It's taken a while to know what I wanted to write about in this post and those that will follow.  It's not that I've been at a loss for what I have to say, but more that I haven't known what I want to put out in the public sphere.  Of course, I'm talking about Coronavirus and the impact it is having on both myself and everyone else whether they be family, friends, people that are out there trying to make sure we all get through this or everyone else.  Like many of you, I have so many conflicting feelings that it's hard to filter them and organise them into any semblance of reality, so if this ends up going into a disjointed ramble please excuse me.

Ok, so for this post I'm going to try and focus on the plans I have had for this year, how those plans are changing and the way I feel about this.  Needless to say, the situation is changing on a daily basis and I haven't actually got a clue how the year will play out.  I do know that the first three 10K runs I had planned (Hull, Kings Lynn Gear and London Vitality) won't be happening.  The first two have already been postponed until later in the year and even if the London one was to go ahead, I won't be doing it due to having so practice quite severe social distancing.#

At the moment I don't know if my main events, Ride London and the Great North Run, will be happening.  While I'm dubious about Ride London I'm still going to train as if it is going ahead, same with the Great North Run.  Obviously, if they do happen I want to make sure I'm ready for them but most importantly it gives me something to focus on.

I'm sure some people will look at this and wonder what the fuss is; after all, it's only running and cycling, it's hardly important in the grand scale of things is it?  Well, actually for me it is.  That's not meant as anything blasé.  When I became ill with heart failure back in 2016 I had to make so many changes in my lifestyle, and one of those changes was mentally.  A diagnosis like I had is devastating on so many levels.  You have to say goodbye to the person you were and get used to the 'new you'.  This is a huge mental shift that takes a long time to get used to.  I think that many people see me and how I've responded to the changes I've had to make and think it's because of strength (people have certainly said as much).  In many way I think they have a point, but I also know there is a fragility behind this (I'm in no way unique in this).

So there you have it; I'm not finding it easy to adjust to the isolation.  I only leave the house now to run and cycle.  I can't risk going to the shop or seeing anyone. 

Anyway, before I really start rambling; Ride London is happening one way or another.  If it can't be out on the road of London and Surrey then I'll do it on my turbo trainer upstairs here at home.  I know that many people are going to find their finances stretched, but so are smaller charities due to fundraising opportunities of all kinds being called off.  If you can spare even a couple of quid, please don't forget the work that smaller charities do, especially at the moment when we need them to support us the most.  https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/richard-cleverley-50th-run-and-cycle-fundraiser

Lastly, don't be selfish.  Don't panic buy; the most vulnerable in society are suffering most and if you hoard stuff they will struggle to get the basic necessities they need to survive.  They will be forced to take risks in order to try and find vital supplies and that jeopardises us all.  Treat the NHS and those that work there with respect.  Don't think you are higher priority than others; don't put yourself at unnecessary risk and think about others.  Society is going to have to seriously readjust its priorities both in the now and the future.  We can't go back to the selfish, self-centered 'me, me, me' mindset we have been encouraged to inhabit for decades now.