Monday morning quarterbacks

I'm frequently amazed and disappointed at the impatience of some commentators and members of the public with various aspects of the authorities' response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Terrigal beach this evening

This morning I listened to people criticising the shortcomings of the government's tracking COVIDSafe tracking app.  Sure, there are problems that should be addressed, and they need to be brought to the attention of the developers, but there seems to be an enthusiasm for finding faults and portraying them as the product of incompetence.  The reality is that the app was quickly developed and released and was bound to have some issues.  But, it was never going to be the only tracking solution, and despite its current faults, still works in the majority of cases.  And, there will be many new versions released that address the shortcomings over the course of the pandemic.

Social-distanced fishing this
evening at Terrigal

There are similar examples every day of critics getting excited about the shortcomings of the authorities actions.  It could be the public servant who permitted passengers to leave the Ruby Princess, some ambiguity in government restrictions, the plans for the return of children to school, and so on.

It is totally reasonable and desirable for objective and constructive criticisms to be publicly or privately made of government actions.  We need transparency and to learn from our mistakes.  But, it needs to be done civilly and without theatrics and glee.  With one or two notable exceptions, especially on the global stage, the individuals involved are doing their best in situations that would test anybody regardless of their expertise and experience.

Still no running or walking for me (though I did walk around the block this evening to get some fresh air and could feel minor pain and immobility in the errant hip).

NRL

Players in the National Rugby League (NRL), one of Australia's football codes, resumed team training yesterday with the objective of beginning competition at the end of the month.  It's a matter that has stirred some intense public debate.

Terrigal dawn this morning (courtesy Julie)

They are doing so with the approval of New South Wales and Queensland, where the training and competition will be conducted, and are apparently meeting all the government requirements to mitigate the spread of COVID-19.  The teams are training in isolation and the New Zealand Warriors team has flown in from New Zealand with the approval of the Federal government.  Although the Warriors are doing their pre-season training in the country town of Tamworth, it is rumoured they will soon be based in Terrigal, just around the corner, literally.

I don't feel strongly one way or another about this.  I don't accept the argument that because other people are doing it tough, the NRL, which is seen by many as non-essential, should not be allowed to operate.  There are plenty of examples of some people doing just fine in the current environment while others are struggling.  There's no good reason why everybody should struggle.

Erina Creek this morning (courtesy Julie)

Although I don't like the exceptionalism seemingly evident in the authorities treatment of the NRL, I suspect there are plenty of exceptions being made to travel and social-distancing requirements that don't make the headlines.  I also accept that the NRL is a business with employees, and provided they satisfy government regulations and don't endanger the public, they should be able to resume work.

I do have trouble working out how rugby players observe social-distancing while tackling each other and they will not be wearing Personal Protective Equipment (PPE).  As a justification, I suppose you could argue that there are other professions continuing to operate without social-distancing and PPE, such as construction, and it's impossible to go to the supermarket, or even for a walk or run, without being in close proximity to other people at least some of the time.

Erina Creek this morning (courtesy Julie)

So, maybe it's really about the perceived risk.  There are so few new cases of COVID-19 being recorded in Australia each day, the chances that a socially-isolated NRL team member becomes infected must be extremely small.  I'm sure there will be frequent testing, and if a team member does fall ill, presumably the team, and maybe recent opponents, will be quarantined and the competition timetable will have to be rejigged accordingly.  This is not so different to what will happen when there are COVID-19 outbreaks in other parts of the economy, though it will be big news and there will be a lot of "I told you so's".

No running or walking for me today.

Changing emphasis

Terrigal Lagoon in the drizzle this morning (courtesy of Julie)

There has been a change of emphasis by the Australian government in the last couple of weeks with getting people back to work and children back to school becoming the priority as it becomes clearer that the country has the spread of COVID-19 suppressed, though not eliminated.

Looking across to Terrigal Haven (courtesy of Julie)

Outbreaks centred around a hospital in north-west Tasmania, a nursing home in western Sydney, and an abattoir in Melbourne, all seem to have been successfully contained.  I think this will be the pattern going forward in Australia as things open up in an environment where the testing and tracking capabilities will be continually improving.

My own emphasis is also changing.  After pondering all of yesterday about whether it was wise to take a break from running and walking until I could no longer feel my hip injury, I decided that is what I should do.

Looking towards Wamberal this morning (courtesy of Julie)

The decision process was aided by news reports that indicated Australia's internal border restrictions might soon be lifted.  If that happens, then Julie and I plan to begin our six-month bike circumnavigation of Australia along trails and back roads sometime in June.  And before that happens, I would prefer to be injury free, even if not very fit.  I always figured that we would be getting cycling fit during the first couple of weeks of cycling, anyway.

Such a trip would supersede my plan for a 50th anniversary marathon on 22 August this year, but maybe not rule it out.  I would still like to do it, but it would be slow, and probably along some outback road in far north Queensland.

Masks

Looking towards Avoca this morning

I'm not keen on wearing a mask, especially when running.  I take comfort in the Australian government's rationale that masks have questionable value for the general public unless they are COVID-19 carriers.  That is, they may have value in reducing infected droplets being exhaled by sufferers, but have limited value in preventing the inhalation of infected droplets.  And, since most infections seem to be transmitted by people touching infected surfaces and then their faces, wearing masks won't make much difference.  This rationale supports my predisposition not to use a mask although I could perhaps be accused of opinion-shopping.

The Haven this morning

I have read with concern that in the US and Europe the wearing of masks is becoming compulsory both outdoors and indoors.  Political leaders are shaming people who don't comply and there are reports of runners being abused for not wearing masks.

It would be a sad day if Australia, which has done very well in containing the spread of COVID-19 without widespread mask use, succumbs to pressure to follow overseas practices.  I don't think the Australian public would tolerate the compulsory wearing of masks when exercising anyway, but if it became a big deal, I think I would just exercise maskless at unsociably early hours or remoter locations and take my chances.

Surfers this morning at Terrigal

It may not become an issue for me for other reasons, anyway.  As I walked for exercise this morning, with my hip quite painful, I pondered how sensible it was to continue trying to run, and that perhaps I would be better to give the hip total rest for two or three weeks.  The argument in favour of rest is that although it might mean six weeks to get back to my current level of fitness, that still gives me enough time to train for my proposed marathon on 22 August.  The arguments against rest are that slow short running can maintain fitness while an injury recovers, and I don't want to lose what limited fitness I have (and gain more weight).  I may run tomorrow morning and then decide.

Virtual challenges

Julie has been participating in the 42 km in 42 hours running challenge this weekend.  Not really much of a challenge for someone who completed a 350 km trail race in 86 hours back in February, but it is one of many challenges floating around on the internet with the goal of getting people to run and stay connected during the pandemic.

Afternoon walk in Wyrrabalong National Park

There was strong local participation in this global event, with one member of our running club organising customised race bibs for participants to wear while running and commemorative medals and T-shirts were available to order online.  While out running yesterday as part of the challenge, Julie encountered other runners out wearing their bibs and even had someone out walking enquire about what event it was, having seen a number of the distinctive bibs out on the road.

Tuggerah Lake from Wyrrabalong National Park

Other challenges are upcoming and I have no doubt they will be eagerly accepted by runners looking to replace the motivation usually provided by running events and post-race analysis.  Who knows, this innovation may be another that survives the return to normality.

Trail in Wyrrabalong National Park

Sadly, I didn't find the 42 km in 42 hours challenge attractive or practical.  I believe I could have done it if I really wanted to, but the downside risks of exacerbating existing injuries outweighed any potential satisfaction I was likely to obtain.  And to be honest, for most of the runners I know who participated, running 42 km in 42 hours was not much of a physical challenge anyway.  They would frequently run that far in a weekend, or on one run.  So, I guess it was the social engagement and sense of community surrounding the challenge that was the main attraction.

I ended up running just 6 km this morning (making a sad total of 16 km in 42 hours!!).  It was a morning when I struggled to get out of bed, despite knowing conditions were ideal for a run -- cool and sunny.  I lay in bed, semi-convinced that I could still feel some of Friday's flu vaccination side-effects and knowing my hip injury would likely spoil any enjoyment I would get from running.  Finally, I convinced myself that there was no reason why I couldn't get around the usual short 6 km, and that I would feel much better having raised a sweat and my heart rate, even if only for a short time.  And I did.

Released from prison

Trail on Crackneck from Julie's run this morning

New South Wales took its first step towards easing COVID-19 restrictions yesterday, allowing two people (plus their children) to visit other people in their homes.  It doesn't seem a big step, but walking along the Terrigal Promenade after this morning's run, there was a palpable sense of social emergence.  People were gathering and walking in small groups, not always the required 1.5 metres apart, and many were sitting on the walls and beach steps chatting and drinking coffee.  A policewoman strolled along smiling and talking to people, while turning a wilful blind eye to the many obvious breaches of state social-distancing rules.

The view south from Crackneck on Julie's run this morning

Though it was a little brisk, it was a beautiful and sunny Saturday morning and that may have helped the "released from prison" mood.  The announcement that the New Zealand Warriors rugby league team will be allowed to fly into Australia to take part in the season revival scheduled for the end of May has only confirmed the public's perception that the worst is over and we are on our way back to normality.

It will be hard for the genie to be put back in the bottle now if there is a resurgence of COVID-19 cases.  If there was a resurgence, I do believe the Australian public (as opposed to the US public) would accept the need for restrictions to be re-tightened, but the impact on the public's psyche would be significant.  Confidence in the future and in the judgment of the health authorities would be severely shaken.  We would lose that sense of control that has gradually emerged over the last month.

Bateau Bay beach on Julie's run this morning

On the balance of probabilities, I think a significant resurgence is unlikely to happen in Australia.  I base this mainly on trust in the judgment of our health authorities.  So far they have been over-achievers.  However, I do have a fear that the easing of restrictions will now take on a life of its own and, coupled with the looming winter, we will see a reemergence of the virus in Australia.

I ran a very slow 9.6km this morning with the hip hurting more than I would have liked, but the main problem was lethargy that I'm blaming on yesterday's flu vaccination.  But it could also just be psychosomatic.

Flu vaccination

Golf this morning

The local medical centre called this morning to say my free (for over 65's) flu vaccination was ready and I went in this afternoon to get it.  Coincidentally, it is the first wintry day we have had this autumn, so not a moment too soon.  However, with my limited social contacts, my chances of catching the flu are much diminished as has been shown by recent government information about the prevalence of flu so far this season.

Getting the shot was an experience.  The medical centre had set up a tent in their carpark for flu vaccinations, which would have been fine on a mild day, but it was cold and blustery this afternoon.  The tent was flapping in the wind, threatening to leave the scene, the nurses were dressed for an arctic expedition, and waiting patients were trying to keep warm on their plastic chairs spaced the required 1.5 metres apart.  Mercifully, the whole process only took about fifteen minutes.

Golf this morning

I have had the flu shot for the last five or more years, as I have no desire to get the flu, but this year I feel there is a greater imperative.  As with the government's COVIDSafe smartphone app, I believe that the more people who get their flu shots, the more the spread of COVID-19 will be constrained, and that is a good thing for everybody.

Golf this morning

My daughter, who had the flu shot a week ago, tells me that she got a very sore arm and felt unwell for a few days after the vaccination, so I'm preparing myself for that and won't push myself running this weekend.  A few years ago, I had the flu shot and a pneumonia shot on a Friday, ran hard on the Saturday morning, and had a couple of episodes of atrial fibrillation, so I think I have learned my lesson.

I got up early this morning to run 6km before an early nine holes of golf with friends.  The hip problems were still there, but my pace was OK and I enjoyed the coolness brought by the wintry weather change.  It was clear and cold for the golf, but it didn't help my game which was abysmal.