Running News Daily

Italy in Lockdown mode: Day 3

As we enter Day 3 of the nation being essentially “Chiuso” or closed, many things have changed, especially the social habits that make Italy, Italy.  

As of this writing, there have been more than 1,000 deaths caused by the virus and more than 15,000 cases of people who have tested positive for COViD-19 in Italy

As a response, the Prime Minister of Italy Giuseppe Conte announced on March 10 that the country will take drastic measures in the fight against the virus by virtually locking down the country. 

That morning coffee at the bar or aperitivo with friends after work doesn’t exist anymore because all eateries have been closed; church mass has been suspended because people can’t congregate in close quarters; shops except for supermarkets, pharmacies, hardware/computer stores are all closed.  

If you take your car from one place to another, or even walk on the streets, you may get pulled over by the police and asked to show a self-declaration that states you are out because you are going to work or to a medical appointment or for some other necessary movement. If you lie, you could face a fine or jail time. 

And perhaps the most dramatic of all for Italians, all professional soccer matches have all been momentarily cancelled, leaving the Italian championship title for 2020 at risk.

Supermarkets are open but in the past three days, long lines have formed outside as people are panic buying because it is not clear how long the lockdown will last. A population that has never respected lines, now respectfully wait their turn in line, wearing masks and obeying the recommended one meter of distance that should be kept from person to person.

The big question for runners this past week has been whether their daily run is considered a non-essential activity that could get them fined, as running on the roads or parks is the only alternative since all tracks and other sports venues, gyms and pools have been closed until further notice.

 NOTE: Special exception has been given to Italian athletes training for the Olympics or hoping to make the national team.

Italian runners on social media have been split over whether running during the lockdown is socially responsible or not. 

Others seem to think that it is a healthy outlet for being locked indoors most of the day with little else to do. But there hasn’t been a clear, official voice until yesterday, when several authorities explained that yes, it was okay to go running, if you go by yourself, or at the most, with another person, always respecting the one meter of distance. 

Rome is lucky to have a few very large parks – Villa Borghese, Villa Pamphili and the Caffarella – where it is easy to run in practical anonymity.  On Sunday morning and Tuesday midday when I went to the Caffarella to do my workout, it was full of people out for a run or walk, soaking up the sun of a spring-like day in Rome. But this was before the lockdown.  

On Wednesday morning, I went for an early morning run at a favorite park behind the San Paolo Basilica in my neighborhood and it was relatively empty, maybe for the time of day, maybe because people still didn’t understand what they could and couldn’t do. 

Seeing people out running, cycling, walking and just out doing their thing, responsibly, on a beautiful day, seems to be the best medicine against the increasingly negative news of this virus.

Second photo Carla getting in a run.