Was it really only 7 days ago when life as we know it came to a grinding halt?  To be honest, being in lockdown hasn’t made a huge difference to us (yet). We can still get outside to exercise, and we can still shop for groceries – pretty much the main reasons we had before to leave the house (apart from Ian going to work once a week, which has stopped for the time being).  We can still get hold of a map and go for a run several times a week.  All that’s missing is the before and after; the social side is all online now, and we miss the buzz around an organised event.

Our first MapLink run was at Bennettswood, and our second was at Wantirna South.  We’ll have another three new ones this week, which we’ll spread out over several days.  Just before our scheduled time (we block out time in the calendar, otherwise it would be too easy to make an excuse not to go), we print off two copies of the selected map, and place them face down on the back seat of the car. No peeking allowed.  A quick drive to the start location, during which Ian gives the official briefing – “Gather round everyone … oh … whatever … “. Lock the car, pick up maps and call Go. The adrenaline rush is not quite the same when its just you and one other person. Especially when that person runs twice as fast as you.

Ian does C and I do D – that means we get back at about the same time, and we can hop straight back in the car and go home to disinfect ourselves from whatever might have been floating or lurking out there.  People are quickly learning to give each other a wide berth by neatly stepping sideways or crossing the road. If you make eye contact there is sometimes a wry smile, but nothing more. Groups of more than two are looked on with suspicion. It’s sad.

There is some gamesmanship going on – because we self report our results, some people are holding back to see how long their rivals took on the same course. At Wantirna South (which we postponed due to physio appointments, not for any strategic reason), I knew Pete took 29 minutes a couple of days earlier, but I didnt know where he went.  It motivated me to run hard (and I finished in 26 mins), clocking up my best kilometre rate for months!

Ironically the weather is stunning, my vestibular system is behaving itself (99 percent of the time), and all should be well with the world.  Hang in there – it will be. Eventually.