The new normal

Hi to all the RCR members who have been training away in isolation over the last two months or so - it looks like the end of quarantine is near!

Personally I'm one of the very lucky people who is still employed currently & WFH. (Something I did a couple of days a week prior to COVID-19 anyway).

We've been asked to use up our annual leave & will soon be going to working 4 days a week to save our company 20% on salaries - a small price to pay to ensure that people stay employed over this period.

Training should have been amazing over this period, but as per usual I've been dealing with some frustrating injuries that have held me back from doing what I want to do.

I finally got a scan on my right ankle that I rolled during the Xmas break & as suspected there's a couple of partially torn ligaments. Fortunately I can still run on it & no surgery is required - just need to do some strengthening work with a Theraband which I've been doing.

Then there's the left achilles issues, along with high-hamstring tendonosis which leads to a pain that Naho dubbed "COBUTT-20". (yes, I have exercises for this too)!

Anyway, much to the amusement of some of my running buddies, all this has led me to find an alternative form of training known as cycling, which I'm actually really enjoying! (It's not a replacement for running, but it helps to fill in the gaps).

I can still run, but it needs to be on flat ground & at a pace of no more than around 5:30, otherwise I have a major COBUTT-20 flare up the next day.

Also during this period we've had our next uniform order arrive - I've spotted a couple of people modelling their new gear:

CJ Pearson

Matthew Hitchcock

Also arrived is our club tent & banners which is being displayed in these photos with thanks to the Chris Batt. (Nice work - they look amazing)!

The freshly cleaned track at QSAC is waiting for you!

Just before I throw to Jodie for her update, during your runs you may have seen photos of a "fairy door" in Toohey Forest & wondered about its history.

Maria Proctor did some research on this door & provided this link which you may find interesting: https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-05-09/secret-tree-door-answering-letters-from-children/12219216?fbclid=IwAR0Jalug8qyNxTadJV1hgUJSu-SQIHiE5JJk5d0DEumrWhwwki37f6CGexI

Cheers, Rob

Update from our President Jodie Oborne:

On my run this morning I reflected on what a blessing it is in these uncertain times to be able to run. It was an easy run more like active recovery but I enjoyed the act of self-propulsion and marveled at the capacity of my body and mind to carry me so far. It feels like a privilege to be able to actually leave my house and to move around the neighbourhood unrestricted, to buy a coffee and to enjoy the outdoors. Things many in the World in lockdown could not.

While I have no trouble getting up and out the door every day I know that this is not always the case for many others and having our River City Runners community forced not to congregate in the ways we have been used to has been hard for many. We have been lucky here in Australia and indeed Queensland that our weather and isolation has meant that we are better than many communities throughout the World. However I know how much we have missed that connection.

We know things will not be the same but as we come out of hibernation and reconnect I see this as a great opportunity to reset to not dwell on what was but to adopt new ways of engaging and motivating each other. Drawing on what we have learned about ourselves in isolation and rebuilding our community so that is stronger. We have much to look forward to as long as we remember at least for now the new rules of public engagement.

The committee, Coaches and Run Leaders are working on the River City Runners COVIDSafe plan so that all our members can return to group sessions confident that we have everyone’s safety at heart incorporating the Queensland Governments guidelines. This will be emailed to our members soon.

When returning to training it is extremely important that everyone who attends our structured training sessions are financial members. This means that not only are you covered by our insurance that protects the club and it’s members. It means we have a register of attendance and we will have a means to very quickly contact anyone and everyone who could potentially be affected if there was an outbreak. The threat is very real and if we want to ensure that any outbreak is contained quickly and the health of our members and their families is protected then we need everyone to be registered with us. While this has not been reinforced in the past these current conditions are a reminder of why we should for it to be safe and fair for everyone. If you are adversely affected and/or find the cost of joining a burden our patron and co-founder Don Griffin is happy to help you out, no one should miss out due to the cost of joining. Please contact Don at don@etax.com.au or Jodie on jodieck@iinet.net.au .