Happy Friday lovely Questers! It’s not too late for anyone wanting to join in….everyone welcome here.
It’s the end of our first week. How’s it been for you all? I was a bit concerned that having a sun themed quest might scare it away, especially since the first few days here were a bit grotty but my goodness it’s come back with a vengeance. Delightful! Sort of…
Two things I’ve particularly noticed while out running in the sunshine this week:
1) Plants make beautiful patterns on the ground when the sun shines behind them (this picture is from Rhodes Old Town). Delightful!
2) Sun cream is absolutely impossible to keep out of your eyes if you’re running in the heat. Not delightful at all!
My personal quest was all about aiming for consistency and I’m giving myself half a tick for that one. I’ve had a few days under the weather so I didn’t hit my aim of four or five runs but that’s ok. I’ve been out this morning with Coach Bennett’s “Worst Advice Ever Run” on the NRC app and he was telling me that sometimes the best run is no run at all. I needed those extra days off and I’m not feeling bad. Last weekend was my first parkrun which was super fun despite it being essentially 2.5km up followed by 2.5km down again. Tough to start with but very pleased to have done it and I’m aiming to go again tomorrow if life allows. So overall, a pretty good week questing.
If anyone fancies joining us, it isn’t too late. Here’s a link to the original post if you’d like to see how it works and what everyone’s been up to.
- keep running at least 2x / week (just about managed as I ran last Sunday and today, so yup ✅)
- keep rowing at least 4x / week (managed only 2 in the week, so nope ❌)
- do all my stretches and mobility stuff (did 6 mobility stretching sessions, so yup ✅)
- keep a recovery day (had quite a few recovery days without running and rowing , but did walk a lot to and fro train station and work campuses on three days, so not sure that counts ❓🤷🏽♀️
It will have to do!
Am about to jump on my rower, so I might just still get there with my 4 rows/week.
NRC “worst advice ever run” sounds a hoot! Must do that one! Happy running!
I think walking is definitely allowed on a recovery day <bangs gavel>. I am awarding you a ✅ for that one. Sounds like a good week. Stretches are my Achilles heel and I always struggle to keep a consistent routine so seriously impressed with your six days this week. It was much easier when I had a gym membership and could get to a brilliant yoga class. For some reason, on my own it’s much harder to motivate myself.
There’s some great bad advice debunked on the Worst Advice run-no pain, no gain; the numbers never lie; second place in the first loser; if you’re not running hard, you’re hardly running. Plus more. Coach Bennett is on great form. At a couple of points I was literally laughing out loud. Luckily, there were only buzzards and butterflies to hear me! I think you’ll enjoy it. I’ve spotted a “Best advice” version so that’s going to be my next run. I’ll report back!
I added a few James Dunne strengthening moves that have done wonders with my knees and glutes.
But it’s such a habit now, I miss it if I don’t do it.
For stretches, I have to admit I have a normal version and a horizontal lying-on-the-bed version which stretches every muscle but without having to stay upright. I found especially after some of the longer 1 hour intensive rows (or last year’s 2 hour runs) having a horizontal version was essential 🥵🫠😊
Coach B certainly gets around doesn’t he! After he took me out yesterday, we had another meet up this morning. A lovely 25 minute run. Still a bit hot but better than yesterday. That 20 minute run of yours must have felt good. Really glad you’re on the mend now. Long may that continue!
PR was a bit early so it was a NOT PR here. I think that was a good decision. Actual PR can happen next week.
Enjoy another great week of strength, eating and running! 💪 🍕 🏃♀️
Hello @MissUnderstanding and fellow questers. Hope you are feeling better now. A tip someone gave me to keep suntan lotion out of my eyes is to put vaseline on your eyebrows - this acts as a barrier. My quests have gone well this week:
1) On track - finish 10k race on Sunday. Just one more short run tomorrow before the big day
2) NO - run at least 3 times a week - only did 2 runs as I am tapering before my 10k race
3) YES -do 2 cross training sessions a week - did some strength training sessions
4) On track - do at least one parkrun - hoping to do this next Saturday or the week after.
5) On track - volunteer at 1 parkrun - am volunteering at my local parkrun tomorrow
I have never heard of Vaseline on eyebrows before-I’ll definitely give that a go. Feeling much better too. Thanks! I went out a bit earlier this morning and it wasn’t so bad. What a great week of questing for you-look at all those on tracks! ✅ ✅ ✅ ✅
I didn’t quite make parkrun so I did a 25 minute recovery run around here instead. Coach B again-“best advice ever” run. I was super slow but it was already very warm so I’m counting that as running smart as he would say! Hope it was a fun morning volunteering. I might have that on my quest for next month.
Really good luck with your race tomorrow. Will be there with virtual pom poms! 🍀
Hello everyone! My quests were to consolidate by running for 30 mins three times a week, find new routes and introduce more trails and hills. I also wanted to introduce some more strength work.
I've managed the three runs this week - the first two were rather unexciting and I missed Laura's time-checks but for the third I decided to try Coach Bennet on NRC to see what everyone was talking about! I chose the 30 mins Just a Run as recommended on here and it was good fun. I braved the big hill that I'd avoided since C25K W6 when it was a struggle, but this time I approached from the opposite direction and it was significantly better!
I have started CBDB's 12 week consolidation programme but have only managed one of the three exercise sessions this week, thanks to emergency eye appointments for my ten year old and a rather rushed last minute job application! I will hopefully squeeze in a second today before the week is out!
Great running week for you-well done! Those sound like fab consolidation runs and glad you got to meet Coach B. There’s nothing like conquering a hill that’s been tricky before. I’m going to have Kate Bush (well, the Placebo cover which controversially I think is better!) playing in my head all afternoon. Running up that hill, no problem!
Massive good luck for the potential new job. Really hope it works out for you. Hope everything is ok with the eye emergency now too.
My Quest is mostly about running 3 times a week. I did Parkrun last Saturday and then ran again on Monday and Wednesday so I can more or less tick that one off. I planned to do Parkrun this morning but something disagreed with me and I was up half the night (no fun when you're on a boat and it's about 500 steps to the amenities block ) Definitely a morning when the best run was no run.
I've been doing a lot of walking this last week, evidenced by my Garmin daily steps goal being over 16,000 (when I was working I was lucky to do more than 5,000). I've apparently walked 99,867 steps this week, which probably explains why my thighs and knees had a dull ache after my runs. All being well I'll get out for a recovery run tomorrow and start next week the right way with my legs all fresh and rested
Well done on lots of ticks. That sort of stomach bug is horrible and super draining. Hope you’re feeling better now?
I think I’ll also be walking a lot this week. Much easier in the heat and really enjoyable too. Very impressive step count from you! Have a great week questing/resting!
Well, last week's quest plan didn't go exactly as expected.
I went to the wrong parkrun venue on the Saturday. It was cancelled. I ran the route (with a few others) anyway. If it had been an official time it would have been a parkrun PB!
I got very drained after that, so didn't run at all on Sunday. But on Monday morning I did the holiday Half Marathon distance mostly on footpaths and country lanes, from the village we were staying in to the coast town of Cromer and back.
And then for the rest of the week I was doing much lighter runs due to the higher temperatures.
I'd still like to tick off 30km, but have to be sensible. Whilst it might be cool when I start such a run, it probably won't be three hours later!
I saw your holiday HM post. It looked like a stunning run. Hoping for an unexpectedly cool day for all of us to get a long run in! I can’t imagine what three hours in this heat would feel like. Well, technically I can and it really isn’t good!!!
I think lots of us are doing a bit of adjusting to the quest goals because of the weather. Have a good week.
I've been avoiding running since I got back to Manchester. The thermometer has been skyrocketing upwards just after 8am, not dropping back below 20°C until 9pm!
I really must get up early tomorrow if I want to get a run in.
Hello MissU and fellow questers. I’ve found the answer to suntan lotion on the face is to buy the ones for sports as they cope with sweating and stick in place better than the normal ones. If you can’t find any sports specific, Soltan has an 8 hour SPF 50+ for the face that seems to work well I also wear a buff round my wrist to dab sweat away while running.
Back to my quest:
I ran 3 times this week as planned ✅
I extended my 3rd run to 6k, but it was very hot and I should have had a proper breakfast to run late morning, not just a banana 🍌. Result was walk/running at the end so I will repeat next week. ❎
I’m adding sports suncream to my shopping list this week. That makes me feel like an athlete-thanks!
It’s so hard in the heat at the moment. Cutting is short your 6k sounds like absolutely the right decision. Hopefully this weather won’t last too long. Good luck for this week’s runs and especially enjoy that tourist run!
Well, I didn't technically tick off anything on my Questy To Do list... there were too many days when I was all gussied up and then unable to go. I would say my big achievement this week was not getting my knickers in a twist about that.... and also getting up a hill that I had to give up on a few weeks ago... and it wasn't easy the second time round either.
Those sorts of weeks can be so frustrating and being able to shrug it off without too much knicker twisting is a great skill to have! Hopefully it’s a good week for you this week.
Hi MU, mind if I hop on the Quest train a bit late?
Mine is pretty simple. To continue running 3 or 4 times a week, do as much yoga as I can and have a go on the cross trainer at the gym at least once (absolutely no idea how it works, so I’m scared I’ll make a numpty of myself!)
We’re off on hols at the weekend for 8 days, so running will be in the unknown, but I feel a beach in my future! Just when I’ve removed all the sand out of my trainers from our trip to Cornwall in May! It doesn’t half hang around. 😅
Of course! You are very welcome here! That sounds like a great quest. Looking forward to hearing your updates.
I’ve always doing cross trainers a bit scary too. I often feel like my legs are running away with me. Not that I’ve used one in years. I’m sure you’ll be fine!
Holiday running is the best. Have a fantastic time away!
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) Definitely a morning when the best run was no run. 
🍏Summer Quest Week 2
Sassy for September Quest - week 2 💥
