FARNHAM Runners are back in action – well, sort of...

England Athletics have said clubs can run again in small groups of no more than six, as long as they keep a social distance of two metres.

As members have been unable to access their normal clubhouse on the Bourne Green, or able to use their summer speed training venue, committee members and run leaders have been busy pioneering an impressive variety of alternative venues and routes.

Club chairman Jacquie Browne said: “Although members miss the buzz of our club runs, particularly our gatherings on Wednesday evenings when we regularly get up to 50 people, the restrictions have given us the opportunity to meet in small groups at different venues and plan different routes, exploring new paths and areas.

“In addition to our usual haunts of the Bourne Woods, Frensham Common and Tilford, we have had some different start points and routes to Crooksbury Hill, to Caesar’s Camp, through Old Park and to Dippenhall along St Swithun’s Way.

“We have also now set up alternative speed training sessions on the Bourne Green and Farnham Park, with a hill session in the Bourne Woods. But of course we have to limit each session to just six in total.

“We just don’t know when we will be able to resume our usual, very popular social activities. Our club championship has had to be postponed and the only races able to take place at the moment are ‘virtual’ races.

“All parkruns have been halted and recently replaced with virtual runs where participants submit their own times for any 5km course. However, we are very thankful to have been able to get outside to exercise and to have easy access to such wonderful countryside all around Farnham.”