Last Updated: August 25, 2020
Moms on the Run is committed to the health and safety of all our coaches and members. We are committed to supporting you on your health and fitness journey and in uncertain times like these, we need one another more than ever! We know that exercising is a healthy way to boost the immune system, reduce anxiety and manage stress and will continue to offer programming.
Stay At Home Orders
If a location is affected by a stay at home order, that location will suspend in-person classes and offer programming virtually. Learn about virtual programming.
Face-to Face Classes
Where face-to-face classes are occurring, we will continue to meet, as we always have, in the safety of the outdoors. Practicing social distancing is an important responsibility to help end the spread of the virus and one that we take seriously. Strict social distancing protocols will be followed in accordance with all national, state and community health guidelines.
Moms on the Run is committed to the health and safety of all our coaches and members. We are committed to supporting you on your health and fitness journey and in uncertain times like these, we need one another more than ever! We know that exercising is a healthy way to boost the immune system, reduce anxiety and manage stress and will continue to offer programming.
Stay At Home Orders
If a location is affected by a stay at home order, that location will suspend in-person classes and offer programming virtually. Learn about virtual programming.
Face-to Face Classes
Where face-to-face classes are occurring, we will continue to meet, as we always have, in the safety of the outdoors. Practicing social distancing is an important responsibility to help end the spread of the virus and one that we take seriously. Strict social distancing protocols will be followed in accordance with all national, state and community health guidelines.
Moms on the Run COVID-19 Class Policy
- Do not share exercise equipment.
- Wash hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds immediately prior to and following class. If soap and water are not readily available, bring an alcohol-based hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol for your personal use.
- Avoid physical contact with other participants. Maintain eight feet of distance so as not to create any question of the six foot radius required.
- Do not attend class if you have any current symptoms of illness or have had any symptoms in the last 72 hours.
- Do not attend class if you have had known exposure to COVID-19 for at least 14 days. Follow all CDC quarantine guidelines if you have traveled to highly affected areas, as designated on the CDC website.
- Those who have contracted the virus should not attend class until they have been symptom-free for at least two weeks.
Class Policy FAQs
Are masks required at class?
The CDC guidelines recommend the use of cloth face coverings “in public settings where other social distancing measures are difficult to maintain, e.g., grocery stores and pharmacies,” and it is important to note that social distancing beyond the minimum 6' expectation is required at all Moms on the Run classes.
We cannot require masks at class due to the safety and liability concerns associated with exercising with a mask on.
Wearing a mask makes your lungs and heart work harder to obtain adequate oxygen, and it has not been shown to be safe for all people to wear masks while running. There are known reports of runners collapsing and/or dying while running with a mask. China banned the use of masks in gym class after three deaths of children during running. There is suspected higher risk among beginning runners or those with asthma and similar health conditions.
It is important to note that exhaling heavily while running does push air out the sides of the masks forcefully in a way that is similar to breathing without the mask on.
Experts agree there is an extremely low risk of having enough exposure to contract the illness while being properly social distanced during running. “There is no compelling medical reason for people who are exercising outside and maintaining social distancing to wear a mask” says Henry Chambers, a professor in the Division of Infectious Diseases at the University of California.
Local laws may dictate whether wearing a mask outdoors is required. When these local laws are in place, it is important that each individual make the decision about attending class virtually or in-person that is best for their personal health circumstances.
In all situations, we encourage our members to make their health a priority and to make the decisions that are best for their family. We will continue to offer virtual class options in response to local need.
We cannot require masks at class due to the safety and liability concerns associated with exercising with a mask on.
Wearing a mask makes your lungs and heart work harder to obtain adequate oxygen, and it has not been shown to be safe for all people to wear masks while running. There are known reports of runners collapsing and/or dying while running with a mask. China banned the use of masks in gym class after three deaths of children during running. There is suspected higher risk among beginning runners or those with asthma and similar health conditions.
It is important to note that exhaling heavily while running does push air out the sides of the masks forcefully in a way that is similar to breathing without the mask on.
Experts agree there is an extremely low risk of having enough exposure to contract the illness while being properly social distanced during running. “There is no compelling medical reason for people who are exercising outside and maintaining social distancing to wear a mask” says Henry Chambers, a professor in the Division of Infectious Diseases at the University of California.
Local laws may dictate whether wearing a mask outdoors is required. When these local laws are in place, it is important that each individual make the decision about attending class virtually or in-person that is best for their personal health circumstances.
In all situations, we encourage our members to make their health a priority and to make the decisions that are best for their family. We will continue to offer virtual class options in response to local need.
Are children allowed at class?
In normal circumstances, children are always allowed at our classes. Currently, policies will vary by location based on the safety of the environment at that site and adherence to class size limits.
The safety of children is our priority, and their adherence to our strict distancing policies is the responsibility of the guardian. Our business owners will reserve the right to not allow children who are not following the policies, or to not allow any children at all based on the local environment.
The safety of children is our priority, and their adherence to our strict distancing policies is the responsibility of the guardian. Our business owners will reserve the right to not allow children who are not following the policies, or to not allow any children at all based on the local environment.
Is it true that I am at an increased exposure risk by running behind someone, even if I am more than 6 feet away?
There is not a lot yet known about the risks of COVID-19 transmission outdoors. Experts agree that being in an outdoor environment while social distancing is one of the safest things you can do right now. Exhaled viruses disperse quickly outside, and the level of particles remaining may not be a significant enough exposure to result in transmission. However, until further research is available it is suggested that risk can be reduced by avoiding running closely behind another runner. When coming up on another runner, we recommend passing wide on the trail as a precaution.
Bert Blocken, a University researcher from Belgium, recommends staying 30 feet back behind a runner traveling in the same direction. As a result of his study (not yet peer reviewed), he recommends running diagonally behind someone rather than directly behind someone.
We understand that not everyone will be comfortable with exercising on trails together, and virtual class options will continue to be offered based on need and the extent plausible for the local business. We encourage all of our members to make their health and safety a priority and to make the decisions that are best for themselves and their family during this time when the virus is so widely circulating.
Bert Blocken, a University researcher from Belgium, recommends staying 30 feet back behind a runner traveling in the same direction. As a result of his study (not yet peer reviewed), he recommends running diagonally behind someone rather than directly behind someone.
We understand that not everyone will be comfortable with exercising on trails together, and virtual class options will continue to be offered based on need and the extent plausible for the local business. We encourage all of our members to make their health and safety a priority and to make the decisions that are best for themselves and their family during this time when the virus is so widely circulating.
