Month: February 2022

Week commencing 28 February 2022

Overall situation : Despite changing government guidance, Covid guidance from the athletics authorities remains unchanged. The current EA advice is here.

Training this week : on Monday, a road session, probably of 7k or more. Don’t forget your hi-viz clothing ! On Wednesday, a track session, where the normal track fees will apply. Of course, things may change depending on conditions and attendance.

Racing this week : The only race in this country is Saturday’s 3000m in the British Masters Indoor Championships at Lee Valley, London. You will need to have entered by now.

International : In Muscat, Oman, the World Team Race Walking Championships take place on Friday and Saturday. British competitors go in the women’s and men’s 20k races, at 12 noon UK time on Friday and Saturday respectively, the 35k starting at 3 am our time on Saturday, and the masters 10k at 3pm our time on Friday. It’s likely that there will be live coverage, but no details have been announced yet; event website here.

Returning from Covid-19

“Runner’s World” have just published some advice on returning to an aerobic activity sport after a bout of Covid-19. The research is pre-Omicron, but there’s some suggestion that Covid affects fitness more than a normal period of inactivity, and there may be an increased risk of injury if people return to normal training too quickly. OK, race walking is different from running, specifically in imposing less strains on the body that require recovery, but in the absence of anything more specific, it may be safest to follow a running-derived protocol rather than quickly returning to normal training.

The article references an infographic produced by the British Journal of Sports Medicine in October 2020, i.e. in the pre-Omicron days, as follows :

The advice accompanying the graphic can be found here. The Runner’s World article can be found here.

Week commencing 21 February 2022

Overall situation : Despite changing government guidance, for now Covid guidance from the athletics authorities remains unchanged. The current EA advice is here.

Training this week : on Monday, an interval session on Copenhagen Drive. Don’t forget your hi-viz clothing ! On Wednesday, a track session, where the normal track fees will apply. Of course, things may change depending on conditions and attendance.

Racing this week : The only race in this country is Sunday’s 3000m in the British Indoor Championships in Birmingham. You will need to have been invited by now.

Best wishes : To our friends Ian Richards, Ian Torode and Francisco Reis who compete in the European Masters Indoor Championships in Braga, Portugal this week.

Week commencing 14 February 2022

Overall situation : Covid guidance from the athletics authorities remains unchanged. The current EA advice is here.

Training this week : on Monday, an interval session on Copenhagen Drive. Don’t forget your hi-viz clothing ! On Wednesday, a track session, where the normal track fees will apply.

Racing this week : None in this country.

Closing dates : Wednesday is the last day to get an invitation to the British Athletics Indoor Championships at Birmingham on 27 February. More details here. Sunday is the last date to enter the British Masters Indoor Championships, more details here.

Week commencing 7 February 2022

Overall situation : Covid guidance from the athletics authorities remains unchanged. The current EA advice is here.

Training this week : on Monday, on the road for about 8k steady. On Wednesday, an interval session on Copenhagen Drive. Don’t forget your hi-viz clothing !

Racing this week : On Saturday at 11am, the second race in this year’s Enfield League, over 5 miles with the option of completing a lesser number of complete miles, and the option of racing virtually. Details in the latest Enfield Walker.