It is I , again; a tad late today, as gardening tasks took the day over! Having got back from the Coast yesterday, catch up time began, rain gave way to sunshine and my garden workout has yielded results
Well, as we head towards September ( eeek) , I hope we are all meeting some of our targets, but being kind to ourselves in the process!
I am listening very hard to my body and still being careful not to push too hard. I got two runs in whilst away this last week...one dry and one wet! I walked and I cycled too... I also had a wet picnic in the rain Yoga has taken a bit of a back seat, but leg and arm exercises were upped.
I do quite enjoy Welsh rain... gentle and fine and it does bring out, in force my small hard shelled friends; they and I do enjoy, slow and steady! I am quite excited to, because I shall be back in Cricceth again sooner than I thought, so may get a couple more runs in there before the new Quest starts ! (You are going to love the Quest host ) ( I hope)
So... How is everyone doing?
Reading your posts is so inspiring and I know how much support it gives to all of us, when we read other folks' posts. We know we are not alone, in all our runs, successes and blips...and whether we make our targets or not, the thing is, to try to stay positive, maintain what we are able to and enjoy !
Please, please post and let us all know how your week has gone... I do know that one or two of us are already feeling the benefits, ( and the aches and pains sometimes of this first week! It is great to see folks' progress and to support each other
And...
If you are not already here with us then, time to join in.
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.
The Quest takes one calendar month. You can join at any point during that time.
I ask that you are a C25K Graduate before joining the Quest. The reason for this is that pre-graduation your week is very much structured according to the C25K programme, and 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 Stretch and Strength exercises to your weekly routine
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 would like to...
Each week, I will put up a new post, so we can chat and see how we are all doing!
So, any new questers, just leave a reply, if you have want to join in.
Happy Safe Questing for this next week, everyone
Oldfloss x
No photograph as yet as we are having technical issues... but as soon as resolved there will be one
PS
I have, as have many of us . taken a bit of a plunge and I have signed up for the Cancer Race for Life. It will be at Caernarvon and is along a stunning route, flat! ( I need to practice on the flat again I am excited, if a little trepidatious... but I am back up to a relaxed easy paced 4K now.. so by the 19th September I should be okay. Mr OF will be there to sheer me home, or pick me up x
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I'm pleased to say I managed to get one of my needed 5ks in, with no technofail. Very slow at 57:21 and that wasn't all the terrain. The only fail was forgetting to take my running shoes with me but no way was I going to be put off by that so sandals it was. Hotter and more humid than expected but it was great to be in the wood in high summer and see all the changes. Had I not been on a medal mission, I'd've stopped for some bilberry picking.
I'd hoped to have both 5ks in the bag by this point in the month but one more to go.
Go you..well done, and in sandals too. Your tun sounds great and I am sure you can get that last 5K in?Maybe the yoga will evolve as the days grow,shorter? I'm struggling with it right now.
I'll watch for your 5K post..and when you do stop for bilberries I love bilberry and apple crumble 😄
I think Oldfloss may be onto something re: shorter days. However, I did do a practice last night... when it was dark... and actually, if, like you, I make a real effort this week, I could still achieve my total sessions for the month goal, so are we on?
August has been a mixed month for me. I got an illness in the first week which put me firmly on the couch. The second week was me building up again.
This week just gone has seen a step up in activity: two 10km runs, two 2 mile runs, parkrun (5km) and a 13.2km run today. I'm feeling great about it, too.
My plan for the rest of the month is to keep active (maybe not as much as this week) and avoid injury. I'm finding I actually enjoy doing 10km distances.
A rough plan for the week ahead is to do a 10km run one weekday, two shorter ones on two other weekdays, parkrun on Saturday morning and maybe a 10 mile run on the Sunday. I seem to have got used to running five days out of seven.
NW Wales (especially the Llŷn) has lots of snails. We seem to have brought a few of them back to Manchester, stuck to the bottom of our cars.
Yes.. , the Llyn loves snails... and I am at Criccieth the snails love it too You are doing so well and have pulled back really strongly!10K is a great distance... long enough to get into but not so long as to tire Your current plan sounds great, and I shall watch for your posts
I love your posts! You are so encouraging to this old one who is trying to recoup from pandemic losses. So--I did my runs, by gosh, this week, in spite of disgustingly humid and hot weather and as of the end of this week, I am feeling better (e.g., no sacking out till the end of the day!) At least it is not in the 90's so it could be worse. I've kept up my muscle exercises as well; however, unlike you, OF, I hardly ever do any yoga poses. I should try that of a Sunday, my usual rest day from my other attempts. What a great model you are for us--see?!
Hi Oldfloss and fellow questers 👋👋I have achieved my quest of running 8 miles by the end of August 🙌🙌😁😁
I actually did 8 and a bit as I continued on to 13k. That ‘bit’ is very important! 😂😂
It happened on Thursday. It sounds selfish but I’ve been waiting for my running buddy to go on holiday so I could just push on to 8 miles, as she felt she wasn’t quite ready after running 7 miles the previous week.
I got absolutely soaked at the start and then was rewarded with a beautiful rainbow 🌈. It was a bit hot in the middle, then I got soaked again from 12k which was very welcome 🌧 🥵. I listened to Coach Bennett from NRC and the ‘Pacesetter’ playlist from BBC Sounds which was a good combo. Coach Bennett asked me to run at my 9/10 effort at 9 1/2k 😲. I had to tell him there was no chance and I carried on shuffling on 😂. I was happy with the pace though. Time:1:45 Ave Pace: 8’11.
I usually run more slowly as my running buddy hasn’t been running for long. I set off a bit quickly but generally maintained a comfortable pace. I certainly learned the benefit of having shoes a larger size. My big toes really felt it by the end!
I’ll be happy to drop back to my friend’s pace and distance when she gets back because my quest is done ✅ 😁
Thanks. I’m still aiming for 10 miles but the time involved is tricky now I’m heading back to work, but I really want to do it! Perhaps September’s quest???
Hi there Oldfloss.I thoroughly enjoyed reading about your quest and those of all the other VRBs. There seems to be a high quest success rate this month so far!
I forgot reply last week. Not one of my best I'm afraid , the old laziness Gremlins got the better of me and I only completed 2 of my 4 runs. This week I cast off 50% of those Gremlins and did 3 runs and feel so much better for it.I am determined to at hit all 4 runs this week!So my quest won't be completed in full but I aim to mash those Gremlins and finish with a good week!!!
OldflossAdministrator60minGraduate in reply to Week7
Excellent...we do what we are able ..and sometimes it does take a little effort. You made a start...you ran 3 times..well done you.Always remember, the gremlins hide under your running shoes, they hate it when you put the shoes on and you see them for what they are x
Hi Oldfloss. There’s room for improvement in my quest this week but also some satisfaction too. 🏃♀️- my quest to run with my daughter Dabby-dot on C25K journey is going well, largely down to her 😊. She is away from home this week as she and my husband travel north to see family ahead of her starting Uni. She will run her next run with her auntie (my sister) and then run her first solo run by the sea up in Scotland 🏴 at the end of the week. In the meantime I’ll run at home. 🧘🏼♀️- yoga is not going as well as it could, but still an improvement on the week before. I will definitely find more time for yoga this week.
I think one or two of us are finding Yoga needs to be worked on a tad more right now Your running sounds to be going well and Dabby is ding really well.. and a solo run too, by the sea...perfect! Huge well done so far and what we don't achieve this time.. we will work on as we move into September
That is just great! Yes...the rain is a feature that many of us are getting used to! You have done a little something every day!!! Yes...Huge well done you!Recharged... refreshed... a great way to start work again
Exciting news about the Race for Life Oldfloss. And a flat route sounds excellent!
My quest has been going well, 2 shorter runs and a 55 min run in my magic plan towards 60 mins. A couple of new routes this week (one because I had to be elsewhere one evening anyway, so thought I may as well squeeze a run in while I was there), nice to see some new scenery while I run.
My 55 min run was hard work mentally. I remember when I started running 30 mins I found the half way point quite difficult as I'd think 'wow that was hard and now I have to do it all again'. I'm finding with these longer runs that I'm getting the same thing. Physically, I can do it, I'm running slow enough. But the brain tells me that if I were just to walk it would be so much easier, and when I hit 30 mins and think I've got the same again (plus it's slightly uphill for quite a way!) it's quite hard work. Luckily, the thought of walking miles home again convinces me to keep going! I'm going to keep pushing on to the 60 mins, but the 10k (which will take me at least 1h 15) is more than I fancy doing for now. I'm pleased with my new 'furthest distance' of 7.1k though
This is great... moving forward, and getting those planned runs in. I think you just have to believe and know you can do it.. I love the longer relaxed distance and I have hills and inclines all around, and just letting the legs take you, with no pressure is something that involves. Try to focus on other things and relax into the runs, choose to focus on your footfall or your ankles, the way your hands are etc etc... take everything in to and before you know it the run is done:)You are well on the way.. after 6K... you can go for ever and you are already at 7.1K
PS
I have to practice on flat... I am faster on an incline!!!
Thanks for your positive reply. I listen to audiobooks while running which is generally a good distraction. But still, a few weeks of just keeping to the same distance for a while will be nice. Good luck running on the flat then, perhaps it's the lack of change in terrain to break up the run that you find difficult?
No, not really... I just found at first I could not get going.. a bit like a plane along a runway... could not take off...but over the years.. I adopted different strategies and I can move a lot faster now on the flat.. just since my blip in October.. I need to get back to to a reasonable pace i.e. faster than snail speed
You are right, this month has just whizzed by and I was surprised to see people picking blackberries on one of my runs this week, apple and blackberry crumble will follow shortly.
I managed 4 runs this week. A complete tech failure meant I lost the NRC interval run so I decided to do JogRunSprint instead. I do enjoy that app. I also did a recovery run and a very slow and pleasant 10k along my favourite Billy Trail. As I volunteered at parkrun, I ran on Sunday with the missing NRC intervals which was quite a challenge but fun. So another 21.9 k ( 13.6 miles ) on the mile tracker.
On the bingo card I ticked off:
Take a mindful thought on a run ✅
Think of a positive mantra and practice using it ✅
Take a photo of a tourist hot spot ✅
Finish the run with an ice cream ✅
I ended my C25k graduation run with an ice cream back in May 2018, and haven’t done it since, so that was a nice treat.
3 more challenges to go!
Your trips to Wales are doing you the world of good.
An ice cream (melting fast)
OldflossAdministrator60minGraduate in reply to Dexy5
You are doing wonderfully!! So many positive things happening here. A terrific mix here of runs too and with huge success.. and all your ticked Bingo Boxes! Just WOW!
the best bit for me is not only your running successes, it is the sheer enjoyment that you are getting from it, and this photograph says it all! Glowing xx
So I am on 54Km with a week to go. I will hit 75km for August but that's about it . Will definitely quest for 100km+ in September to make up for it!
What I have managed is regular (4 x a week), short (5-6km) runs which seems to be really helping my speed, and also allowing me to pace myself more evenly. I may even manage negative splits soon!
Gotta' love those negative splits... Huge well done to you... You have got where you want to be and I will be watching for your October Quest targets.The balance of runs helps.. the more you do, the more it all evolves, speed and distance too. When I am back up to par, I generally do a short... 3 or 4K... a mid way... 6K + and then a lovely long relaxed , ' see where you get to ' run, for many of us, it is those long, slow runs that help everything else
I am actually doing good! I had not run for a month and have now run 4 times with 1 or 2 days rest between them. A 5 km - 3 km - 5 km - 7 km. And my last felt so good that I might (big might) reach my second 10K within my next 2 weeks of holiday. Fingers crossed!
Hello fellow Questing buddies, I'm back! I'm very late joining the August Quest (and I missed the months prior... so silly to have lapsed, given how much I value questing). Hope you are all making great headway with your goals.
For the remaining week of August, my key Quest is to decide on my September-October Quests. Rest assured, I am running a couple of times a week, not just thinking about it! It'll be my first Runniversary at the start of September, so I'm planning a reboot. I think the aim will be to find myself a training plan to follow for a few weeks. Although I'm not really trying to reach the target distances set by most plans, they might have the sort of training structure that I need at the moment. I just need to figure out a good workable balance between challenge and do-able, and a plan that is flexible.
(The back story and my ideas-in-progress are outlined in my post on the main B210K forum: healthunlocked.com/bridgeto...
Better late than never! This has been an awesome Quest and folk have done amazingly, as ever!You seem to have got an organized plan in mind... do what you are able, do what you enjoy and be prepared to make adjustments if need be!
Good advice. I’m sure I’ll be having to make plenty of adjustments for my late-in-life acquired running habit! I bet those plans have younger folks in mind.
Hi Floss, Well done on your activities especially the running in the rain! (and that picnic)
Not much gardening going on here...but
Still Awesome😊😅
Another nice run today, started really steady and so no toxic ten at all. Trying to run lightly and glide along like Sandyscroll did on her last run. So that is a run every week in August as hoped.✔
You don't know how useful your Taking The Time To Run mantra has been for me. Just a gentle reminder to myself to take time and do something just for me, guilt free and I have been repeating it often. So grateful to you for that, thank you!
Plenty of P.E with Joe Wicks and YWA still happening. My core is getting lots of work😅✔
A little holiday staycation coming up so I will be getting a good rest after all this awesomeness (I will pack my runners but we will see😉)
Happy last few days of the Quest every one....we are all pretty awesome!🏃♀️🏃♂️🧘♀️🚴♀️🧗♀️🏊♀️🤸♀️🚶♂️🚶♀️🌟🌻xxx
We are indeed awesome... and you folk... AWESOME-R !Terrific well done to you...you are just doing it for you and it is working.
Taking the time and using it so well...PE, yoga and putting those gentle runs in as and when... and fitting it around time with that special little person too
Your holiday will do you so much good, relaxed wonderful time with those you love, perfect !
Enjoy...xxx
PS
Maybe think a little bit about September targets too? I need you to keep me going!
Hi OF and all you fab Questers. I honestly don’t remember if I committed to the Quest last time but I’m relieved to be running and being able to stick to the NRC HM Plan after our recent family bombshell. But I’m another who has jumped off the yoga bandwagon having hardly missed a beat for over 3 years. Funny really, as yoga is meant to relieve stress, but somehow I haven’t felt like getting on the mat since it happened. I’d like to return soon, as I do miss it. 🧘♀️
As it is though, I’ve had some wonderful runs of late. Mindful ones, speed ones and long ones, all with my dog, culminating in 20k yesterday. I have a 10k race this coming weekend (Severn Bridge) and my first official non-virtual HM in a month’s time. So exciting! My Quest therefore is to continue training and to bring home the bling!
So good to see you here again and even better to know that you are running...and enjoying...and, well ..doing wonderfully! XThe yoga? I think we shall all get back to it when the time is right.
Enjoy that 10 K..and we shall watch your progress towards that HM...and of course be waiting for the bling pikkies !
Hi OF and thank you for your inspiring post. 😃 It was a fun week overall for me with a PB at the Parkrun but the bestest bit was spotting Roseabi on the way back from her very long run.
I’m still preparing for the Brighton 10k and it’s going quite well (touch wood). I did an easy 8k followed by a few strides today, which I’ve rarely done before, but the plan called for them. Interesting idea to tack these faster paced efforts at the end of a long run. Certainly woke the fast twitch muscles up. Happy questing everyone. 👍
You are most welcome , my friend, and wow! Well done you.. You have had a super run and a super Quest!A PB and seeing the awesome roseabi on a run ( and what great long runs she has been doing!! )
It sounds as if the Brighton 10K will be a really enjoyable time, and that is so, so important. I feel that you have learned a lot through your working plan? It does sound really interesting.
Maybe a post on the way you have worked through it might help others?
Happy questing and we look forward to your plans for the September quest too!
Thank you OF. I got the plan from Runners World. I’m not good at starting posts here but if you think it will be useful then I’ll definitely give it a go. 👍
That would be super ..it gives people chance to see and hear from someone they know, who is doing it. I gave picked loads of ideas anx helpful strategies up from other posts .
Not sure I actually signed up for the August Quest, just as well having sprained an ankle ligament on my first Parkrun. Oh well, it's getting better and I'm booked in for an NHS physio next week so hopefully I'll actually be able to run again next month. Actually, if I can walk at a decent speed that'll be almost as good.
Th good thing about my Quest attempt at 15k was that I did run 15k - on the Billy Trail while Dexy5 was doing her 10k - but the wheels came off at 12k as far as pace was concerned, and I missed my target time by over 2 minutes in the end. I have recorded it as a yellow blob on my chart as something to be improved upon, but disappointing as last month I did 14k with over a minute to spare. Maybe it's the difference between running on the prom with roadies and a disused railway line in trails - here's hoping anyway!
There is a world of difference! But.myou certainly did it! We do win some ...never lose done as each run is so different! I think you are doing amazingly! As you say, onward and upward!
I'm late again to reply 😂 It sounds like you had a great week, complete with a picnic in the rain... Brilliant. I remember many years ago a picnic in Scotland where I wore my woolly gloves as it was freezing in July.
My week has gone ok ish, two runs done. The one on Wednesday saw me return to 7.5k and Saturdays was a 5k on my undulating route.
But core exercises haven't really happened, I did some of my physio exercises and my usual zoom yoga but that was it.
Must do better this final week 👍
OldflossAdministrator60minGraduate in reply to dijep
Well...a couple of days left before the September Quest! You got your runs in and you do your exercise and yoga! Maybe be kind to yourself and give yourself a couple of days to get ready for the next round
My quest was to maintain 2 runs a week, even though I was away a lot in August. I did only get 2 runs in last week, as travelling and tiredness got in the way, but have run every second day since, so I will have caught up again tomorrow 😁 on a positive note, having been away in 3 different places, I got to run some new routes, which was lovely.
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week3run1 ✅. 3 x 17 mins with 1 min walks. 
How did your parkrun or (not)parkrun go?
