I don’t know where this month is going, but it seems to be moving faster than me. I haven’t been running at all this week, on doctor’s orders, but there’s been lots of ice/heat treatment, 3 days of ibuprofen, followed by paracetamol, and it seems to be working. Yesterday I could hang up the washing and do some ironing (deep joy!). I think I’m now ready to try a short jogette tomorrow.
The hot sun has been replaced with the beautiful cool September sunshine which brightens up your day without being too hot. So I hope you have all been taking advantage of cool morning or evening runs or lovely sunny ones. Whether you live in the country or the city, it’s a joy to be outside.
Well, how have you all been doing with your Quests? I know a few of you have had to adapt your runs during the month just like me, but that’s okay. This is still a great place to chat about what you are doing.
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Dexy5
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Hi Dexy. Glad you’re seeing positive results. 🙏🏻 Enjoy your run. 😍 Talk about not doing much. I’m in that club too, all thanks to this blasted cold which won’t go away. LFT negative, which is one thing I suppose, plus my cough is now (TMI alert) very productive. 😳
So apart from my 10k race last Saturday and a very laboured 3k this morning, that’s my lot this week so far. I have zero-little energy, and I picked the NRC Struggle Run today. Coach Bennett allowed me to snail around the trails, and of course I’m pleased I went out. I intend to do PR on Saturday ahead of the Bristol 10k on Sunday, as my legs don’t like doing nothing.
My Quest has continued to falter, but I intend to blast this cold away once and for all. 💪
Back to yoga next week to end the month on a high. 😀
That cold needs to disappear pretty pronto cheekychipmunks . How dare it hang around when there is serious running to be done. Snailing around the trails with Coach Bennett sounds just perfect. 🐌🐌 .
Thanks Dexy, I keep telling it where to go, and it’s slowly retreating. But c’mon now, it’s been over a week. 🙄🤧
Severn Bridge for me this weekend. No surprise there! Especially because on their FB page they’ve said that the newest marshal will most likely be on turnaround duty. He’s called Bruno and he’s not human. 🐕 He was a huge hit last weekend apparently. ❤️
Glad to hear you are healing and hope your joggette goes well tomorrow 🤞
Had a glorious ParkRun on Saturday at Bedgebury. I had almost talked myself out of going expecially when the description said undulating (we have enough undulating where I live so its always nice to have a flat course). However chatting to this chap all the way round was fantastic and husband and I have decided it will be on the list to return to (and who can resist 10% off in the cafe for showing your barcode!).
Monday I was determined to get a run in. I knew the roads would be quiet so thought I would be safe with a country lane 5km. Aside from 1 car I had the roads all to myself. Another steady 5km in the bag but I am being mindful of a few niggles that have appeared.
The rest of this week so far has been core work. I aim to get a run in tomorrow and all being well I could be at ParkRun on Saturday (think I've persuaded family to do the London trip this weekend!)
So I think my questing this month is going ok - just learning to listen to my body and do more stretching seems to be the key.
Ooh an undulating run in a pinetum sounds like a lovely parkrun Beth. That core training seems to be doing the trick too. You certainly are meeting your quest.
It must have been quiet on Monday, I don’t think many people left their homes here. Well done you on getting out and enjoying the country lanes while you could.
I’m glad the pain is beginning to ease and you can manage a short run tomorrow. I’m still just running but am part of the running world cup so my quest is to run at least 3k in under 30 minutes, having said that I failed miserably this morning
What’s that f-word doing there? Do I need to get my teacher glare out? You know better than that! You did the run. There’s always something positive. ❤️
Glad to hear you seem to be healing Dexy5 . I really hope your jogette works out! Ironing and hanging out washing definitely needs some shoulder action, so although not the most exciting things to do in the world, things sound on the mend.
I pulled my hamstring/lower bum muscle last Saturday tripping over in the woods, so am having to look after that at the moment. While it still hurts somewhat, it’s nowhere near as bad as it was. Am able to do some mild stretching which seems to help as well. So quest wise nothing is in the offing! Just being patient. All the best 😊😊😊.
You’re right Frenc, I couldn’t raise my arms without pain last week, so things are definitely better. I may need help with my sports bra tomorrow though, that’s a challenge when I’m fully functional. 😂
Ooh that trip does sound painful. Good luck with your recovery and stretching too. Just shows that you can’t set your quest in stone.
I think you are doing brilliantly 👏 lifting your arm already !
All the best with your jogette.
My quest is sort of going to plan - did 7k and heading for 8k tomorrow. Gotta get out early as I have to start work (at home) at 7.30am 🙄With my 🐌 pace, I will need more than an hour just for the run let alone warm up, warm down, stretches and shower … wonder if I’ll get the tea and toast treatment again ?
Ooh, it must be hard to fit a long run in to start work at 07.30. Is running after work an option , or do you find it easier in the mornings? You definitely deserve tea and toast when you get back!
Work is a bit unpredictable at the moment and I often finish later than planned 🤨 Running in the morning is the best chance I have to get out - if I planned to go after work, I might never go 🤣 but you have made me think - maybe I just need to be a little more organised and have the longest runs in the MP scheduled for Sunday. Thanks - I just might give it a go 💪
I'm doing running without any particular target. The Garmin Plan remains paused for the moment until life returns a bit more to normal. I'm still doing hospital visits most evenings.
After recovering from the tummy bug the previous week, I've done short runs, 10km runs, parkrun followed by emergency plumbing, and a HM on Monday afternoon. I'm running by feel with no pace or time target. The mojo is definitely still there. I'm running because I want to run, not from any sense of obligation. I'm enjoying doing it.
Running by feel is a great plan nowster, although I’ll confess I never feel like just doing a HM. 😂
I hope the health issues sort themselves out and life gets back to where you want it. Good to hear you’ve still got the mojo- sometimes that’s the first thing to go.
Hello Dexy5 hope you feel completely better soon and good luck with your jogette. Thanks so much for keeping us accountable. My quests this last week have gone well:
1) YES - continue to run 3 times a week - have done exactly that
2) YES - continue with Garmin coach HM training plan for event in November
3) NO - do at least 2 cross trainings a week - 1 should be strength. Only managed 1 weights session. Had to stop swimming cos of swimmers ear. Hoping my ear will clear up soon so I can hit the pool again soon otherwise I'll try some YWA.
4) Run at least one parkrun. Not sure if I will be able to do a parkrun this Saturday as I'm having my covid booster jab on Thursday afternoon and I tend to have a slight adverse reaction for a day or two afterwards so may not physically feel up to a run. If not will volunteer instead if I am physically capable
5) YES - have at least 1 rest day each week. Had 4!
6) YES - take part in Running World Cup which started on 20th September. Have done a 10.5km run so far Wednesday afternoon for HU Team 2022 which for some reason hasn't uploaded onto the site from Strava yet. I'll give it 24 hours and then contact the organisers to find out what's going on.
Thank you Jogger22, a 2.3 km slow run completed this morning.
Well done for getting those 3 runs in and sticking to your Garmin Plan. Sorry to hear about the swimmers ear and hope it’s not too painful and disappears quickly. 4 rest days will do you no harm at all.
Fingers crossed for today's jogette Dexy5 ! I hope you are going to feel okay... slow and steady of course!
Moving into the last week of September, I am pleased how the runs have gone... I am getting runs in, and have managed to get a few more in and have managed, also to get three 5K runs completed.
All done gently and all done when my body told me it was okay!
Moving on also, I am aware, particularly yesterday when I chose an NRC Guided Run, ( I chose the 25 minute Easy Run), that I am erring on the side of caution a tad too much?
It is a fine balance, for me anyway, to know when to begin to up the game a little? When I did the Easy Run yesterday, it was HARD!
It was , as Coach Bennett said, always going to be hard and would require effort... but I felt that probably would not apply to me because I run what I consider to be slow run anyway. What I did find as the run went on, was that I was really having to work at the staying easy!
I enjoyed it a lot, and as CB said, as the run went on, the pace naturally increased, still very easily, and my last K was very comfortable, and of course pacier than the first one. That was my comfiest K of the run and where I felt I was moving at my own happy pace?
So.. ( yes, I do go on don't I) , in the last week of the Quest, to challenge myself a little more, because I think if I don't, I am going to be afraid to!
Is this making sense?
So this week's Quest for me is to keep listening to my body, get at least three runs in, but to take things up a tad .
I will need support folks... and Dexy, please keep your eye on me?
Thanks Oldfloss, I’m pleased to say the run went well. Just 2.3 k @ 7.46 pace . I usually aim to run full kms but that’s how far it took me to get to the cafe by the sea where UTS was meeting me.
You should be pleased with your running. You are getting stronger all the time and finding such joy in those trips with Coach Bennett . All those slow runs have built up your body so the faster ones will come easier I am sure. We will definitely be keeping an eye out for you as you whizz by at Super Snail pace. ⚡️ 🐌
I am heartened by all the other obstacles and bleurghs others are dealing with! Most things seem to have gone to pot as I struggle to recover from things I needed to do. It takes so long!
Weight doing inexplicable things, could be doing more on the guided meditation/relaxation front. Bit of a problem on recording runs/walks - I either forget for walks or worry about battery life, but if I count those not on tech, my medal is within my grasp with a wee bit of attention - and frankly having tackled Monk's Dale I feel I have earned it.
It doesn’t matter what gets thrown at us GoogleMe, we will still be runners, and may just take a little longer to reach our destination. It sounds like you are doing some lovely walks, recorded or not, and it’s great to take advantage of these things while the weather allows it. You will get that medal and I’m looking forward to seeing the pic in due course.
I’ve had some nice runs this week. There was a 45 minute recovery run called “a whole run” on NRC that was thought provoking and felt great to run. There have been some fun short ones, and today it’s set to be my longest run ever. It could be new badge day. I’m feeling surprisingly nervous about it. I don’t know why! I’m planning on taking it super easy and I’ve got a new flat route planned so it should be doable. The HM is three weeks on Sunday. My number has arrived and there’s been a flood of sponsorship. Maybe it’s nerves making an early appearance. Hopefully I can report back later saying it went well. This is the last big one before the day and I’m very much looking forward to the taper!
My quest was just to run and that’s going well. This week I’m going to focus on keeping it positive and not piling on any pressure that doesn’t need to be there.
Well done MissU, and good luck with that long one today. It’s even more pleasurable to get a badge at the end of it.
Butterflies before a race are normal, and I always seem to find imaginary niggles to boot. But once you cross that start line, everything falls into place, and all that training kicks in.
Thanks! I’ve been out and back…with a new shiny HM badge soon to be awarded! Kept it slow but it was still tough. These long runs still feel new to me and I’ve never got to the end of a two hour podcast before. Super proud of myself. Really great to have the reassurance that I can definitely do the distance on the day because I’ve done it before. Bring on the taper (thank goodness!!).
Very well done to you! I confess I stopped at 10 miles distance as I felt it was tough enough for me, HM - enjoy that glow and know that come race time you know you can do it. 👏👏
HM is definitely enough for me! I prefer runs of about 10km. That’s what I’m going back to after the Bath HM. I think I’ll focus on a faster 10km time for a bit and then decide whether to try another HM in spring. I’m really looking forward to not having a weekly long run.
Glad to hear you're on the mend Dexy. Oh that lifting your arm up above your head thing - that's taken me nearly 6 months. I too can hang the washing out, but I'm unconvinced it is an advantage! 😊 I hope the jogette went OK
As for my Quest...
Get back into a regular routine, running 3 times a week and back on the NRC HM plan - mostly yes, but it's a struggle to find the time for the longer runs.
Swim twice a week - yep, by and large - commuting and availability of sessions permitting
Shoulder exercises ✅
Kick the niggly back into touch with the Pilates based core strengthening work - before today I would have said yes, but it's been a few days since I last did anything and the niggles seem to be returning. My report card would say "Could do better"...
Thank you Birdlady, I think you have been dealing with something far worse than I suffered, and I hope it continues to improve for you. I am left a niggle in my elbow so I’ll book up with the physio to get him to check it all out and give me some strengthening exercises.
Well done on everything you’ve achieved. It must be difficult to fit those long runs in when you are commuting, but you’ve done things when you can and that’s the main thing. I’d put a gold star on that report.
Hi Dexy, a little late with my report but its good news here,
I fitted in my two runs last week one of them being a 5k run which I was thrilled about, Along the Basingstoke canal a there and back and the back was slightly downhill ( I know, how?) which helped a lot.
I have walked 44k of the 50k target so that is going well, Yoga practice most days even if its just squeezing in a short one before bed.
Another run this weekend...I wonder which NRC one to choose🤔
I'm glad to hear you have been out for a little run that went well. Hope you can get some relief from that niggle in your elbow and get full range of movement back in your shoulder and arm soon. xx
It’s never too late to post your sitrep Bluebirdrunner ! It sounds like you’ve had a great week, especially as it included a 5k along a canal. Walking 44k is excellent too considering the distractions we’ve had this month. There’s no doubt you’ll achieve that quest. There are so many guided runs to choose from - do let us know next week which are your favourites.
Definitely agree with you that this month has gone quickly Dexy5 !
Regarding the Quest, I think I'm doing OK. Ten runs since 1st September, so as we are at the start of the fourth week I think that's about 3 a week or close enough!
As to the Parkrun, I didn't do Parkrun the first weekend in September as I was still recovering from Covid. After that, it was cancelled 3 times, the first as a mark of respect for the Queen's passing, then two weeks when the starting point was inaccessible due to a funfair being set up. I may not have managed an actual Parkrun but I've run 4 notParkruns, so I'll allow myself to tick that box.
The final element of the Quest was whether or not to sign up for the local 10k. It's only 2 weeks away and the furthest I've run recently is 6km. I think the furthest I've run is 9km (but it might be 8km) and that was back in February. Lately it's all been 5kms. If I felt as good as I did today it might be reasonable to do the 10k but.. but.. but...
I suppose I am still assessing whether it's realistic to enter it (so I suppose that's fulfilling the Quest objective, innit?? 😂)
You are definitely doing well with your Quest Yesletsgo, especially as you have been recovering from Covid.
It’s a shame that your parkruns have been cancelled but I am sure you’ll make it next month. 3 (not) parkruns show your determination.
Mm, it depends when that race is on? If you are able, why not extend one of your runs by 1km a week , and reduce one to 4km, then keep increasing that long one each week? If you can’t make that race, another is bound to come along.
I've decided to give it a miss, I'm not properly prepared and would rather leave it a bit longer, run a few 10ks at my own pace when I'm in the mood before launching myself cold into a public event. Much less stressful and a lot more sensible I think.
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September Quest: final week