2nd week of February and it is very wintry out there, it is cold with flurries of hail, sleet and snow is predicted. I sometimes dread leaving the warmth of the cosy house, but I love the feeling of coming back in the door after that run, having a warm shower and a guilt free day or evening. I have a couple of personal quests which I want to set myself over this month.
We have been back in lock down for the past month and most of us will continue to be in some form of stricter lock down during February which will be very tough. For our health and for our sanity we need to get out. We need to exercise and thankfully we will be able to do this.
My quest for February is to get out there, get out that door at least 3 times per week. I want to continue to work on my 5K pace and get back to being able to do 1 x 10K per week. I also want to shed some of the extra little bit of weight which has crept on me over the last few months. I need to get rid of about 10 lbs to 12 lbs. So starting today I'm watching my intake of the right food.
I know many of you will have taken part in the Quest before, but for those who are newly arrived on the Bridge Forum, the next bit is just for you....!
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.
This Quest will run all the way through February.
You can join at any point during that time.
Some popular goals are:
• To run three times a week
• To slowly increase distance - maybe you are following ju-ju-'s Magic Plan?
• To add Stretch and Strength exercises to your weekly routine
• To improve pace
• To try out some new running routes
It's completely up to you - set yourself an achievable goal and have fun with it!
I ran twice last week and walked a couple of days too. I need to do more myself this week. But I was down 1.5lbs which is good. Good luck everyone on your quests.
I got down from a peak of 82kg last April to a stable 75kg over the last few months. That's about the same as you're wishing to lose.
The only changes I made were to get active with running and to cut out some of the sugary snacks. I suspect that my metabolism had become sluggish and needed a kick up the bum, which running provided.
My jeans have stopped being tight around the waist and are now tight around the thighs.
I finished my virtual GR131 in Lanzarote, now halfway around the little island of La Graciosa , just a short but choppy boat ride from the north of Lanzarote. Stopped today on the beautiful Playa Las Conchas
Hi DamienWell done on shifting that 1.5lbs, I know just how hard it is to get rid of weight that's crept up on you. But once you can see it going it seems to make it a bit easier.
I've carried on with run /walks to ease my knee back into action sofar so good 🤞Mid week I was a bit fed up as I felt my running was going backwards but then I had the idea of booking a virtual 10k for Easter, so I did and I've felt so much more positive now with a goal to work towards.
I've carried on with YWA monthly calendar and have done Pilates for knees all non running days. As for my quest to be able to do press ups I've started on the half ones with lifted knees and this morning I managed 15 🎉🎈🍾
I'm keeping my fingers crossed that we don't get any proper snow this week there have been flurries on and off all day 😕
- This month my aim is to be able to get out and run every other day (if possible).
- To continue the mix of short and longer runs, with an eye on reaching 10km soon.
- To get in a short walk on the non-run days, weather permitting.
- But above all to listen to my body and not ignore any niggles which might develop into something that could stop me from running.
I've been out every other day this past week, alternating a walk day with a run day.
I mixed up the runs: an easy 3km jog, two slow/fast intervals runs of 5.4 and 6.5km respectively, and a long slow run yesterday that extended to 10km.
And I've been good and listened to my body's needs. Tomorrow's run will be a short, very easy jog, just to see how things are feeling after that long run.
My stated quest was to run everyday in February without picking up any injuries. I do 3 runs from the early stages of a training plan from Garmin and on the others days running at least a mile-sometimes a little more if my legs want to.
So far so good. My legs are feeling fine thus far and I have to admit it is much easier to get out of the door for a run after work when there is no "maybe I could do it tomorrow option". No decisions to make and a clearly defined boundary between the working day and the evening..Particularly important when working from home during lockdown.
I'm feeling the benefit already in my head...hopefully the body will follow .
Well done on the weightloss Damien .Even more difficult when it is so cold and we all crave comfort food.
My weekend long run morphed into a short 3K fartlek run in-between the early morning fog and forecast rain on Saturday.
LEJOG 9 is progressing steadily but slowly - I am currently north of Dartmoor and 0.3 miles away from the 100 mile marker. The current snow and ice might thwart my attempts to reach that milestone for a while though.
As for the Yoga - well I think I really need to try harder. Maybe the inclement weather will be the incentive I need!
Well done on losing that 1.5lbs Damien. It's hard especially when the weather makes us feel like hunkering down and craving comfort food.
So far so good on the 'activity every day' Run/walk delivering some groceries involving our very steep hills. Highlight was a long walk round Chatsworth Garden. Lowlight was messing my feet up in new shoes, still can't stop one spot oozing, hooray for plasters and goat socks. (Although as the run in question was in memory of my father on the 2nd anniversary of his death, my sister said moaning about feet was entirely in keeping)
All going very well, thank you, and doing what I planned to. Last week: running x3 (nearly 20km), incorporating form and breathing practices; yoga/similar x3 sessions (2.5 hrs); meditation, daily. Happy!
Well done everyone for getting out there in the freezing conditions 🥶
All well so far with my quest of 100k this month. We’ve had some cooler days and we got released from our 1 hour exercise restriction so I managed a longer run of 8 miles.
Hi Damien and Questers, please may I join you... I am floundering on my own and need to become accountable! February started with my back painful and grumbling, so I wasn't up to yoga or strength training for a few days and I forgot to join the Quest. It feels more stable again now and I enjoyed a YWA session yesterday.
SO...I need to
Get to my mat for my daily YWA session, so good for the mind and body.🙏
Pick up my Strength and conditioning exercises exercise again which I do 3 times a week.💪
Run! I have joined the Strava challenge for a 5k badge this month, but so far have not had my runners on this month😐🏃♀️
A few brisk walks in the cold have been helping my back, but the run urge has been weak...
I am doing dry February and that is my only success so far this month.
There it is written down, that feels better... a plan of action.
Congratulations on your weight loss Damien and thank you for leading this Quest. Onwards and upwards!😊xxx
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week3run1 ✅. 3 x 17 mins with 1 min walks. 
week 2 begins! 
