The aim of the Quest is to help you find a focus or a goal (if you are a graduate) that you would like to achieve by the end of the Quest period.
A lively number of us joined in the quest last week, nailed our colours to the mast & set out our short term goals. Even if we have long term goals, we need little steps to reach them. The Quest is like an African Taxi…always room for one more. So welcome 👋 if you are just joining in!
Do first read the pinned post from last week & add a reply below
🍏This week we need to be ACCOUNTABLE to each other!! Why?
🍏It’s the discipline we need ourselves to get going, or to keep at it. 🏃♀️ 🏃♂️ 🏃
🍏It encourages someone else to get going or to keep at it!! 😇
🍏We can receive advice & help if we need it. 👟👟
🍏It will aid us in finding & achieving our goals
🙈So let’s honestly share below how we are doing, or not doing in finding & meeting our goals. Be as succinct or as detailed as you please.
🍏My long term goal is to work my way to 10k using the NRC plan.. my short term goal is to do a 5k run by the end of the quest period. The tyranny of the urgent has upset my running timetable and I am behind!! So I need to get back on track this week & remember why I wanted to complete this goal in the first place. I must stay focused & not let this slide.. I must not waste the effort I have already put in… I need a carrot 🥕 (🤣 or perhaps a stick) so if I stay on track this week .. I will reward myself with the best coffee in town with my soulmate! If I slacken off that cappuccino is out the window.
Happy Questing everyone & thank you for taking part so enthusiastically!!
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Annieapple
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African taxi😂 love it! I have been running every 2 to 3 days, with Pilates or toning with weights for strength on in between days. Took yesterday off from it all and went for a walk instead to give the muscles a break. Running later today. I hope everyone's quest is going well?
🍏😊 🚖 Glad you are taking rest days to aid muscle recovery. Your strength & flex routine is great & will certainly help you to increase your running time goal!
I managed 2 runs last week and then been having a wee minor bowel flare up since Wednesday so I’ve not been out doing any running or walking. Kinda bummed but I know I’ll get out there again soon!
I’ve been feeling a lot better today, both physically and mentally so I’m hopeful I’ll get out for consolidation run 3 tomorrow morning 🤞
🍏Oh so unfortunate my friend! Glad you are feeling better today! Don’t forget those fluids!! 2 runs are great!!! Take care & hopefully we can both get back on target this week! 🏃♀️ 🏃♀️
Holding on here..moving forward...Mr OF is progressing as he should.The new med' regime and sort out acts as a strength, of mind and stamina workout....phew!
🍏This is all such happy news 👏 especially that you have both managed walks!! How wonderful that Mr OF is making such good progress but of course he has the best carer!! Lots of breathing, exercises and yoga, added to your walks will soon have you out on that first easy run again in due course.. your short term goals are being managed well.. continue with the slow & steady progress. It’s working a treat!!
My short term goals for last week were to get back to my “normal” with 2-3 runs/week and 4-5 rows per week.
I managed 3 runs (Sat, Tue, Thu) and 6 rows (Sun, Mon, Tue, We’d, Thu, Fri) It then felt as if I really needed a complete rest day yesterday on Saturday. I felt so weak in my muscles, and also was constantly sneezing for some reason.
So although I was itching to get another row in, I told myself off and took a complete rest day.
Today, I’ll also just do a row in the early evening, and on Mon I’ll be back to running.
Mileage-wise I’ve done extremely well on my rower with 25k, which puts me in the top 1/3 in terms of mileage (not speed 🤣🤣), but running much much less, with me only running ca 3km runs at the moment.
But fairly happy. Just want to avoid days like Saturday where suddenly all of my energy has evaporated and I need a day or two to tank up again.
My medium to long term running goals are similar to yours. Regular 5ks by end of month and start 10k plan after.
Yes indeed you don’t want to to overdo it! That’s the beauty of a plan.. it can be modified realistically after we have given it a go! You really do put so much effort into realising your goals! Well done..😌😊
🤣Do you want a carrot 🥕 or a stick 🦯??It’s so good for us to verbalise our non efforts as it makes us aware that time slips by especially when you’re trying to get race ready!! Hope you have a great week & thanks for the honesty.. the rest of us won’t feel so bad! 🙂🙃🙂
Hi CBDB. I’m running next week for the John Ward memorial race. He was a runner for the Hereford runners club but sadly died in 2020 at the age of 46 I think. He was a brilliant runner and ran many marathons.
All the proceeds go towards the charity in his name.
The second virtual race is in September and it’s the London vitality virtual 10k so I’m looking forward to both.😂😂👍x
Hi Annieapple. Last week I said I'd do a weekly fartlek, aiming to finish Juju's magic plan in August. Well I'm still on cloud 9 after the previous week's successes. I've now done NRC first speed run which includes 8 x 1min intervals at 5k pace which was really fun and today...I totally smashed my 55 minute run completing 7k! After yesterday's storm I decided against going farther afield and did 2 x 3.5k circuit from home. Which was great until I finished the first lap and could see my house...In come the gremlins calling me home. Fortunately Coach B was on hand at just that precise moment talking about mental hardships when running and overcoming them. So I turned up the hill and carried on. I'm just so pleased with myself and really optimistic about reaching my goals for the month. Happy running 🏃♀️
🍏What a positive Quest!! Gold star ⭐️ for you for sure!! An exceptionally good week I would say! Those interval s are really fun! I was dreading them now I can’t wait! Keep up your good work & make the most of rest days! You will need them 👏
I can't remember whether I replied to last week's post or not.
My goal this month is to increase my mileage back to what it was about this time last year, now that all the little niggles are gone.
To that end the last week I've done: Tue 3km, Thu 10km, Fri 2 miles, Sat 8km, Sun 10km.
My aim is to do the longer runs at a more leisurely pace than I used to. In previous months I had been pushing a little too hard and had to pause for a breather in my runs.
🍏Welcome aboard…so good to read that all the little niggles are gone & that you have goals in place already! I am so with you on the pace story. I did a 3.5K at my snail pace today & loved every second!
I've been a bit lazy about the quests lately, my quest this week is to enjoy my runs and increase continuous running without walk breaks, oh and to make it to parkrun next Saturday
🍏So pleased to have you questing with us & love the enjoyment goal! 😊 Those slow increases in our running usually bring the smiles & will certainly help your park run! Let us know how you get on!! 🤗
hi Annieapple …I would like to be one of your questers this month…I want to run 3 times and maybe go for a swim …here’s hoping my new shoes can go out for their maiden voyage this week?!! X
🍏Welcome to the Summer Quest! Beautiful sunshine ☀️ my way for a change so hopefully where you are too!! Let us know when the On’s are on their maiden voyage 😊 Great goal & love the added in swim! Enjoy your week!
🍏Welcome aboard the Quest! Well done on on your 2K run! It’s always a good feeling to be back out there! Your smile & thumbs up says it all!! Are you following any plan or just increasing slowly?
I am using the Decathlon application for running and in particular its training programme for a 5K run. It would like to take part in a 5K race which is in October later this year but I do not know if I will be able to.
Excellent to have these guided training plans & a 5K race to work towards. If you can’t physically get to the race, you could always do a parkrun or a virtual 5K race.
Hi Annie, and fellow graduates, my quest is still to improve my pace, to that end I have done a couple of 5k runs, and Sunday I revisited a route I haven't done since before amputation, my hope was to complete the circuit which is just over 3k, it starts with just over ½k level then turn onto Bewdley hill and about 1k uphill, then left onto Sutton Park road, and level for about 400m then downhill for about 600m, once I hit the level at the bottom of Sutton Park road I was done, stump pain was high so cut it short, (the run, not my stump) still managed 2.6k so not too shabby. I'm away for a few days now, don't know if I will manage a run, because aiming to get some hillwalking in.Happy running all.
🍏You always set us a challenge Pete with your goals & how you execute them! I should imagine a few days rest from running may be needed! The hill walking sounds great! Enjoy 😊
My short term goal is to get in a position where I can start running again. Currently unable to with Achilles tendonitis. I didn't reply to last weeks but started on nhs strength and flex alternate days and throwing in some pilates sessions and light exercise bike cycling. Also been to the physio and have exercises from them to keep doing. Back to them on Wednesday and hopefully I should be closer to my goal. By the end of the month I should be stronger and more ready to carry on running again.
🍏Welcome to the Quest! Excellent goals to get back to running. Ouch!! Achilles Tendonitis!! Glad you are under a physio! So good to have this very realistic plan on the injury couch. Well done!!!
🍏I love the fact that the positives from your running spill over into looking at other positives in your life in general.. I look for these extra gifts that running gives us 😊As for those gremlins I agree they deserve to be kicked out of all areas! Thanks for that reminder!!
Hi Annie, last week I set my goals at slowly consolidating, gradually increasing my distance, and in the future parkrun. Also trying to run more consistently and do regular strength work.
Well….🤣😂🤣 I have done 3 consolidation runs this week, but I’m having a bit of a psychological mess up about them! I feel a bit like I’ve gone backwards as I know I’ve already achieved the goal of graduating- it’s almost like I’ve switched off and I have no purpose! Very ridiculous. But the runs this week have been a mental battleground. Maybe just a bad week.
I have achieved a 5k distance with 5 minutes walking - 30 mins continuous running and whatever left I have jeffed. It’s taken anything from 37mins to 40 mins to get there. But mentally it’s not been fun. I have run trail on different routes this week. But I haven’t been able to fix what’s not right in my head and set off already in the wrong mindset! My playlist has annoyed me and all sorts….any excuse to let that negative gremlin eat away at me. After the runs my body is fine, but I’ve felt deflated mentally.
I think I’ll just write it off as a bad week maybe and keep plugging away. I didn’t make any gym sessions this week, so I do need to do that.
I think that after the high of working toward & achieving C25K the continuous runs can feel monotonous! You have tried to mix it it up with different routes. Why don’t you try something completely different. Download the NRC APP & choose one of their guided runs. Coach B is excellent & has many motivating ideas. I did this after 3 consolidation runs & am loving it. I am working towards a 5 K race which for me will be a park run & then I will do the 10k plan after that. Have a look at it!!
Very happy to report Annieapple that the running has come back much quicker than anticipated. Probably thanks to the variety of other activity I've been doing including cycling and strength training! Hit 20 mins continuous today after running intervals to get the running bug going again.
I saw the end of a UTMB race coming through a town I was visiting over the weekend in Austria...and I have to say...I think I might have found a new target for late next year...
That’s exciting news!! So good to have something up your sleeve to motivate you onwards & upwards! Glad you managed the 20min continuous today! I also did a continuous & it was such a relief after intervals.. they are fun but not as relaxing 🤣 Your strength training is impressive. Well done!!
Well done. Defining goals gives a satisfying reward in itself when we achieve them. Your long term goal will definitely be achieved at this rate! Exciting!
So I managed to run 4.1k on Monday, so am hoping I can increase that slightly tomorrow.
As I am unhappy around dogs, I have been slowing to a walk when I get close to a dogwalker, as I have read somewhere that dogs may feel threatened by runners and so react appropriately for them. It seemed to work on Monday and I ended up quite a bit faster so maybe I need to do that fartlek stuff I’ve seen mentioned!
(I have also arranged to meet a friend for coffee next week 6 miles away so that will also force me to get the car out….)
🍏 Well done BarbieW I think you would love TheNRC app and the intervals fartleks and guided run’s especially as you don’t like music . Coach B chats away then gives you space to run without commentary then pops back in.. lovely you can get out and about and enjoy time with a friend. The more of the relaxing stuff we do, the better we run! Enjoy 😊
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