Reputational damage

One of the dilemmas my running club, Terrigal Trotters, faces because of the COVID-19 pandemic, is the risk of reputational damage if members are seen to be continuing meet and run from Terrigal, especially on our traditional Saturday mornings.

The view from Terrigal promenade this morning

Members have always come to Terrigal to run, either individually or in groups, on all days of the week, and some of us actually live in Terrigal.  The location has a lot going for it as a running base - the spectacular coastal scenery, the nearby forested Kincumba Mountain, a choice of flat and hilly courses, The Haven with its grassy playing field and the daunting Skillion ascent, and of course, the cafés.

Terrigal is usually busy with people meeting to run and walk, and Trotters form only a minority of those, but we are a known "feature" of Terrigal beach life and people often assume runners are Trotters.

With the explosion in the numbers of people exercising outdoors in the last few weeks, the Terrigal promenade has become very busy, particular on Saturday mornings.  People who have exercised (or not) often tend to loiter drinking coffee and chatting.  Most do stand the required 1.5 metres apart.  Some of them are known to be Trotters by locals and there is a fear that the Club may be judged as ignoring social distancing requirements.

Personally, I think that common sense has to be applied.  So long as the Club is clear in its communications with members that they must observe social distancing requirements and encourages them to run from their homes, we are fulfilling our obligations.  We are not the police.

My 6km jog on my regular route around Terrigal Lagoon was a little faster today, and if I was an optimist, I might think my injury is healing.  But I have become a cynic when it comes to my rehab abilities.  I have been caught out too many times on comebacks, so won't believe it until another few weeks of running passes with continued improvement.