TWENTY TWENTY ...RUN ! January Quest ...WEEK 2... Please come and join us !

[Oldfloss]

Hello again , all you running folk!

Week 2 of Quest is here and I am sitting in bed, watching the snow falling gently, outside my window!

I had a very bracing walk/run yesterday... walking with my small granddaughter, involves a lot more run than walk! The ground was rock hard and it was very, very cold!

The weather some of us are getting right now, is challenging, and if we are getting out there for any of our Quest goals, it is important to make sure we are safe! Broken limbs are NOT what we need right now:)!

SO!! How is it all going everyone... we had such a great response last week to the Quest that Mummycav and I are really eager to see how you are all doing!

We, here in the UK are now in full lockdown and all that entails...and keeping on track is important, but not always that easy. If you do find yourself struggling for whatever reason, do please, remember that you are doing your best and doing what you are able. Be kind to yourself.

I am working on some posts to help with the motivation we may need and ways to relax and lose any stresses we may be encountering!

So;

If you are joining us this week....or need to recheck your targets from last week...

What is the Quest?

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.

We may find at this time that we really need to focus on what we can reasonably do, and where and when we can do it!

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

Some popular goals are:

★ To run three times a week

★ To slowly increase distance

★ To train for a specific race

★ To add Stretch and Strength exercises to your weekly routine

I am going to add a few goals here:

* Staying safe

*Staying relaxed

* Being kind to ourselves

This is a personal challenge, so it's completely up to you! If you want to join, all you have to do is COMMENT BELOW with something like:

I would like to join the Quest, or, count me in! I want to ...

Every week we will put up a new post and we can all chat about how we are doing.

So, get those thinking caps on and let us know what your plans are... but do remember please, to be kind to yourselves too...plenty of rest days and time to just relax. These are stressful times

STAY SAFE. STAY WARM.

Its 2021...so let's run!!!

Love Oldfloss & Mummvcav xxx

[Beatthestreet Graduate10]

Morning, also still in bed🤭on a day off.

Still on track for my quest- RED, minimum 1 mile a day. South West Scotland still very cold, bit snow and very icy so allows me to run very slowly- ideal!

Am enjoying that I set low daily target so doesn’t prey on my mind if working during day as relatively easy task to set off for running a mile, but can do more if feel like it.

So far, so good.☺️

[Oldfloss Administrator Graduate10 in reply to Beatthestreet]

So far so..... brilliant! Huge well done to you! Staying on track and keeping it simple... well done! Enjoy that day off! x

[RunWillie Graduate10]

Hello Oldfloss and Mummycav

Just over 24km done this week so far so on track for my 100km target. It has been super hot this week so runs have all been before 6am! It’s 38 here at 5pm.

Thinking of you all in lockdown. Stay safe everyone ❤️🏃‍♀️

[Oldfloss Administrator Graduate10 in reply to RunWillie]

Phew!!!! I will send you some snow if you like!Huge well done to you... stay safe and stay....COOL!

[Mummycav Administrator Graduate10 in reply to RunWillie]

Thank so much for your kind thoughts RW...not envious at all at the soaring temperatures you’re having..nope, not at all!!! You’re having a fantastic week of running 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻

[paul1960 Graduate10]

Hi there I have managed to run 31miles from the 1st of January as some of you know it's not a good time for me at the moment but I find it helps me a little with the stress and worry but am going to run 5days aweek through January that's my goal hope everyone is well and keeping safe and a happy new year to everyone on here who as been there for me especially one special person thank you keep running and keep safe Thank you all

[Oldfloss Administrator Graduate10 in reply to paul1960]

You will do this.... HUGE well done you.. stay safe, stay running and stay strong! x

[Sandraj39 Graduate10 in reply to paul1960]

Sounds like you are doing some great running Paul. I know times are tough for you at the moment but a I think you are showing great strength in your running, which I know must help. Take care.🙂

[Mummycav Administrator Graduate10 in reply to paul1960]

Well done you...I have no doubts you’ll reach your goal x

[GoogleMe Graduate10]

Have done something every day for Red January. Some days that has been gentle yoga, but I have also done 5 minutes on the bike turbo (glad I did get off then, was wobbly enough) walked and had one run (which I loved but my local wood I had to myself in Lockdown 1 was much busier with people and with dogs)The 64 Million Artists January Challenge I haven't done yesterday's (yet?) but otherwise have done something every day and several visual rather than just words.

Definitely being kind to myself as I have ghastly forms on a deadline for son.

[Oldfloss Administrator Graduate10 in reply to GoogleMe]

Huge well done you! Especially on the kind to yourself bit. We are guilty sometimes of forgetting how important we are :)Well done on Red January and the running too. Much harder for folk with everyone around!

Stay safe and stay strong !

[Mummycav Administrator Graduate10 in reply to GoogleMe]

Doing something everyday is a fantastic achievement...I’m doing RED January too so it’s a run a day for me...and a little bit of ice skating 🤣...well done you 👏🏻👏🏻

[dijep Graduate10]

Hi there Oldfloss and fellow runners.First I've just had to search to see what I'd set myself as a challenge, not a promising start. 😂

Good news is 2 out of the 3 are going well 😊

*30 days Breath yoga - I've been doing this everyday and I'm really enjoying it and the associated chat over on Strength and Flex. Plus as I've already got the mat out it's rolled me on to my challenge 2 -

*more strength work 💪I've done additional strength work (+ daily yoga) on 6 of the last 7 days so I'm really pleased with that. Plus thanks to CBDB I've now got a good knee strength pilates workout to do 👍

* the downside is a lack of running mainly due to the awful ice and heavy frosts but also covid restrictions confusion about dog walking v exercise. So my total running has been 5.5k 😩

[Oldfloss Administrator Graduate10 in reply to dijep]

Very well done, on all that you have achieved... and like many of us the running is taking a bit of a back seat, for different reasons. You are doing so well achieving some of your targets ...so just pat yourself on the back!Stay safe and stay warm too!

[Mummycav Administrator Graduate10 in reply to dijep]

I’m hearing a lot about this breath yoga..I like the sound of it and it seems to being doing folk the world of good...the frost and ice are a runners nightmare so you can only go when it’s safe...5k is better than 0k though right??

[Hidden]

I would like to join the quest please 😁

[Oldfloss Administrator Graduate10 in reply to Hidden]

Welcome...let us know your goals!! X

[Sandie1961 Graduate10]

I’ve signed up for RED January with a minimum 2k a day and 30k done in week 1, even though the icy conditions have tested my resolve a couple of times already.

I’ve also started the BREATH yoga - never done yoga before, but so many people have found it beneficial, I had FOMO 😂 Going well, but I’m sure my legs aren’t meant to go in those directions!

Also bought some resistance bands at Aldi (an absolute bargain 😃), so will start with those next month

[Oldfloss Administrator Graduate10 in reply to Sandie1961]

Resistance bands are terrific fun...I have had mine for a few years!Well done you.., on all fronts....it sounds as if you are keeping motivated and moving!

30K in a week... brilliant... this snow and ice is really stopping many of us!!

[CBDB Graduate10]

Just to hold myself accountable with the quests I set myself and I think I gave myself 3 months for all of them:

- “magic plan and run 10k” : Ok, so this is not going well at the moment, as I haven’t run outdoors for 7-8 days now, due to ice and snow! But I have had 1 indoor running session and regular rowing sessions, and YWA, see below. On the magic plan I was at 8k before but once starting again I will drop back to 6k and work my way up again.

- “YWA’s BREATH” immensely enjoying this and it’s so great to have a whole crowd of us doing it together on the Strength and Flex forum!

- “rowing (indoors) the English Channel” this is going really well. I’m rowing every two days for 2k so I am a third of the way across the English Channel.

- “medals, bling!!” I think I’ll finish the English Channel within 3 months, and that means my first medal. Annoyingly not for running but rather for my English Channel Rowing channel. But the thought of the medal was certainly motivating! Next medal will be my running of Conqueror’s Hadrian’s Wall (145k) of which I currently have completed 12k

So in summary ...hmmm ...running is taken a bit of a hit at the moment, but I’m working on Strength & Flex through rowing and Yoga.

[Oldfloss Administrator Graduate10 in reply to CBDB]

I think many folks running, has taken a hit with this weather! I have not run outside properly for nearly 4 weeks...!

Well done you on the other goals though! Rowing sounds terrific.. and if you cannot run..ROW! A medal is a medal!!!

The yoga has taken off...so good to see folk working through it together too...I am struggling a tad with some bits but I improvise

You are doing really well and keeping motivated and keeping moving!

[CBDB Graduate10 in reply to Oldfloss]

🥰🙏

[Oldfloss Administrator Graduate10 in reply to CBDB]

....and keeping the rest of us moving and motivated too...Thank you!

[Dexy5 Graduate10]

Hello Oldfloss, I love the snow but we just have icy puddles down here. No ski holiday for us this year either so I’ll miss that. ❄️❄️❄️

I started Yoga with Adriene , and am really enjoying it. I have just missed one day so far but I will do each and every session even if it goes into February. I think it’s helping after losing my Pilates classes at the gym.

I have done a couple of not parkruns, but realised I had not done a nice long steady run since November. So yesterday I went for a lovely 7k run in the winter sunshine alongside @UpTheStanley . It was nice to get away from the house and breathe in the fresh sea air.

Our 5 runner (not) parkrun meets with coffee and bacon baps have been curtailed with lockdown but we are hoping to do 1 + 1 runs so that we can keep up spirits.

Keep running, keep safe everyone.

[Oldfloss Administrator Graduate10 in reply to Dexy5]

Making great progress in a rotten situation. At least we have the cold Well done on the Yoga, folk are really enjoying it...I am having to adapt bits, but keeping a daily session going n one way or the other!Your run sounds wonderful... I can just imagine the sea air ...ahhhhh!

The coffee and bacon baps will be there, when this eases, or when we are all jabbed!!!

Well done both... stay safe and stay warm!

[Elfe5 60minGraduate]

My quest is all about physio & mini runs. I am still wrestling with PF, but have official permission from the podiatrist to do short, gentle trots listening to my foot. So...I have written up a physio timetable complete with tick box spaces & am having a 15 ish minute trotette every other day. Cycling on rest days, on our tandem with Mr E, is helping to keep me sane! 😄

[Oldfloss Administrator Graduate10 in reply to Elfe5]

This is good news..., slow...steady and enjoying! Keep listening to that foot 😉I love the idea of a tandem.. Mr OF and have cycles...but I have seen loads of folk on tandem..!

[Grannyhugs Graduate10]

After my fall today my quest is to trust my instincts and stick to walking while we are in sub zero temperatures 🤣

[Oldfloss Administrator Graduate10 in reply to Grannyhugs]

Oh my stars!!! You heal well my friend...those runs will be there when this all moves on!! Xx

[Grannyhugs Graduate10 in reply to Oldfloss]

My walks are obvpaying off as those combined with todays run have earned me my garmin 2021 115k step badge already🙆‍♀️

[Mummycav Administrator Graduate10 in reply to Grannyhugs]

Wow!

[Hidden]

Hi Oldfloss and Mummycav . My quest goals are ticking over nicely...

🧘🏼‍♀️ I am really enjoying Adriene's Breath yoga. I have done a couple of the sessions in the evenings before bed, which has been quite relaxing and a nice way to wind down the day.

🏃🏼‍♀️ I have now upped my distance from 3k to 4k, completing two this week so far. I'm just keeping a slow steady pace, concentrating on distance not speed.

🏃🏼‍♀️ Mummycav and I are teaming up to run a 5k on the last Saturday of January 😊😊

Happy running all and keep safe on those slippy routes xx

[Oldfloss Administrator Graduate10 in reply to Hidden]

This is all very, very positive! Great work!Just promise me if it is icy you will both stay in!!

So many posts about falls today ! Eeek..!

Well done you!!

[Hidden in reply to Oldfloss]

Yep! Very slippery out there. Mummycav has already hit the deck this morning and is putting a very brave face on it all. Words of caution heeded 🤗

[Frizzbomb67 Graduate10]

Hi 👋 I think everything is going well 😊 in the running world that is. Work on the other hand has been soooo stressful not knowing what was going on with school 😫.

I’ve completed W5 of the distance magic plan today (on the treadmill as we’ve pretty much had snow on the ground since Boxing Day) It was another 8k but I did a sneaky extra half k 😉

I’ve completed 25.54 km along Hadrian’s Wall ✅

I forgot to add last week that I’m also trying to run 4K in 30 mins. I managed 31.38 this week which is almost 2 mins off my original time. Slowly and surely I’m getting there.

I’m so looking forward to the snow going so I can get out for a long run outside. Bliss 😊

Happy running everyone 🏃‍♀️😊 🏃‍♂️

[Oldfloss Administrator Graduate10 in reply to Frizzbomb67]

All sounding good..except for the school bit! What a worry...my heart goes out to you. As an ex teacher I feel so strongly about what is going on. You all need vaccinating.. now !You are doing well on the other areas though...and that speed you want will come...relax...let it evolve...and carry on enjoying! Xx

[LiisaM]

I like that "Winter Runderland!" I continue to ratchet up slowly in my weight lifting. Thank you for the challenge. The challenge motivates. I am walking up the small hill in the woods behind our house, weather permitting, with our dog. He RUNS(!) when we start--I think just out of joy for this walk. I am wishing everyone well in this hard time.

[Oldfloss Administrator Graduate10 in reply to LiisaM]

Good wishes to you too..and well done with the weight lifting!!! So good to be outside....animals know! Stay safe you xx

[Fionamags Graduate10]

Lovely (chilly) photo there Oldfloss. I am on a bit of a high at the moment, having completed my 3 runs this week despite the ice and snow. All three were very, very slow and careful. The main thing is that I am now all fired up knowing that starting at week 5 of C25K was absolutely fine and I can still run for 20 mins with lots left in the tank! Onwards with the mission to run 3x per week - or in these conditions, careful plod. I am also continuing to get out every day that I'm not running for a walk, even if it's just a brief one. Feeling all the better for it!

[Oldfloss Administrator Graduate10 in reply to Fionamags]

Huge well done you! Getting out there and doing what you intended. Fingers crossed for the weather to ease...and...yes, if we cannot run, we will walk!

[Birdlady64 Graduate10]

Just catching up with this.Well my aim of extending the distance of my runs out at weekends had a slight setback, but I just scraped in a nice relaxed 7km run today. This was my longest run since the end of October and is some 2 minutes 30 seconds faster than my last 7k run and 7 minutes faster than my 7k runs on jujus Magic Plan at the end of summer. So yes, I'll take that thank you.

I'm logging my miles on LEJOG9 - making slow but steady progress there,

I slipped from first to 4th on the Leaderboard of our work distance challenge on NRC, but it's the taking part that counts.

The 30 day breathe yoga is a bit more of a challenge. I've only managed the first 2 sessions. I'm not finding it easy as a total novice and Adriene managed to lose me completely midway through the second session. How do you manage to get into the poses whilst still following along and watching the laptop?

[Mummycav Administrator Graduate10 in reply to Birdlady64]

Fantastic Birdlady64 , 2 1/2 minutes faster and a whole 7 mins faster than the plan?!! Wow...whatever you’ve been eating, I need some!!! I haven’t done the breath challenge, I did think about it but that’s as far as I got...i agree that it’s hard to watch and get into position without having to pause my iPad, that was the only way I’ve managed any yoga sessions...I like it though...it’s so relaxing. Well done you on your 7km today, I hope you’re feeling very pleased with yourself x

[Birdlady64 Graduate10 in reply to Mummycav]

I was a bit surprised myself when I looked back - it was at the end of September though so a while ago now.I had my laptop propped up on a chair, so couldn't really reach it to pause the video. I might need to rethink arrangements if I carry on with it

[LottieMW Ambassador]

I think I missed this last week 🙄

I’m a little annoyed with myself as I took a complete day off on Jan 1st...having completed my 60 minutes on NYE...so I can’t do a walk/run REDJanuary 🤦🏻‍♀️

So....I’m committing to run/jog x3 a week, walking on my non run days. Now on the Distance Plan...so gradually increasing every week.

Showing up on the mat 🧘🏻‍♀️ every day...doing Breath with Adriene. Also giving myself some mindfulness minutes every day...easy to log with my Xmas Fitbit 😊

Of course...weather permitting 😂

[Oldfloss Administrator Graduate10 in reply to LottieMW]

All sounding very positive here...be kind to yourself, and enjoy! X

[LottieMW Ambassador in reply to Oldfloss]

Thank you 😊