HUGE apologies for posting this a day late. A full day with small runner in training, (who by the way, has discovered a very fast turn of speed, when she hurtles around doing what she calls, skedaddling ), on Monday and a day travelling to the coast, yesterday took their toll,
But, here I am, in one piece, and I sincerely hope you are all here too !
So; the second week of the new Quest, after a week which I am sure, brought many changes, some welcome and some maybe not so welcome to us all.
Folks back in their workplace and children back in their workplaces also; challenging times for us and excellent reasons to keep our running going.
I am pleased with my first week... having got out for a very short run, then a, not so short, I managed to begin to tackle the main goal of my Quest, that of upping my distance, in style, with a not too shabby 10K.
Steady pace after a hard hill start and a striptease half way through.
The run did much to calm the gremlins in my head
Now... I and indeed all of us, want t know how your first week went. Are you feeling that the goals you set yourself are still viable, any changes you want to make...
?
We want to hear about your runs and the way you are feeling right now!
Happy safe running everyone
Oldfloss and the Rest of the Team x
PS
If you have not joined the Quest yet, never fear... take a look at the first September Scampers Quest pinned post and then pop back here to let me know that you are joining us and what your goals are
Floss
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Hello Floss, It’s being the worst week work wise so far but running wise we are still on track with our 10k plan so our quest this week is to run 4 times and get stronger
When night staff don’t turn up and you have to work another ten hours after your eight and a half already worked it’s definitely a shuffle but yes, running is wonderful for sorting out the mind
Hello awesome twosome! Sorry that the working week has been hard, but so glad that at least the running is working out for you. I am really pleased that the 10K plan is still moving ahead, and will watch for the post on the four times a week run.
Are you still finding time for your strength and stamina work too, to supplement the runs
I still do strength and flex feet and ankles and squats daily, we both do a few press ups and Willow can plank forever so i think the answer is yes, I just hope tomorrow is ok at work because it’s our long negative split run of the week, i’m now owed 2 hours and if i can catch up a bit I will take it tomorrow 😀
Well last week I only managed 2 runs but I managed to do a 10k run. It was planned as a 5k run but then it became an hour then as I was so close at 60 mins it became a 10k. It felt really good and my last km was the fastest. I was really pleased with it. My second run was a 5k (not) parkrun.
I have been adding miles to the LEJOG by plenty of walking and received my second postcard on Sunday. I keep chipping away at the miles and am really enjoying it.
I have been working on my strength over the past week and have restarted my yoga classes, albeit online.
My aim for the next week is to run 2-3 times. I will be sticking to 5k this week. I have managed to identify a hill in the village so that I can practice hill repeats when I get home from work in the dark. I will be continuing to walk every day as I want to achieve my own weekly LEJOG target.
I have also signed up for 2x 5k races in November and December. I know I am ready as I regularly run 5k but I also feel that I have imposter syndrome. My colleague felt that I should have signed up for the 10k instead, but I am comfortable with 5k and I wanted my first race to be achievable.
Very well done you...those last flying finish Ks are such fun aren't they?
Good to know that you are still on track with LEJOG... and wonderful that you are enjoying it too.
Signing up for 5Ks is fine... most f the Virtual runs I do are 5K, even though I am up to HM... enjoying the runs and feeling confident in them is what you need... we shall watch for those posts .
Stay on track as you are .. you are doing just fine, and you are certainly no impostor, in any way!
Wow! Great stuff EThomas ! Big congratulations on your first 10k! That's brilliant news - really well done!👍👏👏💪🎉 Lots of luck for your 5K races too - 😁 Very exciting!
And finally...as I love them so much...great to read you are heading for the hills!! 💪🙂
I have kept to my plan. I have rested. I have tried walking. I have not been tempted to run. I am now humbled enough to admit that I'm not sure what I'm doing even though the ankle seems to be healing slowly. I have booked a physio appointment for Friday morning.
Well done, and on listening to your body! Get to the physio' and see what the outcome is. At least you will have a starting point there... I shall watch for your post... do let us know please x
Looking back over your posts, you have just been unlucky. One of the hardest judgements we have to make is "do I run with this or stop?" and I would bet that most of us learned the hard way. Physio should give you rehab exercises, and once you start, completing the exercises daily and making progress gives you some of the buzz you miss through not running. 🤞it won't keep you out of the action for very long.
Most of the injuries which have taken me to the physio have been the result of underlying weaknesses which needed strengthening work as distance and pace increased; not mistakes at all, just stuff which only appeared as I progressed. Then there was repeating the speed challenge before an initial injury had healed ....but we don't talk about that!! This was the look on my physio's face when I confessed 🙄
OldflossAdministrator60minGraduate in reply to Tbae
She picked the word up in one of her books ( almost reading now... at three and 11 months) .
Well done you Hedge Hero... you are doing amazingly after all your hedge cutting. It is a wonder you have the strength to run.
The 5K was done, tired or not and you are still on track with your plans... well done you. We are thinking of a trip to your neck of the woods sometime this week!
Gardening tomorrow from 0800-1400,Friday 10k 0700-0900 Penrhos Coastal Park,Sat boiler installer mid morning- before lunch, Sun 10k 0600-0800 Trearddur Bay/ Porthdafarch Beach/ Trearddur Beach / Home.Got the last load of cuttings to disappear and that’s me.
We are definitely going to meet.
The rule of six in England starts Monday and it is going to be with us for sometime.
The reality is Xmas impacted and perhaps next Easter.😱
Dear OF! As always, thank you for your post! You keep me on my toes--literally! (1) I have taken to morning "skedaddling" with my dog for very short but intense bursts. Our dog is aging so I have to be the "encourager." (2) I continue with my weight exercises and am increasing them and thinking about adding to them. BTW, the garden seems to be (sadly) winding down. The courgette are showing white on their leaves : ( and the green beans are more slowly producing. We plan to get a greenhouse together to retain some things a little longer. With the pandemic, I am missing my old weekly trips to our local organic farm and all it has to offer.
You are most welcome! I like to keep you going and the image I have of you skedaddling is wonderful!
Weight exercises are great too and so good that you are keeping up with them. Yes, the garden is winding down now and the exercise that goes with that! My beans are okay.. second lot of peas have been munched on by snails I think, and the tomatoes just need more sunshine to put the red paint on them You will not regret getting a greenhouse, I am setting leaves and salad and herbs constantly now
Do keep this positive start up... I shall watch for your next post
Ah, yes! Peas! Mine are up a good foot and I'm waiting for fall peas! I waited two days before picking beans and got a great handful! We have spinach and a few other things for fall planted.... The spinach is still too small to pick but I'm still getting kale--enough for smoothies.
Hello Floss. Amazing that you find time to do all this work with everything else you have on...thanks🙂🙂.
Quest wise it has been a really good week. I managed one of the two 10ks I have promised myself this month, and knocked four and a half minutes off my previous effort. Still way off PB time, but it felt good and my knee was intact at the end! My second aim was to get my 5k hill run back in gear; I managed that with a 2min 30 improvement on my last effort. No walking this time!! Finally I made a 3.5lb start on my 6lb Weight reduction target. It is a pain leaving out flat whites, triple chocolate brownie and biscuits, but it worked. Resuming swimming is helping too I think. So, your quest has the same magic powers as one of cheekychipmunks spells ! Fat melts away, lungs are full of refreshing fresh air and knee and muscles feel fine....it will never last 😂
Hi Oldfloss and everyone taking part in this month's Quest!
It's been a good week of running for me.🙂
I have managed my three runs, I have done my hills and I also exceeded my distance goal at the weekend, with a much needed 16.2 K ( 10 miles in old money!) Whispers quietly..."It all seems to be coming together quite nicely!"🤞
As you will know, I have hovered between the Bridge to 10k and Marathon and Race Support forums for some time with my niggly IT band (now almost a distant memory! 😉). At last able to run those longer runs more comfortably again, I have signed up for a virtual Half Marathon, to be completed before the end of November. 😀 It's not the same as a real one, so fingers crossed for a nice big one in the spring - but in the meantime it would be great to feel I am back where I 'd like to be with my running once again!
Still loving all the hard work going on here - some great goals as always and it's fab to have a focus.
Hi Floss, that's great news about your 10k, it sounds like you are well on track with your September quest. And so much positivity from other questers too, brilliant, I love it.
My first week has been a mixed bag, I made it out for walks before work on Wednesday and Friday last week but my run on Thursday didn't happen ☹️ I honestly don't even remember turning off my alarm or saying goodbye to Mr FRB when he left for work but I did, and as a result the run didn't happen and I was also 'late for work' (although working from home that day, thankfully!).
But, I also managed my 2nd 10 mile run on Saturday, went for a nice relaxing walk with Mr FRB on Sunday and then this week have managed 2 runs (both easy 5ks on Monday and today) and quite a bit of yoga. So, I'm hoping that I can keep going in this direction now I've started, fingers and toes crossed 🤞🤞😁
Thanks again Oldfloss for sorting us out this month and best of luck to everyone with their quests 👍🍀💪
I’ve actually managed to complete all I set out to do and more. Sunday I set out for 7k run and ended up doing 10k so was extremely pleased with that. I have stayed focus on my stretch and strength exercises too. This morning I beat my 5k PB by 5 secs (I’ll take that - every second counts) 😂 Children have all returned to school and college and are all happy so my working is much easier. All in all a good week!!
So, my also 3 and 11 month old loves the word skedaddling... she hasn't picked it up from the Hairy Mclary books by any chance??
So, my week... strengthening exercises are going well. Tried a walk/run on Saturday morning with total of 1.6k running and that went fine. Tried another walk/run last night with a total 2.5k run... throbbing foot over night and small amount of pain first thing, which did disappear very quickly but shows I'm not ready to do much yet. The physio said the type of achilles injury I've got can be stubborn 😣 I've been doing quite a lot of walking once the 2 boys are in bed to give me some mental downtime so I'm coping with the lack of running.... just!!!
🧘🏼♀️I have made progress with my yoga quest and managed some more regular practice at home, as well as finally restarting my group classes too - nice to see familiar faces spread out around the studio!
🏃♀️I have moved on to week 5 of The Magic Plan and completed the 4k, but have taken an extra couple of rest days before doing the 5k after feeling a little under the weather. I'll try the 5k tomorrow or Friday.
🐶I have done lots of lovely dog walks though, so that has helped me to continue to clock up my miles on LEJOG5.
All sounding very positive here and I am so glad. Nice to get back to a new reality situation with friendly faces
LEJOG and dog are also working wonderfully for you too!
Best bit here..listening to your body. There are quite a few of us right now taking the odd extra day's rest and we clearly need those extra days. The runs are all the sweeter for them!
Keep on doing what you are doing and a huge well done you!
Last week I ran 3 times all according to the plan; and I've just completed my 2nd run of this week. I only have the short / speedy one left My long run today was supposed to be 8.5km, but my body just wasn't having it so the run became 7.5km. Next week we'll train 8.5 again. This then puts me still at w4 of the magic plan.
In general I've been super busy this and last week, so frankly I'm happy to have just continued running 3x a week!!
Also I've been to my local gym as I want to do some strength training t increases muscle, but I'm too intimidated!! All I see are many very muscular men which is slightly scary for me to walk into! I don't know how to proceed eek
First... well done you on sticking to those plans... it's not easy to follow set plans all the time, especially when the body tells us not too! ( My body told me, no, this morning and I went back to sleep until 7.30!)
Running 3 x a week, for whatever distance or time is great and again, not always as easy as it sounds.
Strength training? There is so much you can do, at home! With or without equipment. I have been upping my strength training and have always done it all at home.., I do have some simple equipment but often, most of my training is done without..
Take a peek at the links for strength work on the S and F forum too...loads of ideas there!
Very well done and we shall watch for your posts !
All was going well until I was wiped out for a few days by a nasty d&v bug. Finally managed to get out for a run yesterday - made it the short run from the magic plan schedule but took it steady rather than doing intervals. Nice to be back out again, hope I'll be able to build up 6k to finish week 2 at the weekend (I had got a bit of a head start towards the end of consolidation so had a few days in hand).
As a result I'm a bit behind where I'd hoped to be on Lejog5: have managed 19.5 miles so will struggle to make it to 34 by the end of the week (I'm aiming for 17 miles a week to be on track to finish it comfortably in the year). I keep telling myself that I'll be chalking up the miles more quickly as I work through the magic plan and build up my stamina as a runner, but temperament-wise I like to stay ahead of the game rather than trying to catch up!
Similarly the 30 day challenge fell a bit by the wayside, will try to pick up again soon.
My calves are still troubling me a bit while running, which is a bit frustrating as it's the main thing limiting my distance at the moment - I don't want to push on and give myself an injury. I think it's gait related, so am experimenting with putting my podiatrist-fitted insoles into my running shoes, and I also have some compression socks to try. (Still diligently stretching, warming up and foam-rolling!)
Oh, I have also discovered the Nike Run Club Headspace podcasts which are really nice to run to. What's not to like about titles like "Don't wanna run run" and "Running on empty"!
Hello Floss, you have trained that little one well.
Last week on the magic plan went well and Week 2 is complete, including a 5k at a different not parkrun with my running buddies. Fortunately, we meet as a 5 or 6 so we are still OK with the new rules.
My physio exercises continue on rest days and I can feel the difference they have made to my calves and achilles.
My sports centre is now offering fitness Pilates, so that will become a weekly event again. I have missed my Pilates classes and I haven’t done anything at home during this period, apart from ‘the bridge’ in my physio.
Life is good!
OldflossAdministrator60minGraduate in reply to Dexy5
She certainly is keeping us on our toes... quite literally! Phew!
S good that your meet ups are able to continue safely and that you are still on track!
It is great news too that the calves and Achilles are still improving and that the physio exercises are working so well too. Super too that your Pilates can be resumed x safely too...it is good to see and hear our much you are enjoying your running and exercise.
Well I'm very late in joining the Scampers this month! My Quest for September is I'm taking part in the Cancer Research 2 miles / day challenge. I am terrified of injury so I am still running three days a week and walking the rest. I was keeping my niece (virtual) company on this but she tripped in a pothole and has chipped a bone in her foot 😱. she's devastated but is going to continue the challenge when she is recovered later in the year. On my running days I do between 4 and 10K but on walking days I'm pretty much doing the 2 miles.
It was supposed to be my big 10K this month, but alas it was cancelled so I did it virtually. You were able to order t-shirts to do this in, but I accidentally ticked the wrong box and ended up ordering a bee costume instead 🐝. So I felt a right idiot but I wore my bee costume and my Cancer Research T-shirt and went running on my own. I was astounded at how much positivity I received; I thought people would be crossing the road to avoid me but I had lots of people shouting encouragement and car drivers beeping and giving me a thumbs up. It was so lovely, but also made me a bit sad as I realised how wonderful it would be to run a 10K with lots of other people. And I felt a bit flat because I'd achieved my goal, which sounds odd. But the announcement of the restart of Parkrun perked me up and I have my October quest ready - I need to get some practice in on my usual park run course, those hills won't have got any flatter!
Well, I definitely think that you should BEE really proud of yourself ! You are and have done wonderfully and to run that Virtual race is simply amazing!!!
Sorry about your friends injury...ouch! So easy done too! But, you are sill carrying on and walking and running and showing true strength and determination!
Try to stay up-beat and even if Park run does not resume, ( We need to realise that it may not if the rise in cases continues, or the planned strategies do not meet the stringent rules) the your runs and all your efforts will stand you in very good stead!
Thank you so much for that encouraging response 😊 I'm aware of the possible park run issues but I'm determined not to let 2020 stop me being optimistic!
Having ended August with a good 10k on Bank Holiday Monday, (not) parkrun on Wednesday came a day too soon for my legs to hit my target time - not too bad though (25'32"), especially as I was playing away from home. But I took it as a cue to take it easy for a few days, so my only other run was an gentle 7k with Dexy5 on Saturday. This week began with a better (not) parkrun yesterday back on the prom and on target with a 24'45".
I've just realised (!) I need to plan ahead a bit with the New Forest 10k time trial due a week on Sunday, and I'm thinking that a hard treadmill run might not be a sensible part of such a plan, so the "go further at 13 kph" part of my Quest is going on hold for a while.
Small runner in training is going to be a force to be reckoned with...on all levels!
I am sorry the Achilles is causing issues for you, but glad that a visit to the GP or Sports Physio may give a starting point for recovery
There are exercises which you will be able to do to keep you mobile..upper body work and one leg exercises too!
This is a time to improve your single-sided skills, flexibility, range of motion, core strength, and upper-body power. It is important to keep those going, believe me, it makes such a difference when you return to running and believe me the runs do wait Please do keep us posted and if I can help with any exercises links, then let me know
Thanks FatterPenguin, I moved away from pressuring myself to increase pace or being disappointed in my pace as it was wearing me out,😖... now I‘ve slowed down my energy and mood is outpacing my pace in bucketfuls 😀
Slow running can be a real challenge. I had a bash at this and it did pay off ultimately, with,for me, a great improvement in pace, ( my run slower to run faster phase)
But you are doing it and I am sure finding it a real lesson in discipline! The real plus side is that you are enjoying it and you are running happily and eagerly. I look forward to reading your posts and watching your super progress
Thanks Oldfloss, yes I see it very much as part of ‘the long game’ and whatever it leads to it will be remembered as a happy phase in my running life 🏃♀️
Hi all 👋 Not the best week life wise but I have stuck to the running and my September goals - it’s about the only things I can control in my life right now and I know that they are just about saving me from going to a dark space.
I made a good start with Ju-Ju-‘s B210K Magic 10K Plan whilst experimenting further with the C25K+ podcast series.
I’ve also successfully (so far!) incorporated strength & conditioning exercises immediately after my run:
2 x 20 incline press ups
2 x 20 tricep dips
28 day ab work out: sit ups, crunches, leg raises and planks
I will aim to increase reps/sets moving forwards.
I’m also giving a fasting app a go for five weeks (I’m in my second week) which stops me snacking after 21:00 and eating before 13:00 the next day. This works well for me as I don’t like to run with any food in my belly and I do like to snack in the evening!
I am sorry that life right now is presenting issues for you... know that you are never alone an many of us can empathise with you, and that we are always here to listen
Your strength and conditioning work sounds awesome!!! You will put many of us to shame
Let us know how the fasting app goes too.it sounds as if you have found something that will work for you!
Take care of yourself, stay safe, stay positive and know that we are all here to support you x
My first goal was simply to keep on running, and I'm happy to say that I managed two runs in the first week, 9.2k and 4.1k.
My second goal was to focus on experience, not goals, and that's very much a work in progress. I'm supposedly doing the 10k Magic Plan so want to know how far I've run, yet at the same time I'm trying to ignore distance and pace etc! I also really, really need to stop comparing myself to others.
I've found a potential new route today for a long, slow run involving rather a lot of hills, so plan to give that a go on a day when I've got time and am in the right frame of mind.
OldflossAdministrator60minGraduate in reply to Cmoi
Well done you..on track with runs and trying hard to remember that YOU are an awesome runner and have absolutely no need to compare yourself with anyone.
Ignore distance and space... yes... just do it... I often tuck my Garmin away and just listen for the pings! The hill work when you do it...fabulous; those hills set us up wonderfully !
Thanks Oldfloss , I really appreciate your kind and wise reply. You're so right re comparisons, and indeed your advice is what I'd give to someone else - but I'm very bad at following my own advice!
As for the hills, they're not optional where I live, though that also means I get to run through countryside with great views
And now, it's getting late, so I must skedaddle! Such a fabulous word, my late Mum used to use it, but I haven't heard it in decades.
OldflossAdministrator60minGraduate in reply to Cmoi
Go you! I have inclines all around me too and they do really give great stamina and also great views!
I'm keeping to my plan to run 3 times a week, stalled a bit due to a muscle niggle which I rested for a few days, but am back out there. Another 10k by the end of the month I hope. I have a sneaking feeling it might be this weekend, but I shall just go for a long run and see where it takes me!
Cor, you can definitely feel that September renewal energy in this thread!
Done some yoga, done some tidying... picking up the regularity would be good with both of those.
Running, quite pleased, got a sneaky extra run in no running gear whatsoever
Average daily steps looking jolly decent... although with the nights drawing in and spending several hours a week on college pick up I can see it isn't going to stay that way automatically.
Weight - A worry... going up. Microwave mug puddings to use gathered fruit may not be the whole answer.
Next week is the first week of what will be the regular college timeable for the academic year for my younger son (if he lasts the year that is!) so that will be the big test.
You certainly can feel the energy and determination this month !
Regularity is the thing and for me certainly has been a challenge! Small person and co often upset the best aid plans.., wonderfully, but do mean catch up sessions!
Great that you are doing the Yoga though and getting the runs in, in or not in running gear... the mind boggles...! Daily steps too... sounding positive although there will be a challenge for you with, as you say with taxi chores etc. Just fitting it all in whenever you can seems to be the mantra!
Weight gain.., well the gathered fruit puds sound fine to me...you aren't adding sugar though are you? Currently we are on the fruit crumbles with blackberry , the Autumn crop of raspberries and the windfall apples for sweetness! I am trying to put a few lbs on, so I am protein upping right now!
You seem to be on the positive side of things? Just a matter of juggling it all! Hope all goes well with your son's first week at college too!
It's lovely to read this post and see everyone's progress this month...as we scamper and skeddadle along!
All is going well for me, daily yoga is the norm now, S and F three times a week is making my legs nice and strong. I can feel the difference in my teeny tiny run sessions.
These are short but very sweet. I am following advice to only do these twice a week, and repeat each increase three times, so progression is SLOW, but is as it should be. After so long out of action I don't want to upset my feet again.
I am thinking less now about how my feet feel, and more about my puffing on the first interval and how this eases by the third one ( yes, I'm becoming a runner again!🤗)
Next run is tomorrow and I'm looking forward to it... inspired by everyone's efforts.
Well done for your great 10k already bagged Floss, and I hope you get chance to do another at the coast for your official Spitfire run!
To those on the IC , keep the faith, you will heal and recover. Stay strong and focused. As the picture says the only way is up.🌻xxx
So sorry for the late reply...I was busy bagging that Spitfire run 10 K today and was stressing a tad last night! All well though !
So..lots of positive things here and how super to have you back as a runner ( puffing or not)
Your yoga has done you proud and your S and F is clearly making a huge difference.
Just do what you are doing , it seems to be working really well, and we all know where SLOW and steady takes us
Thank you for the positive message to all of us... it is hard sometimes to think that we will ever run properly again... but... here you are to prove it and we all know, also... those runs wait!
We shall watch for your progress posts my friend xx
Hi Oldfloss sorry for the late scampering update, just to say that everyone is doing well and it's lovely to read all the very positive posts. I am still in my 100 days of running currently on day 75 and last week as we were on holiday and travelling around I decided to do a km in Wales, Scotland and England and I am pleased to say that I did all three of them in between eating and drinking way too much.
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- not too bad though (25'32"), especially as I was playing away from home. But I took it as a cue to take it easy for a few days, so my only other run was an gentle 7k with Dexy5 on Saturday. This week began with a better (not) parkrun yesterday back on the prom and on target with a 24'45".
🍏Summer Quest Week 2
‘Be Awesome in October’ Quest, Week 2. Feel free to join, or tell us how it’s going 🍁🍂🍁
