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We are living in difficult, often scary times, and it would be inappropriate to overemphasise the role of activity and sport when we are managing much more important demanding issues. But even as the pressure on all of us to restrict our lifestyle continues, the past four weeks have demonstrated the value and importance of activity. Put simply being active creates huge physical and wellbeing benefits, writes Guernsey Athletics club stalwart Alun Williams.
This has been recognised by our leaders who have shown great understanding of the needs of the community in allowing islanders to leave the house for up to two hours of exercise including walking, cycling, running and sea swimming. This was a brave, inspirational decision. It reflects a recognition of the importance of being active for individual and community well-being.
The current situation gives us the time and space to reflect on certain aspects of our lives. On Sunday I was meant to be on the start line of the London marathon 34 years after I debuted in 1986. Canary Wharf didn’t even exist in those days. As that won’t be happening and as I haven’t been able to watch Guernsey FC or Raiders or take part in Guernsey Athletic club races in recent weeks, so I’ve spent some time reflecting on Guernsey and its positive approach to activity and sport.
I am pleased to say that I found this a reassuring and enjoyable experience as the overwhelming impression is that activity and sport make an important positive contribution to Guernsey life. However, there is no room for complacency, especially as we need every sector of the community to engage in making Guernsey a place where physical activity and sport are supported, easy to access, and normal. A concern that I do have is that the current situation will create more inequality when it comes to participation in activity. Lots of families and individuals have been really engaged with the two hours of activity with exciting, fun approaches to being active but that hasn’t been the case for everyone. Those who have been housebound, had to juggle jobs, children, home schooling, or simply haven’t been motivated risk being left behind in the activity stakes unless organisations such as the Health Improvement Commission and the Sports Commission and make concerted efforts to support them with innovative, inclusive approaches.
But let’s get back to some reflecting.
So, borrowing from one of my heroes, Ian Drury of the Blockheads – kids, ask your parents about that band – I’ve identified five ‘reasons to be cheerful’.
I’ve been involved in coaching juniors for 30 years. I also managed the primary schools cross-country and track and field interinsular athletics team for over 20 years and my role as the Be Active lead at the Health Improvement Commission has meant that, until recently, I had daily contact with schools and education services.
Pictured: Alun Wiliams and Ala Chalmers giving a school assembly.
Over this long period of time I have been in contact with thousands of young people and I’ve always been impressed by their behaviour and attitude. I can count on one hand the number of children who behaved poorly. The overriding characteristics that I witness are that they are considerate, sporting, grateful and keen to learn. That’s not just my opinion. Visitors to the islands such as inspectors and sports coaches (as well as officials when we travel to events off-island) are always glowing in their praise of their behaviour.
Guernsey is blessed to have at its fingertips such a beautiful, accessible environment. Our cliffs, beaches and commons are the perfect backdrop for sport and keeping active . For example, I defy anyone to find a better location for a Parkrun than ours at L’Ancresse every Saturday morning. Equally the growth in participation in outdoor swimming means that lots more people are enjoying Guernsey’s beautiful beaches all year round. Our environment provides numerous opportunities for informal non-structured walks, runs and bike rides.
Pictured: Town hasn't looked like this for quite a few weeks.
An unintended consequence of lockdown has been the reduction in traffic which has meant that individuals and families have been able to enjoy much quieter island roads and lanes. This has given us the freedom to walk, cycle and enjoy the outdoors, in many cases, as never before and there has been a noticeable increase in people walking and cycling. In the quietest of spots.
At the Health Improvement Commission, we want to capture examples of the Guernsey community enjoying the outdoors under these exceptional circumstances.
If you have photos or stories of what you have done outdoors and will be doing over the next few days, please send them to the Be Active Team at the Health Improvement Commission via my email: alun.williams@healthimprovement.gg
But it’s not just our natural environment that inspires activity. The community has worked hard to create a portfolio of sport and activity venues that are the envy of most small communities, as will be witnessed by the delivery of the 2021 Nat West Island Games.
Pictured: Footes Lane was recently upgraded with a bright blue track.
A personal favourite is Footes Lane. I can remember running on the old cinder track and, on another occasion, being knee-deep in mud watching rugby on the old field. How times have changed. When the England Athletics Chief Executive visited the facility a few months back he rated it as one of the best, most accessible facilities he’d ever seen.
And we can’t wait to get back to using our lovely blue track soon
One of the strengths of Guernsey sport is that you can see at close hand our sporting superstars and watch them as they develop and grow. So, it’s been great for me to witness the hard work paying off by the likes of the Chalmers brothers and Sam Culverwell; I can remember them as enthusiastic youngsters getting a battering in the junior schools athletic interinsulars against taller Jersey lads.
Likewise, every time I see Heather Watson show good old Guernsey grit and snatch great victories, such as at the recent Mexican Open, I think back to accompanying her as part of the Guernsey Commonwealth Games team where she won gold. She was lovely then and is lovely now.
A strength of our sporting heroes, in my mind especially epitomised by Lee Merrien, is that they seem to share common values. Determination, drive and effort all feature but importantly they also demonstrate modesty, authenticity and pride in their Guernsey heritage.
As the Be Active Lead you won’t be surprised to hear that I’d love to see more activity across all our schools and education services.
Pictured: Pupils from St Mary and St Michael Primary School (usually) complete their Daily Mile at Delancey Park.
Physical activity is being engineered out of our lives with increased sedentary behaviour, but I’ve been impressed by the efforts that have been made, over recent years, to incorporate activity into every aspect of school life. Primary schools have embraced making more children more active more often, recognising the benefits that activity brings both physically and mentally. Look at the average day of most children when they are attending school – PE lessons (recently enhanced by the primary schools sports partnership), outdoor activities, fun and games throughout the curriculum, loads of extracurricular sports opportunities and, my personal favourite, the Daily Mile, whose Guernsey hashtag – Fun, Freedom, Friends and Fitness – explains the positive impact it is having on our children and our schools. Testimony to its value is the number of examples of families that have continued with The Daily Mile when they have been out of school. We need to do more about incorporating activity into every phase of education and to help make children more active, and I’m pleased to report there’s been good progress in the past few years.
We are fortunate that our major forms of local media value activity and sport and give it a high profile. A strength is that the sports editors seek to ensure breadth and balance in coverage; compare that approach with other regions which will only focus on one or two key sports. Add to that the quality of the photography and the sports community is well served.
And just to finish with one more reminder about the London Marathon. I can recall lots of beautiful, inspiring moments during the ten London Marathons that I’ve run but a favourite was when, in one marathon, I rounded a corner with 6 miles to go. It was hot and my legs were feeling very heavy. It was the hardest part of the Course on the drab streets of the Isle of Dogs. But a local pub band was blaring out that old London Marathon Favourite - ‘When the going gets tough…the tough get going’. That could have been Guernsey’s theme tune for the past few weeks.
Pictured above and top: Alun won’t be running the London Marathon this Sunday. Instead he said, a very good second best will be a socially distanced run with his daughter Tess and granddaughter Poppy.
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