Welcome to the final week of March’s quest, lovely Questers! How was week 3 for you?
I am happy to report that after wobbly week before, last week was good! My quest is to aim for consistency and that happened. There was a nice mix of runs including a tough but successful ten miler. That’s a big confidence boost ready for my HM on April 2nd. I’m so thankful for taper time now! The main risk for me now is doing too much to reassure myself that I’m ready, so I’m working hard on keeping it easy! I had my first swim since before Christmas this morning and I’ll pick a one hour recovery run from NRC for my long run this week. Recommendations welcome! I’ll also do some strength and flex but nothing that’s at risk of giving me DOMS-that’s a relief!!!
The photo I’ve chosen might seem a strange one. I was thinking about how different some runs look from the other side. I was dreading my long run and didn’t enjoy it much while I was doing it, but once it was done it was suddenly wonderful. So here’s a picture of the other side of a daffodil after it had been raining. Unexpectedly beautiful 🌼
While I was doing my ten mile run, I was thinking about how I hardly ever use miles when I’m planning runs, but I can’t picture at all how far apart things are in kilometres. If I want to visualise the length of my 10km runs, I need to convert that to mikes and then I know that that’s the distance between two local towns. Do you prefer to measure your runs in miles or km? Or do you switch between the two? We’ve got a new poll right here!
Hope it’s been a good week of questing and wishing you a good week this week. Can’t wait to hear about what you’ve all been up to!
If anyone missed any of the previous weeks’ quest posts or the first one explaining what it’s all about, they’re linked here. It’s never too late to join us!
Dear Missunderstanding, I’m not measuring my runs in either km or miles; I’m measuring my runs in time! I have continued to run 40 minutes but I have not increased my time because when I run, I have various places my legs that are sore. I do not think the soreness is caused by running. I think it is caused by a one year old, 70-lb dog who delights in whipping me around during a walk. Well, that and that I’m now headed towards 80? I love the daffodil picture!
Thank you so much for sharing that! Some of my favourite runs are done by time instead of by distance. It’s such a nice way of doing it and so much simpler-put watch on and go!
Wow- your dog sounds like a wonderful handful!! A lovely kind of workout but most definitely a workout nonetheless. There are some advantages to having guinea pigs as pets…
Lovely photo 😍 and great to hear you've booted away the wobbles - not long now till your half? (What did you do about your shoes in the end?)
Went for a 6KM run last Sunday morning with my Dad (he is running a half this coming Sunday so was happy to come out with me). Found a loop near home, walked the downhill bits, plodded up the uphill bits and chatted along the way. Knee wasn't particularly happy when I got home but did the physio exercises and all seemed ok.
Monday I worked on Core strength and think I may have aggravated my knee with some lunges. Tuesday was a 20min 3km treadmill run and noticed my knee wasn't happy 😩 so I've had 2 complete rest days and I am hoping to run tomorrow.
Because I've had so many exercises given to me by the physio, I am just adding all the different ones in now and hope that I can sort it out so that I can progress further. I've had to adapt the Magic 10KM plan as I can't fit in a long run and 5KM run each week so I figured I will just go with the flow and make it work for me (I did the plan during lockdown last time so had a little bit more time compared to now).
And in answer to your question, it's KM's for me for my simplistic brain 😆.
Thank you! It’s been a bit of a tricky week to get to buy new shoes so I’ve decided to wear my other pair of trainers. I don’t like them as much as my GT 2000s but I won’t get blisters. Saying that, that’s just the current plan! If I end up passing a running shop, I might still gamble…
Sounds like a good week for you too. Adapting plans to fit real life is so often necessary! Those extra rest days are important when bits of you are grumbling. Hopefully your knee will settle down soon. You’ll get there and it’ll be even sweeter when you do.
…so still trundling along with the NRC10k plan…actually due to run the final 10k next…but ‘stuff’ is conspiring against me! The weather, day trips, 2 day trips, visitors…etc…
I’ve run shorter runs instead, so keeping up running 2-3 times a week. On non run days, I try and fit in a walk, minimum of 20 minutes.
My plan since the beginning of the year was to do my version of RED…be it run, walk, 10k steps, 12/12 for 250 steps on Fitbit, or a minimum of a 10 minute home workout. So something every day, but some are quite ‘light’, so being kind to myself and not getting too hung up on anything.
…well I lasted until last Wednesday! Drove home from Somerset after a 2 day break…so a short walk or indoor stretch/core would have ticked the box…but I was (quite bluntly) knackered! So never mind.
So, I’m from the non metric age, and will talk about miles and measure my allotment beds in feet…but I run in kms because that’s what most people do. Coach Bennett in NRC will swap between the 2, because ‘it gives you more time to celebrate’…so I’m with that! 😂🏃🏻♀️🐌
It’s so frustrating when life gets in the way of plans! It’s going to feel extra good when you get to do that 10k run.
I find those RED things really tricky. They work really well for some people but I just get in a tizz when I can’t quite make them fit for me. You’re still managing a REDish March…have it as an aim but a relaxed one! If you’re knackered, rest definitely sounds like the best idea. ❤️
I’d forgotten about Coach B and his switching things up musings. Have you done any of the weird time ones? I’m sure I did a 555second run at some point. He is so great!
Sounds like a great week of questing despite the challenges-lots and lots to celebrate!
You are doing wonderfully ! You are going to LOVE that HM x
Me?
Three runs.... done.. not speedy not stylish but very satisfying !
I would have liked to get a longer run in this week, but it was not to be... so some paced , pensive and useful runs as I sharpen my way towards the 2nd April!!
Yoga ongoing... March Matness has sadly fallen away... a few walks and a cycle ride to check out the bike!
Ks or miles ? I sort of work in both... I can visualise both, I think... maybe because I had to teach both, to many small people over the years!
Beautiful photograph,,, and how good to look at something from another perspective too .. in so many ways
Thank you for your encouragement! I’m now quite excited about the HM, not least because then I’ll have done it and I can start thinking about a 10km in June… really looking forward to some shorter long runs! Those runs of yours sound great. Sometimes it’s so nice to just be out and running. Your event is going to be super too… who’d have thought you’d be ready when you were right in the middle of recovering from covid? What a great recovery and so pleased for you ❤️
Having only ever run in km, I have no difficulty in visualising certain distances. However, I do sometimes when seeing there's 800m left on a run think "only half a mile left".
Given the title and the current weather, I imagined you were calling us Storm Troopers. 🌦☔🤣
😂😂😂 I have to confess, I’ve never seen Star Wars. I had to look up what the Storm Troopers were all about and whether they were goodies or baddies. Major weakness in cultural capital identified and steps will be taken to close this important knowledge gap!
Hi MissUnderstanding , lovely pic, daffs are my favourite
The Quest is going well for me. 3 weeks into March and 8 runs, despite all the rain we've been having. My goal was 2-3 times a week so this is on track.
I'm still carrying on sort of following the NRC 10k plan, though only 5.5 km instead of 6.5 km as my long run but I did a tempo run today, which was interesting
I'm on track to get to 40km this month if nothing bad intervenes. A friend messaged me on Sunday to say she'd tested positive for Covid but I'm hoping I won't get it again 🤞🤞🤞, so far so good but if I do that'll put a stop to running for a few weeks which will annoy me immensely.
I do kms when I run, I prefer them. They go much quicker than miles. I prefer driving in Europe for the same reason. Don't even get me started on articles where they talk about pace as minutes per mile, totally loses me.
Enough whinging from me, you're so close to the HM, you'll smash it Good luck!
I love daffodils too-this is such a lovely time of year to be out and about with them in so many gardens and hedgerows.
I’m totally with you about paces per mile, or times per mile etc it’s meaningless for me. I printed out a conversion chart for the back of my run diary because I was so sick of looking it up.
Great that your plan is going to plan! Sometimes it’s just necessary to cut the long runs short. I’m sure Coach B would approve and tell you that you’re the best head coach to yourself! I love a tempo run…it’s a good excuse to run at the pace I naturally want to go at!! My easy runs often turn into tempo runs unless I’m disciplined at staying slower and I think every one of my c25k runs was run like a tempo run. A lot of fun! Will have a look at your run report once there’s coffee. I’m really enjoying following your plan. Here’s to another good week!
I love a bit of drum and bass! My son used to play it for me in the car on the way to church so if it comes on the radio we say 'Ooh, church music!!' 😂
I wouldn't know where to begin compiling a playlist (got fed up with all the ads on Spotify) but if there's ever one on BBC Sounds I'm there!
😂😂😂 Maybe someone should do a D and B remix of How Great Thou Art, or Be Thou My Vision etc… That would certainly get out pews shaking!!
I like “Radio 1’s Drum and Bass Mix” on BBC Sounds. The chilled mixes are fab, and I’ve really enjoyed some of the DNB60 on longer runs. The thirty minute ones are usually ideal for speedy runs and then I switch to something calmer to head home to.
Hi 👋 MU and fellow questers. Well done MU on your 10 miles. That’s quite a distance! Hope your HM doesn’t feel quite so tough.
I achieved my quest of running 10k on 1st March 😂. February was just a couple of days short 🤦🏻♀️. I’ve now restarted the NRC HM plan, and completed the 8k of 12 weeks to go on Monday and a 38min interval run from 11 weeks to go on Friday. I enjoyed the interval run. I wouldn’t have chosen it myself but running fast was fun and I enjoyed the rests in between just as much 😂. It was a beautiful morning too ☀️.
So my quest has changed as the month has progressed, but now I feel more motivated and back on track 😊
Congratulations on your 10k! That must have felt great. February is far too short to count as a proper month so 1st March is practically still February. In a leap year, that literally would have still been February!
That HM plan is great-I bet you’ll have fun. Can’t wait to read all about it! Happy questing this week 🏃♀️🏃♀️🏃♀️
Yikes, end of the month is coming up so fast and so much has wobbled - my Lent 'some yoga every day' which was going well has been missed these past few days, and only the one run. All that foot and hand cream is happening though and MrGM is encouraging the hand cream for my finger tips as I have been having trouble with touchscreens.
Things have wobbled for quite a good reason - this latest long (2+ year) round to get the local authority to obey the law has reached a successful end. Not only is there the 'after effect' of that but we are in an intensive round of preparation for my younger son to move to a specialist residential college, saying goodbye to the providers of such services as he has had to this point, and trying to pick up all the many things which got put on the back burner due to the legal case. So I am cutting myself some slack!
I can’t believe it’s almost April! That fact you’ve managed any runs and any yoga despite what you’ve had going on is a huge achievement, I’m not sure what the right unit for slack is, but you deserve miles, acres, swimming pools full…basically all the slack there is. Fighting for proper educational provision is such a difficult battle. I really, really hope it works out for you and your son ❤️
Saturday will be my 6 month runniversary - and today I completed my first 60 minute run! 🥳 So one of my goals in the quest is done! ✔ (And, omg, Saturday is April...)
Looking at my goals for this month, I had to laugh because I've been posting for March MATness every day - and haven't been doing it... So, my Pilates practice is mostly 2 or 3 days per week to the studio.
My walking is going and going and going 🤣 I have no trouble with that! I have added CBDB 's ankle drills and am eyeing getting a Foot Corrector because I want to make sure I treat my feet well...
Sorry I missed this when you posted a couple of days ago. Notifications have been hit and miss! Massive congratulations on your 6 month anniversary and your 60 minute run. A brilliant milestone and I hope there’s been some celebrating!
Great month of questing. I find those every day challenges really tricky and it sounds like you’ve found a way to make it work for you. Oldfloss is taking the reins for April…hopefully see you in the shiny new thread. Now I need to think about my goals!!
Oh, no worries, you now managed to reply on my runniversary 😎 I'll be celebrating by watching the weather closely to find a break in the rain to run a 5K for Ukraine (it's a virtual 5K, so I can run it whenever...).
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