APRIL QUEST 2023...April Showers...Running Hours...Last Few Days...Come and Join Us and make plans for next month !

[Oldfloss]

Hello running people !

Here I am for, unbelievably, the last few days of April. We are hurtling, ( at least some of us), towards May.

It has been a really odd quest for me and about the only thing I have maintained, is my regular daily routines and YWA... although I have missed some..! An injury at the beginning of the month set me back, then the weather and then some ear issues too affecting balance! Talk about an old crock!

I am feeling now though, that after a lot of walks and some short and sweet runs I shall be moving towards May with hope!

Many of you seem to be achieving or have achieved those Quest targets... with so many success stories'. So good too, to see some of our forum friends coming back strongly from illness or injury.

Wouldn't it be great to have some good weather to get out there and get everything moving again!

So... time for you to let us know how this month's quest has gone ? Have you achieved all you would have wished to?

I think that even making some of the targets is to be celebrated ...and to be kind to ourselves too.

So for anyone who is joining us this for these last few days...and for any of our new Graduates who have not experienced the Quest... here is the info'... so that next Week you can if you wish, join the May Quest!

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, please, 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...”

We are waiting to see how you are going on with your goals , or if you have just joined us, and about to take off too, letting us know what your goals may be.

Happy Questing for these last few days, Everyone.

Oldfloss x

[SueAppleRun Graduate10 60minGraduate]

Good morning Floss and I can't believe we are so close to the end of this most strange month. I've run but mostly walked and found myself a new walking Buddy, 😁 who is way keener than I so she keeps me going. And.... We are starting C25K together on Sunday..... Just to see if she likes it. If she's not so keen we will continue walking together. I've already sent her the link to slow Japanese running and she's optimistic.

So my quest is to get out running or walking to spend time with and encourage my neighbour.

[Oldfloss Administrator Graduate10 in reply to SueAppleRun]

Good afternoon my friend!

I am late today as I have been erecting a large fence! Workout for today complete

What a strange month indeed...but you have, despite all the strangeness... had some runs and some lovely walks and this latest development sounds extremely positive !

I think either way you are going to enjoy. The idea of doing C25K again and with a new runner... that is exciting. I am trying to persuade my optometrist to try, but she is worried about it. Maybe I should tell her about the Japanese slow running...

Well done you on a Quest completed... and new ideas formed xx

I shall watch for your new goals next week... and see you here in the quest corner xx

[CBDB Graduate10]

Good morning, hello!!! 👋 I’m the first one here!!!

I’ve also had a bumpy time over the last 6 weeks, running trickled on thinly, as did rowing and walking. But it wasn’t that happy, gorgeous flood of physical endorphin workouts I’ve been used too. (Although the joy of my now more tidier garden made up for it!)

But looking at my Apple Health rings (see pic) , it did make me think that sometimes we are too hard on ourselves.

I’ve kept up doing some mobility drills, micro upper-arm workouts with dumbbells and one row and run per week.

But over the last couple of days,

- I’ve started a rowing plan again healthunlocked.com/strength...

- I‘ve started to catch up again with my #walk1000miles challenge healthunlocked.com/active10...

- and my running is starting to get back on track, aiming to at least run twice per week, ideally 3 times healthunlocked.com/bridgeto...

- and a 5 min morning dumbbell routine for arms healthunlocked.com/strength... had been the constant over the last 4 weeks, so overall I think I’m not doing too badly

So my quest is to just continue and make subtle changes to balance my time between running/walking, rowing and gardening

Happy running, everyone!

Apple Health rings

[SueAppleRun Graduate10 60minGraduate in reply to CBDB]

Looks like we were writing at same time, you are doing really well and your rings show that

[CBDB Graduate10 in reply to SueAppleRun]

🤣🤣🤣 you managed to get to the pillows ahead of me!!! 🛋️ 🛋️🛋️🛋️ And thank you! So looking forward to hearing about your friend’s C25k journey!

[SueAppleRun Graduate10 60minGraduate in reply to CBDB]

So am I, she's so enjoying our walks,

[Oldfloss Administrator Graduate10 in reply to CBDB]

Sound targets and realistic ones too...

It sounds as if you have had a successful quest, but not in the way we may think... Your garden is a show, you are feeling satisfied and will have had a fair workout doing that.

Stay being kind to yourself and keep up those little routines, that if we are not running, do keep us moving and strong.

Well done you!

[CBDB Graduate10 in reply to Oldfloss]

Awwwh, exactly. Thank you! 😊😊😊

[MissUnderstanding Administrator Graduate10]

You’ve really been through it! So glad that it’s looking brighter now. ❤️❤️❤️

This month began horrendously but has ended really positively. You read on here that injuries can strike completely out of the blue but I was still totally floored my mine. Two weeks of no runs at all and building up gently when I’d easily been running ten plus miles wasn’t at all in my plan, looking back I’m so glad that it happened in the way that it did. I’ve found a great physio. I’ve discovered weaknesses I didn’t know I had. I’ve got a plan to get fitter and stronger that will make me more able to keep running in the way that I want to for the long term. It’s been uncomfortable and I’ve been downcast at times but it really does feel like I’m back on track, albeit with a bit of a diversion into focussing almost completely on strength for the short term.

Next month? Hit the gym. Pick up a regular, in person Pilates class. Swim a lot. Play with runs and just enjoy being able to be out again. I’ll be building up my run times loosely following the time based magic plan but with Coach Bennett got company along the way.

Massively grateful to everyone who has been so supportive through what’s been a challenging time!

[Oldfloss Administrator Graduate10 in reply to MissUnderstanding]

From the ashes of disaster , grow the roses of success... and your brilliant physio is enabling you to get back to full strength, even stronger than before! Identifying problems areas, before hey tak a real hold... that sounds ike a very proactive approach

Some super plans for the month of May too...things to work on and thongs to work towards...I love, particularly, the , play with runs one... I shall be watching out for those on the next Quest!

Huge well done you... I feel that you can celebrate a lot this time around... falling down ( not literally this time) getting up again and finding those roses again too x

[MissUnderstanding Administrator Graduate10 in reply to Oldfloss]

Just spotted this lovely reply post Pilates. I’m reading sitting in the sunshine with the satisfying ache of having worked hard but it’s a totally different feeling to injury pain. I’ve even got my flowery leggings on-not roses but blooms of recovery. Super appropriate! And yes, there’s even cake!

So much to celebrate and so much better for being able to share it with friends. Excited for next month! ❤️🌹💪

[beth_f Graduate10]

Morning Oldfloss ,

I missed the first 3 weeks of the quest (sorry), and thinking that I was ticking over nicely with building up to the HU10km next month then Covid hit me last week and has completely floored me. First time of the virus and having a proper awful time of it.

So not sure where to go from here. I have been reading (conflicting) info about when to return to running but to be honest, even a short walk is leaving me quite fatigued. What also isn't helping is the high pollen (I suffer very badly with hay fever) so I am sure that is also making the fatigue worse.

Sorry, its a bit of a woeful tale, I am desperate to get back into running and would like to hear other people's stories on their return to running after the virus and any tips gratefully received.

[SueAppleRun Graduate10 60minGraduate in reply to beth_f]

COVID is a horrible virus and affects us all differently, one thing I do know is take it easy don't push yourself and you will know when you are ready to run. Get fully better soon

[beth_f Graduate10 in reply to SueAppleRun]

Thanks SueAppleRun . I'm not a very good patient - more of an impatient patient!

Hope you are doing ok? xx

[Oldfloss Administrator Graduate10 in reply to beth_f]

Oh gosh... so many of us... I got it the week before Chritsmas.. first time ! The week I had it.. okat, but the aftermath! Sheesh! Wipe out tine!

I wrote his post after, which was pinned, because so may folk put their experiences in there too.. It ay be helpful as may some of the links !

healthunlocked.com/bridgeto...

This nasty virus is s devious and you may think you are on the mend but no... it hits again.

Rest up... rest, hydrate well, good food and sleep if you need to... it should start to ease...x

[beth_f Graduate10 in reply to Oldfloss]

I must admit I did quite a bit of research on nutrition, although I couldn't really eat for a couple of days as the nausea was awful and glad when that subsided.

It definitely caught me by surprise, although I guess it was going to happen at some point.

Thanks very much for the link though, I will take a read 😊 xx

[Oldfloss Administrator Graduate10 in reply to beth_f]

It has been the weirdest virus and the latest variant is affecting folk differently too.. It was a while before the sudden waves of tiredness abated, for me... and my come back was very slow... the build up gently though paid off

[chrisl72 Graduate10]

Hi Oldfloss,

Well last week I said I would continue with the slow steady runs, with a 20 minute, a 5k and a 40 minute run. And that is what I did. In fact one of those was just about the best run I have experienced, really nailed the steady pace, particularly at the start.

I intend to repeat that once more this week - ran the 20 minute run on Tuesday. Planning a 5k or 40 minute run tomorrow and Sunday. I feel that will complete my second consolidation at 5k/40 minutes.

Haven't made it to Parkrun yet, diary didn't allow for that last weekend or this coming weekend. That will now be part of May's quest!

Next month, I have to decide whether to start lengthening one of the longer runs gradually up towards 60 minutes over the month, or introduce some faster running in one of my runs. Haven't made my mind up yet, I'd like to do both!

[Oldfloss Administrator Graduate10 in reply to chrisl72]

Hello!

This is excellent news! Sticking to a plan and getting a bonus in there too! It sounds as if what you are doing is working and I do feel that 40 minutes , 5K is there waiting; as is Park Run... for a top goal in the next Quest!

Well done you... see you in May

[BGood]

I will still be rehabilitating all through May! So will be watching everyone’s achievements!

My running legs are coming back and runs more comfortable! Good Luck all

[Oldfloss Administrator Graduate10 in reply to BGood]

Cannot wait to have you... and your running legs back!x

[BGood in reply to Oldfloss]

doing a 2.5mile road race tomorrow! Eek

[Oldfloss Administrator Graduate10 in reply to BGood]

Just enjoy x

[ChannelRunner2 Graduate10]

Hello all, I feel like I've fallen off the forum, though not the running 🤣 I try to be better about giving updates...

I did use April to consolidate (30 minutes mindful run, 60 min run and 5K (not)parkrun). And am ready to expand at least my long run to a proper 10K.

Given that I signed up for the HU 10K what seems like ages ago (HU tells me it was 2 months ago...), I just whipped out a plan to get there. Fortunately, I am almost there, so the fact that I'll need to be there in 2 weeks isn't quite as scary as it was about a half an hour ago 😉. I only have to lengthen my long run by less than 5% to get to 9.1 km next week, so that I am at 10 km on May 14th.

What I'll do after May 14th, I haven't decided yet... 🤔

For the rest, I'll pretty much keep going from April: Pilates (2-3x per week) and walking an average of 11km per day. I might exchange some of the walking for biking given that it might actually warm up here a bit...

[Oldfloss Administrator Graduate10 in reply to ChannelRunner2]

Always a welcome back... and you have made great progress! Almost at that 10K distance and with a clear plan ? for your Pilates and walking.

I shall look forward to seeing your new goals for May.... One of mine is certainly to complete that virtual 10K run !

Well done you !

[GoogleMe Graduate10]

Sliding sideways under the descending portcullis... (is that Criccieth? We were reminiscing happily about our mass family visit there many years ago this week)

Bluebells ✅ (Not fully out round here yet but nearly there)

Foraging ✅ (Nettles for pizza tonight)

Run with audio ✅ (Library digital audio, Claire Keegan's Small Things Like These was perfect)

Average 5000+👣/day ✅ (Despite some very limited other days, a few days of rail travel and walking in Brussels, plus some lovely evening walks helped)

[Oldfloss Administrator Graduate10 in reply to GoogleMe]

I cannot wait to get back there! Happy place indeed.

Now... nettle pizza??? I am not sure... I have made nettle soup... and have tried Yarg... but pizza... ?

Bluebells, still non here.. but you have them.. tick!

Run.... Tick

Walking.... excellent ! Tick!

You have dome really well ! What is May going to bring I wonder!

[Bluebirdrunner Graduate10 in reply to Oldfloss]

Hi Floss,

I'm finishing the month off on a damp squib with a niggly knee. Acknowleging that I'm injured has taken a few days but I have accepted it now and am taking action to aid recovery.

Looking back on the month its not been so bad... I had my run with you in person! and it was 10k ✔✔

I have completed 50k of walking for my Strava badge and also practiced enough YWA for my Strava yoga badge.

I ran a 4k and a 5k before my knee niggled.

I will have to bow out from the HU vurtual 10k I fear, my sensible head is telling me so (and Mr Bbr) but I will be back in May in running shoes I hope.🤞

Well done to everyone on this months quest and good luck to those recovering on the IC.

🌷xxx

(Plenty of bluebells here!)

[Oldfloss Administrator Graduate10 in reply to Bluebirdrunner]

Well... despite that naughty niggle...you have had a pretty great month... we met, we ran and we had a LOT of fun!

You got two more runs in... and good ones too ! You completed 50K of walking! WOW!!!! Yoga too... !

Medals and badges everywhere! That sounds great to me!

A pity about the Virtual 10K, but there will be others and they will wait for that knee to get sorted out...

Huge well done to you on a successful quest and we shall be looking forward to your May Goals!

xxx