SPRING into March..Week 2... Join in the fun!

[Oldfloss]

Here we are into week 2 of the new Quest!

The days are getting longer, and hopefully a tad warmer. I am getting closer to my first Half Marathon and as I continue with my targets, the weeks are fairly whizzing by, as it gets closer and closer!

What the Quest is;

The Quest takes one calendar month . You can at join any point during that time.

The aim of the Quest is to help you find a focus or goal that you would like to achieve by the end of the Quest period.

I ask that you will be a Graduate to join the Quest. The main reason I ask this is that while you are completing the programme, your plan is very structured so I wouldn't want the Quest to interfere with that.

Most popular goals are:-

To run three times a week

To slowly increase distance

To train for a specific race

To add In Stretch and Strength exercises

As you can see they are personal to yourself and it's totally your own choice. So if you want to join, all you have to do is put;

I would like to join the Quest, or, count me in and then, I would like to. ..............

Each week in March I shall put up a new post...it is important that we get together and we can chat, support and encourage each other, and generally just see how we are all doing.

At the end of the Quest, there will be a certificate that you can download to keep should you wish to.

Stay safe, stay healthy and stay running x!

Oldfloss, Realfoodieclub, Millsie-J, Ju-Ju and Roseabi x

[LiisaM]

Trying to get my feet going again. Ran this morning with the dog and hope to overcome my physical fears and run again this afternoon.

[Oldfloss Administrator Graduate10 in reply to LiisaM]

That is brilliant...you are doing so well.. we shall keep each other moving. We can run and chat to each other in our heads... !

[Dexy5 Graduate10]

Hello Everyone, I’m back in Blighty without injury! I haven’t run since the 3k on 13th February and I hope I can still do it when I go to parkrun tomorrow.

My quest is to continue working back up to 10k.

I’ve found a 10k race in the area to sign up for, but I think I’d better try a few runs first.

[Oldfloss Administrator Graduate10 in reply to Dexy5]

Welcome back.. we missed you, but know you had a super time! I think you will be absolutely fine tomorrow...but as ever... you know the form... slow and steady ?

Good luck with that working back up to 10K... a great goal...

[JonathanP Graduate10 in reply to Dexy5]

Glad you and UTS are back safely Dexy. All the best for parkrun tomorrow!

[Dexy5 Graduate10 in reply to JonathanP]

Thanks JonathanP, UTS will be playing hockey, and I will be taking it slowly tomorrow I think.

🏃‍♀️🏃‍♂️🚶‍♂️🐕🚶‍♂️🐌🐌

[Bridget007 in reply to Dexy5]

With all that skiing ⛷ you’ve done your legs will still be strong ... you’ll be whipping along 🏃🏼‍♀️

[Dexy5 Graduate10 in reply to Bridget007]

Ooh I hope so Bridget. Stamina should be fine, but it’s whether the joints work after being stuck in ski boots! Enjoy your parkrun too.

[Bridget007 in reply to Dexy5]

Thank you 😊

[Bridget007]

I would like to run 3 times a week to include a parkrun which I’ve now decided I enjoy 😊 and to try and do 10k again but not too soon 😁

[Oldfloss Administrator Graduate10 in reply to Bridget007]

Go you!!!

[SaskAlliecat Graduate10]

I'm a little late to the party, was really down last week so couldn't bring myself to join in on the quest. I've managed to climb out of my hole and get back on track on a revised HM plan. I am still hoping to reach the HM distance by the end of April now so I can concentrate on hills after that for my 20k trail race in the fall.

May I please join this lovely group of Questers on this month's Quest?

My quests for this month are to:

*keep on running 3 times per week using my Runkeeper HM plan

*get 1, preferably 2, crosstraining activities in per week

*keep my sanity and prevent my typical downward spiral this time of year. If I can do the first 2, the 3rd should come. Being aware of my struggles this time of year should hopefully help prevent, or at least shorten or reduce any spiralling down I experience as well as getting back on the exercise and healthy eating train. The weather appears to finally be improving which will hopefully mean more outdoor time as well 🙏🤞

[Hidden in reply to SaskAlliecat]

I’m glad you posted Saskie. Spring is coming, you will run outside. And we’re here to listen and support you through the highs and lows. Good goals and Big hug to you. 🤗

[Bluebirdrunner Graduate10 in reply to SaskAlliecat]

Hi Allie, sorry to hear you have felt so down last week.

Your winter has been long and brutally hard, I've been amazed how you have coped with going running in those freezing conditions, but run you have, and I know it helps you feel better and gives you a boost...

Managing to get those three runs a week in, as valuable you time (whether on the treadmill or outside if conditions allow) will be great medicine, and hopefully everything else will fall into place. Maybe post about each run as you do it if it helps, your fellow Questers are with you in this...and it will be great to watch you build up to HM distance...

I haven’t been well enough to run for a couple of weeks, but hope to soon, and you are someone I think of for inspiration when it feels tough on my run and you keep me going...💪 xx

Good luck with your Quest and happy running😊xxxx

[SaskAlliecat Graduate10 in reply to Bluebirdrunner]

Thanks Jan. It looks like Spring is trying to arrive finally. After eating a donut and muffin at work in the late afternoon and driving home in daylight, I made the decision to delay supper and go for my run outside during daylight while I could see the slippery bits. It was zero degrees and a bit breezy but it felt great to get out again. I had to shuffle across a few icy spots and stepped into a deep puddle within the first 100 metre but it felt great to get outside again. I have another 7K and 14k this week so fingers crossed the weather continues on this nice path! I'm also hoping to get out for a hike on my lovely trails at the lake this weekend if the conditions are ok for it 🤞🙏 - the perfect cross training activity, if you ask me, for some improved mental well-being!

I'm so sorry to hear you've been unwell and still struggling to get better. Hopefully you can shake this bug and get back out there for another positivity run 😊

[Bluebirdrunner Graduate10 in reply to SaskAlliecat]

Well done Allie, and those treats are allowed... but only because you are running!😆

Enjoy your hike on the trails! We have been out for some longish walks...nice to be out in the fresh air and you soon warm up wearing the correct gear.😚xx

[Oldfloss Administrator Graduate10]

Firstly..huge hug!

Then,of course you are added.. and we will keep you company through these times... Great goals and doable too...

You will do this... you are like Mole.. heading out of Mole End into the sunshine of Wind in the Willows... and just look what a time he had xxx

[ForestGrump63 60minGraduate]

To get back to 3 times a week. Work has taken over my life and that’s not on 🤬

[Oldfloss Administrator Graduate10 in reply to ForestGrump63]

Most certainly not.... you get back to it

[O505k Graduate10]

Good start to my March Quest. Completed week 5 of my HM training plan. This week seemed quite sensible a relaxed 6.5k to kick it off, I decided to tackle the hill which is part of the local Parkrun. I need to do this more often - it was a killer. Run 2 was intervals, decided to try a small local park that has a 400m track around it. I seemed to coincide with 'Doggy day care park outing!' Run 3 was my first Long run over 10k - it was only 10.5k but still over 10k. Finally, I managed to slow my average pace down by 25 secs per K. Made a huge difference to the consistency of the time per K and even managed the fastest K at the end!

Have also completed 3 sessions of the knee strengthening exercises, definitely need to keep this up.

Happy running.

[Oldfloss Administrator Graduate10 in reply to O505k]

Well done.on track and looking good..

[Hidden]

Well I had a niggly knee after my weights class so I decided to take it easy this week. Only one 5km and one class. I am hoping to go out in the next hour to run between the hail and snow showers. I have non running Cabin fever. I’m going to have an easy week class and run wise just because a rest is a good as a change. Happy March wind running all 💨 🌬

[O505k Graduate10 in reply to Hidden]

Hope you managed to dodge the worst of the weather.

[Hidden in reply to O505k]

I decided to run on a running track so I could run for cover If i needed to. I didn’t and the surface was very nice for my knee. Nicely tired now. Thanks

[TailChaser Graduate10]

Hi Oldfloss! I’m back working on site now so managing fatigue so I can still run is my big challenge this month, particularly working in this dodgy weather ⛈🌨🌦💨❄️ and possibly🌪 and☄️ 🤣 I also need to build up to my first proper bling (10k) at the beginning of April.

Last week was great as I smashed all my usual weekly goals (1x yoga, 1x trip to the gym, 3 days of 10k and an extra top up run today!) but I may regret that this week... Ideally this month should be a minimum of 2x 5ks inc Parkrun (of course 😁), and incrementing my main 10k run by 1 extra k a week, carrying on with the Squeezy exercises and stretching my hamstrings (this has really helped with a dodgy left knee the last few weeks). Oh yes, and finally remembering to try the buttock squeezing thing when I get to the last bit of a Parkrun (sorry, I still haven’t done it! 😩).

All the best with your HM training 🤗

[Hidden in reply to TailChaser]

I’m tired reading all of that 👍

[TailChaser Graduate10 in reply to Hidden]

Er...yeah...you’re probably right paulanoo, reading it back to myself it does look a bit bonkers 🤣

[Oldfloss Administrator Graduate10 in reply to TailChaser]

She believed she could..so she did...

[Oldfloss Administrator Graduate10 in reply to TailChaser]

Phew..all that and working Mum too..!

Go you...it makes my HM training seem easy!!!

You will hit those goals!!!

[TailChaser Graduate10 in reply to Oldfloss]

Hope so Floss, squeezing all the minutes I can out of any spare time! 🤞🤞🤞

[UpTheStanley Graduate10]

Well, after a horrid cold and some great skiing, I’ve finally done my first couple of runs since January 😀. Having set myself a target for the month of 10k in an hour, this week’s intermediate goal was 6k in 36 mins. After a gentle 6k in 45 mins with Dexy on Monday, today I managed 3k into the wind in 17’17” and 3k back in 15’31”, so pretty happy with that. 8k in 48 mins next week then .... 😝🤞

[Oldfloss Administrator Graduate10]

All very positive..go you!

[Nomad2001]

Count me in. Graduated yesterday. I would like to increase distance.

[Oldfloss Administrator Graduate10 in reply to Nomad2001]

Huge well done... take a peek at the What's Next pinned post

[Bluebirdrunner Graduate10]

Hurrah! Just been for my first run of March..a little runette, just 3k in total, and...it felt great. 😊

Inspired by so many people's posts, the desire to run won over the worry of having blocked sinuses. No shortness of breath after all (I always run with my mouth wide open anyway 😆😉) and felt relaxed and comfortable.

Very pleased.

Happy running all! 😊xxx

[SaskAlliecat Graduate10 in reply to Bluebirdrunner]

Yay! Glad you got out for a little runette today!

[Oldfloss Administrator Graduate10 in reply to Bluebirdrunner]

This is great news you! I am glad it was such a good run and with no issues x

[Hidden in reply to Bluebirdrunner]

Nice Bluebird. That's March off to a good start then. Enjoy the post runette glow