Welcome to a brand new month of questing! An extra special day for the Welsh contingent among us…Dydd Gŵyl Dewi Hapus! 🏴
I’m so excited to be hosting again. This feels like a fresh start after February got derailed by a stinker of a cold. April is half marathon month for me so it’s full steam ahead on getting ready. That’ll be my quest. I’ll be focussing on consistent running, consistent strength and flex work and consistently enjoying the runs. Consistency will be my buzz word! I’m both excited and a little nervous.
Round here it’s hills, hills, hills which will be great training for the half which I’m told has…hills! Are you a fan? Avoid at all costs? Maybe I can challenge you to head up a hill sometime this month. Maybe you can even take a picture of the view. Watch out for a photo challenge to come!
So what will your quest be? I can’t wait to find out.
For any newbies, here’s what it’s all about:
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.
You need to be 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 strength and flex 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...”
I can’t wait to see what your goals are and cheer you on!
MissU 🏃♀️🏃♀️🏃♀️
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MissUnderstanding
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My quest is to get back to running 10K by the end of March, I havn't run any longer than 5K since last November, so each week during this month I will increase my runs by 1 Kilometre a week starting on 1st March by running 6K
I’m laughing at myself as I’ve run a total of 3k this last 7 days - like you, I’ve been derailed AGAIN with a cough and I’ve done the sensible thing this time and not ignored it like before. 😇
The reason I’m laughing is that my HM Plan made a very inauspicious start indeed, and I plan on doing the HUHM in May! I’ll be ok, but I need to get a ripple on as I haven’t run the distance since 2021.
So there’s my Quest. To get a ripple on. However I’m away in Rome for a few days next week and it won’t be conducive to running (except for a PR a few of us are doing 😀), so it won’t be a smooth ripple!
Argh it’s so frustrating! You’re doing the right thing by taking it easy on yourself. There are so many bugs around that have really been knocking people for six. Wishing you a speedy recovery before your time away.
A May HM is exciting! It feels quite an exciting time at the moment with lots of people picking up again after winter, often with aiming for an event. I think we’ll have a great few months coming up.
Rome is such a beautiful city-have a fantastic time. Lots of opportunities for walking up hills! Great food too (the best ice cream I’ve ever had!).I’m so envious. Buon viaggio! 🇮🇹
Yes it really is exciting! It’s nice seeing the racing calendar filling up (I have 4 races booked so far - 2 x 10k, a 10 miler and a HM), and it really gives me focus. Without focus I trundle, which is still fun, but I need something tangible to aim for. 😀
That sounds like a brilliant mix of distances. I really like having something in the diary to aim for. I’ve got three-April HM, June 10k (MrU’s debut with me) and Sep HM. Looking forward to the race reports!
I’ll join you in the consistency bandwagon, whilst acknowledging all sorts of calls on one’s time.
In terms of consistency, I’ve done better in Feb than Jan , thanks to my movement rings (Apple Fitness, see pic). Those little rings have the nudge power, it seems. I’m sure if I did not have these in the back of my mind, I’d not have gone out or hopped on the rower the one or other day.
Great quest goals from you and some inspiration for some of the elements of mine too. I can well understand the motivation factor of not wanting to leave an unclosed ring!
For me, consistency is going to look like regularly being active rather than it being strictly every [insert suitable time interval]. I think that will feel good and not too oppressive. A bit of a wooly definition (especially for a science nerd like me) but I’ll know it when I feel it!
It’s great when all the new challenges kick off for a new month. So much positivity across all the boards!
Dydd Gŵyl Dewi Hapus, right back at you and hopefully, sometime next week I will be in Wales again and getting some runs in! Leek and potato soup on the menu today!
Good to have you still here and hosting!
Okay... you are coming back wonderfully, I am right behind you! Slower, but I am there.
My running has been kicked back because of a cold which is not quite gone. Too chilly out this morning...the air is still getting to me a tad. BUT!
Quest is:
Keep up the yoga. Staring the YWA February programme today.
Regular routines of strength and stamina ongoing.
Running, THREE times in 7 days... (there I have said it). An event in April means I would like to get that regular pattern going for the next four weeks.
That is it.... I AM going to need support as ever.
We all need support-whether that’s a bit of a hand hold when we’re not feeling at our best or cheering along in celebration as goals get smashed. All your virtual run buddies are here!
Some great quest goals. It must feel great to be in the position of setting a realistic target to run three times a week. That’s something to celebrate before you even get started. A few weeks ago, just getting out for a walk would have been a good goal-things have really gone in the right direction for you. I’m absolutely sure you’ll get there, cold and life permitting!
Enjoy your Wales visit! I’m about to make a bara brith and there’ll be leeks in tonight’s dinner!
Hi, MU, my quest is to find a playlist that I can use to help me move toward a “Graduate 10” badge/label. Meantime I intend to keep doing Stepping Stones.
That’s a great goal to have. Have you looked at the magic plan? That’s what I used and it was great. It’s not a playlist as such but a structure to build towards 10k (or 60 minutes). I really like the Nike Run Club app and you could use some of their guided runs of the right length as commentary. There’s also a Nike Run Club 10k plan that CBDB is following and I’m sure would be happy to chat about.
Same! It really helps to motivate me. I usually use bbc sounds with the Nike Run Club app. It takes a bit of starting and restarting music at the beginning of the run but it works fine. Turning auto pause off on the app helped stop it switching to random saved tracks on my Apple Music player!
BBC Sounds is an app with loads of podcasts on it. I use it all the time. There are lots of music mixes you can download and play. The pacesetter ones are great for longer runs.
March already, good to see you hosting the quest this month. Fancy challenging us to hills just when I was saying to Willow part of my plan is to go up and over the Downs once a week because it'll make our legs stronger, he needs new trail shoes but only if he comes with me, a birthday present I think. We have a series of Rings, Chanctonbury ring, Cissbury Ring and Lancing Ring, Lancing to Cissbury is about 5 miles I think and part of the South Downs Way. Not sure how far to Chanctonbury, the absolute best place to be in summer when warm and the cooling breeze comes off the sea, and winter when the views are crisp and clear.
So my quest this first week of March is a walk, maybe with a little run, up the first hill
That’s such a gorgeous photo. Those blue skies go on for miles! Great quest and a great set of runs and walks planned. New shoes on the cards too…that’s always a happy day! MrU’s running shoes are looking a little sad now and I’m hoping to take him shoes shopping too. Maybe there’ll be something in the sale for us too…
Sale would be good, I ordered ours online couple years ago, after a run over the downs where he fell over, not hurt but made us realise we needed some, but after about 4 runs he said his toes were touching the ends so hasn't worn them since, so size up I think
I wish I had that gorgeous blue sky in your photo, it's grey, grey, grey with occasional rain here today. Not very encouraging, but I did put my sports bra on this morning to encourage me to get out ... 😂It is so good that each month we can reassess where we are and what we want to aim for next. And hopefully🤞 the better weather should help us all.
Good luck with your consistency, I struggled before Xmas, having an event really does focus your efforts. The problem is holding onto consistency, it's so easy to lose it due to illness, injury or just life upsetting you're routine.
Anyway I finally caught up with the post about the HUHM /10k so that has given me a focus to keep up my regular 10ks again.
So my March quest will be...
* To run two 10ks
*To join in with Pilates March Matness over on S&F
* And to continue additional with either Pilates/yoga/physio exercises on non running days
It was very grey today! I’ve got a long run tomorrow or Friday so I’d like it if it came back by then! You are so right about the sports bra’s ability to get you out of the door-they’re such a pain to get on that you have you make the most of it! Great tactic. I ran this morning and then fell asleep on the sofa still wearing all my kit. I’m very much looking forwards to taking the flipping thing off again!!!
Great quest goals and it’ll be great to doing the virtual 10k/HM with you! I’ll do the 10k because it falls about three or four weeks before a 10k race I’m doing. I think it will be a brilliant event on here!
Hills? What hills? 🤣 Having moved from San Francisco to Cologne that was something I actually missed... You have to really go looking for hills in Cologne...
That typed, I am totally in for this challenge! And I'll tweak my plans to include some of the ideas from a post yesterday and this one...
Running goal: 3x per week, including exploring trails and hills (plus finding them first 😉). Also, slowing down consistently and working up to one 60 minute run per week by the end of the month.
Strength & flex: The March MATness of course 🙃 plus 2-3x Pilates in the studio. (For the MATness, I've put together a summary post, which I'll update every day with the next day's exercise - today we're starting with The Hundred: healthunlocked.com/strength... )
Walking: Continue walking with CBDB 's #Walk1000Miles (or in my case #Walk4000km) challenge (see healthunlocked.com/active10... )
Ah, I’d forgotten not everyone has a hill handy! You are welcome to define a hill in any way that’s helpful to you! I’d love to visit Cologne. I’ve been to a few other German cities and it’s on my list. Good to know that if I do, I can find some nice flat runs.
Great quest goals. There are some really lovely challenges over on S and F and Active10 at the moment. It would be exciting to be requesting your 60minute badge here too-will hope that comes up this month for you too. Good luck! 🏃♀️🏃♀️🏃♀️
I am into the final push on a several years long journey to yet another Special Educational Needs Tribunal (it will at least be the last one as he'll be 25 next year and that's that) It's an extremely difficult, nerve racking time... and if we are successful, it will also be life changing.
I need to be looking after myself and setting myself up for small wins that are a bit easier to control, and to have MissUnderstanding and you all to hold my hand a bit, thank you. I'm also drawing on your great ideas.
Here's the plan:
Like last month, a run a week +1 (so 5 in total) Any length, just about getting out there (but see the last element).
The Smell Walk (with thanks to CBDB and the Active 10 forum)
Include a hill on a walk or run (thanks to MissUnderstanding ) - even if that's just 'popping' up the road from my house which is on a very steep hill. And combine that with doing better with daily entries for the 1 second every day video/photo project.
Continuing the Lent task of doing some yoga every day (as so far, so good)
And I am going to continue with my previous goals of using foot and hand cream most days
Also, I am not setting a weight loss goal per se but I am going to take careful note of what is going on (ie last few months with no success combined with runs that are short and slow) in case this is something I need to get checked out.
I’ve worked in SEND and I know what a battle those tribunals can be-really feel for you. Hoping for you to get the result that that you and your son deserve with as little difficulty as possible.
You’ve set some great quest goals that I hope give you a break in some way from thinking about all the other things you’ve got going on.
Really good luck to you. There are so many of us here to cheer you on and hold your hand ❤️
Yeah you know my take on hills 🤐 although going up is fine, it is the coming back down that seems to wreck my knees (well one particular road in my area which also has an old haunted tale associated with the location so that could be why 👻).
My quest this month is to continue on from C25K and start to build in to the 10K plan slowly. I've done 4 x 10 minute speed runs on the dreadmill, a 30 minute run and a 20 minute run on the road.
The aim is to do something along these lines over the next few weeks, whilst maintaining the physio exercises and making sure the knee is healing. I'm seeing the physio on Monday and hoping that I won't have to see him again for a while 🤞
Glad to see you are back on track with your training, I think those colds can definitely go away now.
Thanks for the good wishes! I’m feeling much better now-I’ve down a few runs which have gone well. Phew!!!
Hills can be marmite-all views accepted here! Same with treadmills…sounds like you’ve had some really good workouts on them. I’ve actually found myself wishing I had one for intervals. I might have a go at the local gym and see!
Great plan to build up slowly with the knee issue. Fingers crossed your physio signs you off. Really good luck! ❤️
Well my quest this month is to exercise every day be it running ,walking,or a good old Lesley Sansome workout. So I started this morning and now I guess I have to see it through to the end 😂😂
I’ve loved following your RED posts so from a totally selfish point of view, I’m really pleased you’ve chosen that as your quest! It sounds like you’ve got a nice mix of activities you you can have some more restful days. Wishing you lots of luck! ❤️
My quest in Feb was to get back to 10k but I didn’t quite make it. So my March quest is to get back to 10k but I did that today 😁 I just needed a couple more days in Feb 🤦🏻♀️. So ‘consolidation’ is my ‘c’ word for the month. I’m going to do 2 or 3 more 10ks during March before extending my distance again.
It felt ok. I went nice and slow and steady. I live at the top of a bloomin’ big hill so wherever I go I have to climb back up at some point, which can be hard at the end of a run but I take it nice and slow.
This was my first 10k of the year and my watch battery decided to die at 9.7k 😫 I had the NRC 9k run on my phone so I reactivated it and ran a further 0.4K. I just didn’t have the pleasure of seeing 10.00 on screen 😏 but never mind, I’m claiming it 😂
Mr Fb was making quiche when I went out and had used the left over pastry to make jam tarts so I had one as a reward as soon as I walked through the door 😋😂
That’s excellent news! You were so unlucky with the tech failing right at the end. Next time I’m sure you’ll get to see the big 10. It still feels special to me every time I get there! Great plan to stay at that distance for a little while and then build up. There’s no rush.
What a great treat to come home to-well deserved! Enjoy your week of questing! 🏃♀️🏃♀️🏃♀️
Hi! I'd like to run twice (maybe 3 times, but let's set the bar a bit lower to start with!) a week in March, and walk the other days... Also to try to get to sleep earlier
That sounds like a great goal. Aim for two-see how you get on. Walking is such a great thing to do. I used to walk far more and miss it. Really good luck to you! 🏃♀️🏃♀️🏃♀️
Thanks for hosting MissUnderstanding , I feel a bit late to the party but there seems to be a mood in the air...consistency! We're all shedding our hibernation mindsets and starting to realise that spring is really on its way.
So, I'll go along with that, to consistently run 2-3 times a week.
Also, thanks to CBDB very kindly posting the NRC 10k plan, I'm going to carry on loosely following it. When I say 'loosely', I'm not doing 5 runs a week like it says, instead I'm alternating my 'normal' runs, usually 3-5km, with the guided speed and tempo runs.
I'm not especially fussed about reaching 10k this month, I don't have any events planned where I need to run that far. I would like to extend myself a bit so I'm setting my own goal of 8km before the end of the month.
Finally, last month I ran just under 30 km, so this month I'd like to get to 40 km.
You’re not late at all-we’re only just getting started! I totally agree that there’s something great going on with consistency and positivity on here at the moment…long may that continue!
I think we’ll end up doing some pretty similar runs this month. Great goals and I’m really looking forward to reading about your runs. 🏃♀️🏃♀️🏃♀️
Hi Miss Understanding, I have not really been active on HU so far this year as I have been nursing a knee injury since end of last year. I have still been running but very slowly and mainly concentrating on low heart rate running.
March is a busy month for me as I had booked 3 HMs and a 10 mile run last year. I have been trying to train for these and look after myself at the same time, which is proving to be quite difficult. I still get some pain but nowhere near as bad as it was. I have had an x-ray and nothing out of the ordinary. My first of the month is a 10 miler tomorrow and I will run this at a relatively slow heart rate pace. These long runs are not out of the norm, they were planned as being part of my first official marathon in Belfast at the end of April.
My original quest at the time of booking these runs was to build up speed so that I could achieve a 4hr marathon. I have now realised that my ambitions in the short time I have been running are great for someone a good bit younger than myself with more experience. I most probably overdid it by quite a bit last year and could have been forced to stop. I now want to prolong this running lark for as long as I can, run slowly, without giving a darn about targets and enjoy it for as long as I possibly can.
I now want to prolong this running lark for as long as I can, run slowly, without giving a darn about targets and enjoy it for as long as I possibly can.
That sounds like the best target for all of us! Wishing you loads of luck with it. It sounds like you’ve had a rough time with your injury. Wishing you all the best with finding a way of running that allows you to keep going with a big smile! ❤️
Hello! I'm not sure about a quest, as I'm currently providing lots of support to my 90 year old father who has a fractured spine! It sounds worse than it is as he is a very fit man and is mobile. However, I am doing cleaning, shopping etc at the moment until he heals. That, along with helping my daughter and family to move from London to the Midlands means running has taken a back seat again!The runs will be there when I can fit them in, so I don't want to set myself a quest - it's really about running when I can! Icy weather next week too! I'll do what I can!
Running when you can is a great way to run when you’ve got lots of other commitments. Just enjoy and celebrate when it fits, and try not to beat yourself up when it doesn’t. Great to see you here and hope your dad has a good recovery. It’s tough caring for a loved one, especially with the big move for your daughter as well. Sometimes just managing all life throws at us is enough of a quest in itself! ❤️
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