regular races nationwide have obviously also been cancelled.

What if you are a member of one of the Harrogate district's many serious running clubs - Harrogate Harriers, Nidd Valley Road Runners, Ripon Runners, Knaresborough Striders?

How do you maintain your fitness and performance in self isolation?

What can you do to prevent your PB slipping until the crisis passes?

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Nidd Valley Road Runners was established in 1984 to create a friendly atmosphere and give enthusiastic runners the opportunity to achieve their running potential.

Like other running clubs in the Harrogate district, its members are turning to sharing apps and online fitness sessions at home in living rooms across town to maintain spirits and performance during lockdown.

Here's how Nidd Valley runners are approaching the lockdown

Running is often considered a solo sport, but people who join running clubs do so for just the opposite!

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Being part of a running club brings social contact with like minded people.

It brings added motivation and effort and a sense of belonging.

It offers challenges in training and racing, and the chance to mull over that last session, sometimes with a drink in hand.

A chance to bemoan why you’re not quite on form, then charge off and run like Forrest Gump on a mission!

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COVID19 stopped all of this in its tracks but it hasn’t quite stopped NVRR.

Oh no, we’re following the government rules on social distancing and keeping to one exercise per day, but in our own way.

1. Running solo from home, but posting the intention to do so to encourage others to go out and run.

2. Sharing information on social media on quiet routes and quiet times.

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3. Comparing post run notes on the route and how much better we felt for running.

4. Doing individual interval training sessions and sharing the details online.

5. Using various running Apps to keep a sense of healthy competition, and posting lots on social media so we still feel connected.

To supplement the running, some members have signed up for online strength and core fitness sessions with Kick The Core Classes through Ridgeway Fitness and Health. Other members are accessing some of the many on-line fitness classes which have become available.

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Above all, it’s reminded us how much running means to us, both physically and mentally, and the simple pleasure of just running.

by Nidd Valley Road Runners

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