Let's all take up golf

[Gross]

But travelling of itself is not the issue

not even if you are 'just' travelling to check your eyesight?

It's what the public believes that's important...

[spitalfields]

But travelling of itself is not the issue (unless you travel by bus). It is what you do (or rather how many people you come into contact with) when you get to wherever you are going.

I'm not sure that's a defensible interpretation of the 'new national restrictions':
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/new-national-restrictions-from-5-november#travel

The wording does, admittedly, leave sufficient room for interpretation and flexibility. But is it enough to justify doing a MapRun outside of your home town? Probably not.

[SeanC]

The guidelines for travel are very vague - what is the definition of "local" area, and a "short" journey? Many people view their "local" area as something like a 30 to 45 minute drive and I've always called that a short journey.

Personally I would interpret a MapRun course aimed at the club as both local and a short journey. The spirit of the guidelines is to encourage exercise if socially distanced as the benefits outweigh the risks, so I would suggest clubs look into club only MapRuns as an alternative to events.

[Snail]

I think a typical orienteer's interpretation of "a short journey" is very different to that of the general public (or government). I suspect it is intended to mean something closer to driving from your city centre flat/house to your nearest park or dog walking area - for most people probably no more than 5 miles. I don't think it covers 30 miles to a MapRun, if there are plenty of closer areas where you could adequately exercise.

And travel by car IS an issue. Over time it means more contact (buying fuel, servicing, breakdowns, comfort breaks), and in particular the risk of accidents leading to calls on emergency services and additional strains on the NHS.

[SeanC]

I agree that most non orienteers would consider "a short journey" for exercise to be say 5-10 minutes, but also many/most non orienteers, especially in suburban sprawl lands of the south, make (what they consider to be) "short" journeys of 30-45 minutes regularly for things like shopping (non essential perhaps), work etc. Which is why some proper guidelines are needed.

MapRun within 30 minutes or so of home - from a moral/public service viewpoint I think the benefits outweigh the risks. Car break downs and toilet stops are unlikely. Risk of accidents and extra pressure on the NHS from a rare accident likely outweighed by health benefits of the exercise. Sure you can get the same health benefits from running from home, but many people need some competition for motivation.

Perhaps we could make the same arguments for local events, but I do agree that non orienteers seeing a crowd or organised event may think "they're not bothering with lockdown, why should I".

[pete.owens]

But travelling of itself is not the issue (unless you travel by bus). It is what you do (or rather how many people you come into contact with) when you get to wherever you are going.

I'm not sure that's a defensible interpretation of the 'new national restrictions':
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/new-national-restrictions-from-5-november#travel
{/quote]

However you can and should still travel for a number of reasons, including
...
exercise

[spitalfields]

But travelling of itself is not the issue (unless you travel by bus). It is what you do (or rather how many people you come into contact with) when you get to wherever you are going.

I'm not sure that's a defensible interpretation of the 'new national restrictions':
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/new-national-restrictions-from-5-november#travel
{/quote]

However you can and should still travel for a number of reasons, including
...
exercise

Well, yes, if you selectively quote partial sentences, you will be able to make whatever point you want.

Genuine question- do you think that the full sentence from that point in the guidelines still supports your point of view?

[buzz]

Genuine question- do you think that the full sentence from that point in the guidelines still supports your point of view?

Here are all the exercise related paragraphs...

...you must not leave or be outside of your home except for specific purposes. These include:to exercise outdoors or visit an outdoor public place - with the people you live with, with your support bubble or, when on your own, with 1 person from another household

You are encouraged to stay at home as much as possible, but are encouraged to go outside for exercise.

... you can and should still travel for a number of reasons, including:
exercise, if you need to make a short journey to do so

You can exercise or visit outdoor public places with the people you live with, your support bubble, or 1 person from another household... Outdoor public places include: parks, beaches, countryside,public gardens (whether or not you pay to enter them), allotments, playgrounds

A few observations rather than 'making a point':
The guidelines aren't as restrictive as the previous Lockdown.
The government is encouraging both exercise and enjoyment of outdoor public places.
You can (and should) travel if needed to find outdoor public places.
You can take a map with you when you go for a run with your family or a friend.

According to our local paper there is to be further guidance on what constitutes a 'short' distance.

[pete.owens]

And since the length of the journey is entirely irrelevant in terms of spreading the virus I would expect there to be much less emphasis on it this time than the first lockdown.

Last timer the authorities embarrassed themselves by doing daft things such as tracking dog-walkers across the peak district moors, closing parks, claiming exercise was limited by duration or by number of sessions, stopping people from sitting on park benches etc. All by overzealously interpreting comments by some official ort another.

Eventually it was made clear that we were actually being positively encouraged to go out and exercise rather than rationed. Authorities were ordered to reopen the parks, it was explained to the police that going to the hills was perfectly acceptable, and it had to be spelled out that we were allowed to sit down and so on.

The one and only thing that the restrictions are aimed at achieving is controlling the spread of the virus by minimising our contacts with each other - particularly indoors. If anything we should be positively encouraged to travel to remote places to exercise, where we will encounter fewer people than we would on our local streets - so wittering on about travelling is not just irrelevant it is positively counter-productive.

[SeanC]

Well we still don't know if local events are allowed on Thursday? On Thursday there is a night event 5 miles from my home that hasn't been cancelled yet, so that is definitely local and a short drive

[pete.owens]

Well we still don't know if local events are allowed on Thursday? On Thursday there is a night event 5 miles from my home that hasn't been cancelled yet, so that is definitely local and a short drive

Proper events are not allowed - even if the entire entry and organising team lived on the same street and the start was at the end of it.

[SeanC]

Where does it say that Pete?

[pete.owens]

By the absence of an exception for orienteering (or golf for that matter) from the general rules on gatherings.

[maprun]

By the absence of an exception for orienteering (or golf for that matter) from the general rules on gatherings.

Except orienteering and golf weren't recognised as a gathering. However, golf courses have been told to close. I agree that nothing definitive has been announced regarding orienteering, as yet. See BO latest news.

Guidance update England 2 November 2020

Following the Prime Minister’s announcement on Saturday, 31 October 2020 on the new month-long lockdown that starts on Thursday, British Orienteering is waiting for clarification from the government which is expected within the next couple of days on the implications for the sport

Either way, I'll rerun some old courses on local areas, and time them if I feel the need to be competitive!

[maprun]

Well we still don't know if local events are allowed on Thursday? On Thursday there is a night event 5 miles from my home that hasn't been cancelled yet, so that is definitely local and a short drive

I'm afraid Racsignup has it as postponed.