Wow! July seems to have gone so quickly... or maybe I’m just getting older 🤣
We all set off on our quests a few weeks ago (or continued them from June) and for some, myself included, plans changed. Goals are sill there to be reached, plans to get there can always change of course.
How has it been? We have people reaching new distance goals, new time goals, coming back from injuries, starting new journeys, adding/increasing cross training etc. It’s interesting to see how many roads there are to the same destination(s)
I’ve enjoyed my month with you guys, and will be mainly on the Bridge forum again in August 😀. The quest baton is about to be handed over to the lovely Sandraj39 for the next part of our journeys.
Have lots of fun... happy running (or cycling, walking, yogaing (?) etc)
UNM
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UnfitNoMore
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Well UNM I completed my Quest for July one week earlier than expected, I ran 10 miles on Wednesday 22nd July in around 2 hours 3 minutes, as I say that was 1 week earlier, I enjoyed that run, running non stop in the rain ☔.
I know what you are thinking, Half Marathon, maybe but I'll run a few more 10Ks, another 10 miles, but I am not going to commit myself to run 21K by the end of August.
Good call I think... consolidate and then maybe that HM... I always like to take some consolidation time around a milestone run, if I didn’t I’d likely forget to do it. Also, some HM plans only go to 10 miles in training in a similar way to marathon plans maxing out around the 20 mile mark.
Season’s best... I managed 25:39 last year, that needs beating too now of course... I have 3 sets of bests, Nike ones are absolute (since I restarted running) Garmin ones are from last summer, and my Strava ones only date back to February. So, I need to simplify matters by going sub 25 for 5k, and closer to 50 for 10k... could take a while 🤣
Hey UNM! 👋🏽 I completed my running quest of a run on the Graduation & Birthday Runniversary, but not much happening since, 🥴. I did complete a daily fitness challenge all the same!!! That’s now become just part of everyday and I love that. More running to be added soon of course, (I hope)!! I’m sure the spur of the moment run will pop up (as always 😂) and reading all of the brilliant posts, I think it may be close by now too 😉!! ❤️
You’ve done great things with the running and daily fitness... the running bug will produce that spur of the moment soon, keep those devices charged and ready!!
Confession time..... I only managed 1 run last week.....
I did see a physio last Thursday. My niggly ankle had been behaving itself but I thought I would benefit from the experience of a physio who is also a very keen (read ultra) runner. It turns out that the problem is not my ankle but I have weak hip muscles, particularly my left which has been aggravating the ankle. I have a long standing nursing back injury which flares up into sciatica on rare occasions (this is sorted by regular chiropractic sessions and yoga). So this week I have been mainly concentrating on my strengthening exercises. I ran again on Tuesday and found it so much easier as my leg didn't tire so easily. I didn't realise the impact that this was having on my running until after doing the specific physio exercises. I'm really glad I saw the physio and have managed to nip things in the bud before it became a full blown injury.
I'm planning on taking things slowly for the next few weeks and have put bridge to 10k on hold at present. I have been advised not to increase my distance at the minute so will have to stick to 5k/30mins for now. Another few weeks will enable me to build up my hip strength.
I'm still doing yoga 2-3 times a week. The good news is my regular classes are restarting in September but the bad news is they clash even more with my work times due to the significantly reduced class sizes. At least they will still be held online for those unable to attend real life classes.
All very sensible... glad the physio found the source of the issue, they’re worth every penny! Issues further up the body can sometimes manifest lower down as the legs aren’t quite at the angles they should be. I was surprised when I first read about this... it’s the main reason running shoes come in his and hers apparently. You’ve had your quest changed, but you’ve already done wonders with the new one... yoga and the strengthening work will have you ready for restarting the bridge. Like that the yoga will also remain online, I’m hoping my gym will do similar as I can’t do a workout and a class on the same visit at the moment to help with the contact tracing.
Thank you for your support. I will have to read more about the issue. I didn't realise that there were differences with his and hers running shoes apart from the obvious size differences. I suppose men and women hold their bodies differently with the shape and size of the pelvis.
I hope your gym let's you do your workout and classes. I'm not ready to go back to my gym yet as I want to see how busy it gets. I have the free FitOn app so can do classes ranging from 5 minutes plus whenever I choose. It's great for flexibility of times.
Exactly that... different pelvises mean our legs meet the ankle at slightly different angles.
I have FitON, and Nike Training, and workouts on Garmin too... always have something I can do, and also not likely to be in the gym this week, maybe even next month. Just hope they lift that restriction before I’m ready, it’s a 6/7 mile run from here!
Good evening and thank you for supporting our July quests. I've had a mixed month, I ran my first 10k right at the start of the month but since then haven't run more than 5k due to a niggle. It appears I have a weak left glute and I suspect have done for quite a while so it's single leg squats and variations for me. A week off meant my target of 70k for the month hasn't been met, managed 54k but have kept up with intervals, except the 1 week off.
Looking forward to following your HM training progress in August
Mixed maybe... but very smart... bagged a new distance best and sensibly reigned it in time work on the niggle, that beats pushing on and maybe not running at all. It also makes 54k possibly more of an achievement that 70k would have been... great work this month. I don’t envy you on single leg squats, regular ones I just about tolerate 🤣
I may be tempted to run HM distance in August as my long runs won’t be too far away by the end of it... we shall see how it feels at the time!
My first wall sit and squats session I was absolutely delighted to do the time... after the workout I sat in my comfy chair, and couldn’t get up again after about 20 minutes 🤣
My quest was to increase my distance with the magic plan which I've managed to do - a successful 7k and a questionable 9.5k hike/ walk/run! A nice flat 8k planned on Saturday to start August off nicely. The Magic Plan has helped me find a new groove for my running when I was floundering a bit in 5k land.
My quest was to run 10k which I did although that run saw me injured for a couple of weeks +. I’m back running this week and will manage 10.5k but across three runs. I’ve got new trainers after a gait analysis which I’m hoping will be the silver bullet but I suspect I will have to do some strengthening to stay injury-free. Thanks to everyone on this forum. I’ve learned so much and love reading everyone’s running journeys 🏃♀️
We athletes have to expect the odd injury from time to time. You’re on the right lines though... strengthen anywhere that niggles!
You achieved your goal before the injury... you’re back on it once healed. When we started out we wanted to be like the “real runners” and for me, what you’ve done this month is one of my definitions of a real runner.
Hello my quest was to run every day as part of my running for 💯 days and I am pleased to say that I have run every day in July and clocked up 105km on the way only 69 days left to go. Keep on smiling and running.
Really sorry to hear that you’re injured again. Hopefully it’ll settle down and New Forest can happen. I’m surprised that the event is on to be honest. Well done achieving your quest goals, I’m hoping to see you back in August.
Thank you. Being in the New Forest National Park, the entry numbers are restricted anyway. They have no problems with having to open roads within a certain Time like the towns because most of the running is on woodland trails, and they have put up a plan to set people off individually, based on their expected finish time. Just Like cycle trial time. Just waiting for National Park approval , police and fire brigade have said yes.
Cool... they have some advantages, but also so very good thinkers behind it by the sounds of that. Wouldn’t work in London obviously, but some of the other events could do something similar at least... they give me hope!
Of course, if they could delay it a few more weeks it’d be better for you potentially!
Having checked back to my first post, I didn't challenge myself too much this month, so thankfully I did succeed - managing a weekly (not) parkrun somewhere between 24'30" and 25'00", each followed by some pleasant socialising with ARBs.
Last Saturday afternoon I watched the Beeb's Top 25 Olympic Highlights, finishing with Super Saturday 2012, which shamed me into putting my shoes on and having a crack at 10k for the first time for a while. Delivered 53'54" which was pretty pleasing, if a couple of minutes off my PB.
And yesterday I wound the gym treadmill up to 13 kph (4'36"/k) and proved my legs can still go round that fast for at least 500m at a time (was up to 2k before lockdown). So there's one benchmark for a Quest in August ......
I missed that show... may have a look on iPlayer for it.
Great times on (not) parkrun, and that 10k too. Have just done the maths on that treadmill pace... my Garmin occasionally reports around there as my fastest pace, but it must be for a second or two as I can never see it on the graph 🤣. You’ll soon be back up towards 2k though... and it’s good to have another goal.
Tried to "like" but not sure what my Tell-ing-bone is doing. Yes o so right about July going at warp speed. Never mind we will all be dressed for snow runs soon.
Sorry to hear that achilles stopped you, but good to read that you’re almost ready for the physio and the road back. Have a wonderful and productive August.
Good luck with the physio on Monday bluebirdrunner. I don’t know about you but my pain keeps moving . What was Achilles , has moved to ankle and sometimes knee. My physio appointment is Wednesday. 🤞
Good luck with your physio appointment and treatment Dexy. 🤞There seems to be a fine line as to how much strain each joint will tolerate before complaining...
...my PF right foot is doing well now, this new Achillies swelling is non-tolerance to impact in my left now weaker foot...
We will get there though with patience and determination.😚xxx
We will BBR, But my patience is running thin. We will be singing loudly when we are running again to let everyone know how joyous it is.
Thanks for the challenge UNM, it really helped to set some goals.
I set 3 goals, and have had a great month, one success and 2 halves.
My first goal is continuing, so just a half here...it was to learn how to run a slower pace for easy and long runs.... but it needs more time to develop..pace has been up and down like a yo-yo with Garmin beeping it’s head off, ( at least I’ve learnt how to set it now!) ....behind, in front, behind, in front 🤣....so this needs to become ‘learn how to pace well for different run lengths and formats’, there’s such a lot to learn here 🤪
My second was about patience and discipline....to wait until end of month to attempt to set a new PB for 5k, this goal was a success 😁 , I waited!! I only today left, 😆 ( it nearly didn’t happen due to foot niggles and extra days rest needed) but this morning a double success as I did set a PB, knocked a minute off the time I set 4 months ago when I ran Week 9/3. I didn’t think I was going to make it, ran the 4th k a bit too fast and nearly ran out of steam for the last k, & heart rate a bit too fast for my comfort. 😅
Goal 3 , another half, completed week 3 and 7.7 k of Magic 10, (goal was week 4 and 8k)
Anyway, 1 plus 2 halves is 2 and as Meatloaf said 2 out of 3 ain’t bad.
Great stuff... halves are progress, and that’s what goals are all about. My plans adapt around life and sometimes niggles, the goals may move back a little, but they never really change. A good month on all 3 fronts. I find it easier to set high and low pace alerts quite far apart at first and then narrow them as I get used to it... but I’m a long way of being a running metronome 🤣
Can’t argue with the Loaf! Have a wonderful August.
thanks UNM, I see you’re making excellent progress too 😁 .....I only seem to be able to set one pace, Garmin 45 , can’t see any options for setting upper and lower although if I could that would help a lot, thanks, I like your phrase ‘ a running metronome’ I have a friend/ old time marathon runner who is, he counts the whole of every run in breaths, wears compression knee length socks too, such dedication 😄🤗
I believe that it’s exactly the same as in the 245 so it’s in run settings. Check out this video, it’s says 245 & 645 in the description, but just checked and he says 45 & 245 in the actual video.
Almost ticked all my goals off this month, almost, almost. The one that got away? Increasing my average daily step count. Now I could go for a walk tonight now it is cooler, or imagine that I did more steps than I probably did when my Fitbit died and before I got a new one... but it would still be at best a close run thing... definitely one to roll over into August and try again.
So... pleased to have set myself a goal requiring me to do some longer than 30 minute runs - I love the journeys you can take when you go further (even though I had some hairy times in the heat, losing my ways and having funny turns), I did a yoga practice more days than not and I definitely explored new routes and places in the area. (One thing that was especially nice was getting photos of my sister and her children visiting a place we had discovered and then told them out)
Many thanks for shepherding us so beautifully this month UnfitNoMore .
Sometimes, the one that gets away is the best... staying just out of reach, pulling you towards it the next time. Great month’s work... and seeing your sister’s kids visiting an amazing place.. that’s just priceless. The one that got away will be caught in August... I can’t wait to get cracking.
Thanks to the support here I managed to meet my goal of running 60 minutes early in the month but it's been hard since then. Not sure why but even 5k is a challenge. I am working on strengthening and am trying to get yoga into non run days. I'll keep in going with 3 runs a week and try to get back to the distance version of the magic plan. Happy running everyone 🙌
Great job on the goal. Not sure why it’s tough at the moment... maybe a good speed interval on a short run, and a gentle 5k next will reboot the systems. Enjoy the distance plan. Have a wonderful August.
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COGH - Getting close to the finish line
🍏Summer Quest Week 2
Finish Line
