Hello Sunny Questers! Apologies for the late post. Since the school holidays started, I’ve been struggling with knowing which day it is! There’s been some inspirational athletics on the TV. Have you caught any of it? This is the first big meet since I’ve started running and I’ve enjoyed it so much more knowing how hard it really is!
Well, week 3 (or the third quarter as Coach Bennett would call it) has come and gone and we’ve made it through the heatwave. I managed to run easy and early, and easy and late. There were some lovely sunsets. I didn’t even venture out for a walk in the middle of the day.
Coach B talks about athletes being most likely to lose focus in the third quarter of their race, no matter how long the race is. In my month long quest for consistency, this has definitely felt like the biggest struggle to keep focussed and the runs I’ve done have felt just ticking along rather than really progressing. Still, I’m counting the consistency target as a win anyway. Next week I’m back on the HM plan. How’s everyone else getting on with that target?
I’ve done much better with the “adding some strength and flex” target. Today I’ve got sore legs after some serious squats and lunges during a hiit class. I’ve bought and used a foam roller and also done some online yoga. I’ll just highlight a month long Yoga with Adriene challenge starting over on the strength and flex board for anyone interested. Hopefully that will keep me on track and it would be nice to see some more familiar faces over there too!
So there’s just a week or so to go for this month’s quest. I think I might just make it! How are you all feeling? Hope everyone’s ready for one last push to the finish line! At least the sun is behaving itself a bit better now! ☀️
Here are the links to the previous quest posts for anyone who’d like to read them.
Sounds like you’re succeeding in your attempt for consistency!
Me too, I have been running every other day, and rowed the last three days (but taking today off!). So my consistency is improving again! What helped?
Well in running I’m on a roll anyway, as I am in the good hands of coach Bennett and coach Cory, both making an appearance on my runs this morning.
And in rowing, my slump (which was due to the move of my rowing machine ) has also been overcome, as I’ve started another rowing challenge as well: 30x30 minute rows! I’m on row #4!
So I’m good. Now, where to find the time to fit in Yoga?
Brilliant-thanks for the link. I’ve still got achey legs today so I’m postponing my long run until tomorrow (thank you school holidays!) and will do some yoga instead.
Sounds like you’re nailing the consistency. It’s easier to keep going when you’re already going! Really good luck with that rowing challenge.
Oh dear MissU, Since putting my back out a couple of weeks ago, my July quest of running at least 2 or 3 times a week has rather fallen by the wayside. And now I have a visitor so it’s not looking brilliant in the next few days! May I came back next month please and try again?!
Oh no! There should be a sad button for injuries. That sounds totally miserable. Take it slow and sensible, come back when you’re ready and if you start and find it’s too much, wait until you’re recovered. Sending masses of healing vibes your way!
I did my three runs as per my plan, come rain or shine (hoping for no rain hehehe).1st run, got soaked after starting the run just when the rain stopped. Afterwork, dark, cold, rain..ran in hot shower straight away once the run finished.
2nd run after a day, it just never stopped raining the whole day/night. So put my rain jacket on and we went for the 10k run. Yep, totally wet again and came home dripping due to the relentless non-stop rain.
Yesterday, was day run due to weekend and guess what, finally the forecast was no rain, just cloudy. The Sun was out and even though it started cold at 10deg, it felt really hot after just the warm up walk. Completed 16k as planned..that was not a great run either due to being hot and my legs feeling heavy for half the run.
Next week is again 3 runs planned but they will be between 5 to 10k for saving my legs for the big event.
It’s hard to know how to feel about the rain! I’m really liking that it’s not so hot but it’s an extra long way on a long run when there’s no respite from it. It sounds like you’re doing really well with your consistency. Sometimes runs just feel hard for no good reason. Mine yesterday was a grind from start to finish and that was only 5k. Amazing that you make it for a full 16k not really feeling it!
It’s definitely a sensible plan to have a week with less running before the big event. Wishing you loads of luck with this week’s training and the actual thing!
Hello MissUnderstanding and fellow questers. Glad to hear you've managed to be consistent. I also have definitely enjoyed watching the athletics on the TV - very inspirational. My quests this week1) YES - run at least 3 times a week - managed exactly that
2) NO - do 2 cross training sessions a week - haven't done any. My excuse is that the heatwave made me very tired and I just didn't have any extra energy. I intend to go swimming tomorrow though
3) YES - do at least 1 parkrun - have done exactly that
All the other quests I set at the beginning of the month I have already ticked off in previous weeks.
Also I've kind of started a new quest mid month - training for a half marathon. I still haven't decided whether to fully commit to it but so far I have done 5 out of the 5 workouts so I'm on track. I know that strength training is really important for this so really need to start incorporating this each week too.
As Mr Meatloaf said, “two out of three ain’t bad”! Miss Understanding says, “two out of three in a heatwave is superb!”
Which half marathon programme are you following? I’m doing the NRC one, or I will be once I’m back on it next week. I took a break during the heatwave. Having something to follow really helps me keep focussed. Good luck to you with yours!
Hi everyone. My quest was going fine until the hot weather struck. The hotter it got the less I ventured out. I'm now in Crete and didn't even bring my running shoes. Weirdly, it was cooler here (high 20s to low 30s) than when we left Gatwick (39C)!Having left all my running gear at home I discovered a nice flat walk just by where we are staying that would have been a perfect run, oh well, my legs are enjoying the rest.
Having said which, we did a 1.5 mile trek to a beach down a really difficult path in the blazing sun yesterday. Total ascent was 158 metres in the blazing sun and when I looked at my stats on the Garmin they were very similar to a decent run. I checked my VO2 for curiosity - it says I'm 39! That nice Mr Garmin obviously wants me to enjoy the holiday
If you’re in Crete, does that mean the wedding’s happened? Hope it’s all gone wonderfully (or it will do!). It’s amazing that it could possibly be cooler there than here! The weather has been something else this week!
Mr Garmin and Miss Understanding both want you to enjoy the holiday! Have a fantastic time. ☀️ 🌊 💒
The wedding was absolutely fabulous, amazing setting, bride and groom gorgeous, very personal and touching vows, fantastic food, the works. Like idiots we booked to fly home the next day, bad move, only 8 hours sleep in 2 days, I'm only just recoversed 😂
Hi everyone! I'm afraid my consistency has gone out the window and I haven't run at all since last Sat. Like oldgirlruns, I need a do-over!
I was so disappointed to discover that I have ankle problems again, and the problem is different to the first time. Dr. Google has not been much help - my symptoms don't seem to fit with anything I can find. So I have an NHS physio appointment tomorrow and hopefully they can shed some light and get me running again soon. I have managed a few dog walks and a bike ride though, once the heat subsided!
Oh no (again)! That’s such rubbish news. Really hoping that the physio can shed some light on what’s going on and provide some exercises to help. Glad you can at least get out in the fresh air for a walk/bike and hoping it’s not too long before you’re up and running again. Sending lots of sympathy your way ❤️
Oops! I missed this one. It was a very busy weekend.
A change of quest for the last week of the month.
I've decided to try a little structure in my runs, so I'm trying a Garmin 10km plan, with the aim of getting a bit faster by the end of October.
However, the plan seems to be a bit monotonous at the moment, with mainly 20min paced runs in the schedule for the next week (and a 40 minute long run on Sunday). I'll give it a couple of weeks, and reassess how I feel about it then.
Almost missed your reply too! It’s been a weird week…
I think I’d also be finding that plan a bit dull. Maybe it’s easing you in gently before throwing in some different runs? Good idea to give it a go for a bit and ditch it for something more varied if it doesn’t perk up.
Like a satnav when it tries to take you a silly way and you just ignore it expecting a reroute? Interesting. I’ve never had a garmin so feel like I’m still learning about the tech available. At the moment, I’m using my Fitbit and the NRC app but I’m considering upgrading at Christmas ready for my runniversary!
I must drive my satnav mad. I'm always ignoring its instructions. Most of the routes I follow I know very well. I tend to use it for providing me with an ETA and a warning of traffic conditions ahead.
Same! I live quite rurally and it’s forever trying to send me down tiny country lanes that just aren’t sensible or quicker! It’s mostly useful for me for the last part of the journey if I’m unsure exactly which turn it is or if I’ve gone wrong and can’t pull over to look at a map. I like navigating with a paper map, but not while behind the wheel!
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March Quest Week 4 🌸 How's your Mojo?
I’m late, I’m late The Quest week 4 snuck up on me 
