Track and field athletes training again
There’s no competition on the horizon, but runners are glad to be working out after three months
Tears were shed when a local running club was able to gather last week for the first time in three months.
The province announced in mid-May that track and field was one of the individual sports capable of starting up under Phase 1 of its COVID-19 reopening plan.
Athletics Ontario, following guidance from Athletics Canada, unveiled return-to-training guidelines June 5.
To return to training, club members are required to fill out paperwork confirming they agree to Athletics Ontario protocols. Before training sessions, athletes must complete a COVID-19 assessment to show they’re not exhibiting symptoms. Athletes must maintain two metres of physical distancing at all times, athletes are not to share equipment and jumping events are prohibited.
Kawartha Lakes Lightning Running Club coach Darl Sutherland said his club’s first session last week was an emotional one.
“There were tears because it had been three months,” Sutherland said. “It was nice to see everybody out. I missed it as much as they did. It was something that was very difficult for them to do on their own, so being able to come out and train together and laugh and share in the pain was great.”
Peterborough Legion Track Club coach Grant Dafoe said his club is limiting groups to four athletes per coach and using public parks.
“Just being around other people again and being able to get back to a formal training program was nice,” he said.
“We have some pretty highcalibre athletes in our club and they’ve been itching to get back to something more routine,”
Dafoe added.
It was like they’d never been apart, he said.
“It felt just like back to normal,” Dafoe said. “There was the odd reminder we needed to stay apart but we did a pretty good job.”
To start, the club is using very little equipment, he said, and any used, such as hurdles, is only touched and cleaned by coaches.
“We’re just doing some backto-training drills without a whole lot of implements yet,” Dafoe said.
Sutherland is going beyond Athletics Ontario’s guidelines by keeping athletes six metres apart. “I want to make sure everybody stays healthy,” he said.
His group has trained on trails and hopes to use the St. Peter Secondary School track.
As for a return to competition, Dafoe doesn’t expect that any time soon.
“The virus isn’t gone,” he said. “There’s that sense we’re training for the future, but what the future holds we’re not sure. Every once in a while there is a little carrot dangled by the big sports organizations … they’re hoping we can maybe get back into some small competitions. Unless something changes globally that we have some relief and protection from COVID, I don’t really see those gatherings being allowed to happen.”
To create some competition, Sutherland is hosting a virtual run June 26 on a local trail to be determined. It’s open to anyone interested in participating. It will feature a threekilometre run for divisions of primary grades 4 to 6, intermediate grades 7 and 8 and 5k runs for high school/open and masters divisions.
Runners will go off one or two at a time in scheduled 30-minute time slots.
Sutherland will time the athletes and ride nearby on a bike to marshal the course.
At the end of the day, he’ll compile results. There is a $5 cost to cover awards for each division he will mail to winners.
Runners are asked to bring their own food and water.
“It’s open to anybody who wants to get out and do a run, whether it’s for the first time or if you want to be competitive. It’s just to get everyone out and working toward something,” Sutherland said.
For those interested in participating, email darl_sutherland @hotmail.com.
Visit the Peterborough Legion Track Club Facebook page for more information on the club’s programs.