As the spring of COVID-19 has become the summer and likely the fall of COVID-19, people have been forced to learn new ways of going about their lives to live safely with a disease that has upended the world.
Those changes can be felt in many different ways, including changes to how people exercise in the Chattanooga area. For some outdoor enthusiasts, including runners and cyclists, face coverings have become another accessory along with good shoes and breathable athletic clothing.
Local photographer Dan Henry has seen his freelance work impacted by the pandemic and spent much of the spring cooped up at home with his wife in their small apartment. To help maintain his physical and mental fitness during this time, he took to trail running as a way to exercise without being around others. However, as the pandemic has continued, Henry says he has felt an increasing need to be around people while exercising.
“I’ve been trying to stay healthy, but I also got to the point where I was just really over being alone,” he explains. “I’m a social human and I like interacting with other people. I had missed working in coffee shops and being in a team environment.
“Without having work and without having social interactions recreationally, I was just ready to see other people.”