I am at the point that I honestly celebrate every tiny bit of normal creeping back into our lives - but the truth is that even this long after lockdown started we are still extremely far from normal and in many respects life has still to resume. Over the last few weeks we have been able to do more - exercise outside more than once a day, slowly but surely non-essential shops have been able to open with strict covid secure conditions. Some children have been able to return to school and hairdressers, pubs and even theme parks are set to open in the next few days. Don’t get me started on how some of this stuff can possibly be prioritised over children returning to full time education - it is estimated that over a third of children have done NO work since schools closed before lockdown and it will be a long time before we begin to understand the effects of this extended period of home learning on those children for whom school is their safe place. (Sorry rant over - that is a whole different blog post!)
This week though I have had several small but significant causes for celebration - the first of which was Liverpool finally becoming English Premier League Champions - if you know me you will know this is such a huge deal in our house - and after a 100 day Premier League hiatus a bloody huge relief! For my darling 12 yo football is life and Liverpool is everything and I couldn’t be happier for him - even though he has no comprehension that some of us have waited 30 years for this moment - for now we will just let him revel in the moment! Now that they have lifted the trophy who knows he may actually be able to watch the remaining games of the season - match day nerves usually get the better of him and he prefers to follow the action on the BBC Sport website rather than watch the matches!
Honestly not only was Liverpool winning a huge cause for celebration but another signal of a bit more of a normal life creeping in - yes sport is coming back!!! We live and breath sport in our house, both watching and taking part and no sport for the last three months has left a big hole in our life. I think the boy felt it more than the girls as he has really missed the social side as well as the physical side of playing football every week. We have run, cycled, walked the dog, trampolined, played basketball and played frisbee to keep fit but we have missed racing, football matches and team practice.
But this week the boy and the big girl re-started tennis lessons - the boy declared he was worried he was rusty and a bit unfit but super excited - I honestly don’t know who was more excited me or him! Even the 14 year old who has mastered the art of looking completely unimpressed with everything looked mildly pleased and declared it was good fun! I admit I shed a small tear of joy to see them back playing with their friends. Better still the boy returns to football practice tomorrow, I know it will be different, they will play a lot of drills instead of a match to make it easier for them to observe social distancing and I am sure they will all be a bit rusty and unfit but the sheer joy of seeing them be able to train together for the first time in so long will far outweigh any awkwardness. For my part I can’t wait to catch up with all the parents!
For me I am pretty sure there will be no races this year, I have already deferred my entry for the Chicago marathon rather than wait for a decision to be made as to whether the marathon can go ahead. But for now I am just grateful to be able to get out and run some miles with my running buddy. Before we went into lockdown I was really struggling with my running mojo especially over long runs but lockdown has given me the space to refocus on why I run and realise I get to run so even if there are no races I will keep showing up and keep putting in the work because running makes me a better person. And when racing returns I will be ready.
Much love as always xx