Seemed over the top to me as well, but also didn't impact my run at all, so nothing from my point to lose, and potential gain to not be spreading the Covid, so I'm happy to do it.

I'm a member of a number of running groups, and hear lots of people complain about having a face covering. But I've done a number of runs, walks, and downhill skis over the last two years, and frankly if you can't have a cloth in front of your mouth for 40 minutes, I'd worry more about your lung capacity and proper respiratory disease than any temporary pandemic.