Happy New Year everyone, the days are getting longer!
Welcome to the first Quest of the New Year, 2024! A first for me too, I haven’t hosted the Quest before so am honoured to have been asked and promise to do my best 😊
Thank you so much to Oldfloss for hosting the December Quest, doing a fantastic job keeping us motivated through the bad weather, darkness and socialising to keep up focussed on our running goals.
Last month I managed to achieve all mine, mainly by setting very low targets, but better to achieve a small goal than be so intimidated by a big one that you don’t even try and do it.
With this in mind my goals this month are modest. No dry January, no Veganuary, it can be a depressing enough month without cutting out the things that we enjoy. Better to deny ourselves when the weather is sunny. Instead, I’m going for the positive and incremental.
My goal is to run further than January last year (22.65 km). If I succeed I'll aim for last month's 31.1 km and if I manage that, January 2022's 46.22km.
Also, Nike Running Club (NRC) has put a 10k plan on their app which some of us are very excited about. I’m aiming to follow this with an ultimate goal of doing a 10k on my birthday in April.
In case you’re not familiar with it…..
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
* Yoga goals
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...”
If you have any questions about anything ….just ask !
So, if you haven’t yet made your New Years Resolutions here’s your chance to join us and share what you’re going to achieve. It’s a lot cheaper than signing up for a gym membership and much less work than writing the defining novel of the 21st century. If you haven’t done it before be reassured we are as lovely and supportive on this as on every other post you put up.
PS the photo is what you get when you put ‘cat running in trainers with a bottle of champagne’ into an AI thingie, is this inspirational or what???
(You are actually allowed to answer ‘Whattt????’)
Written by
Yesletsgo
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What a wonderful host you are! Thankyou! Had such a good laugh at that cat 🤣 What a brilliant idea to look at what we have already achieved in our running and adding to that… makes the goal feel more realistic and attainable!
That's a cracking welcome to the Quest, thank you.
I am approaching it with a similar sort of philosophy as I'll be eating up cheese well into February. However, the scales suggest that I am now getting into the ballpark of my weight when I started C25K so I do need to take myself in hand.
Here's the plan
1) Do the Quest. I wobbled last year. Cause/effect? At any rate I am sure it will help to want to encourage a new Quest host.
2) Run a 5K - I've signed up for the British Wildlife monthly medal subscription at Virtual Racing. Such pretty, pretty medals!
3) More regular yoga. I've been working up to this over the last few days and I am not yet sure what form I want this to take so just 'more regular yoga' feels OK as a goal.
Those are great goals, please keep up with the Quest or I might cry 😭
The 5k sounds like it has plenty to keep you interested and the more regular yoga and more walks sound very doable. Just remember to keep doing them and you'll be fine. Good luck!
Thanks for hosting Yesletsgo and Happy New Year to one and all.I really don't do New Year's resolutions, I think if you want to change it start something then January probably isn't the best month for that. I'm also not really bothered about NYEve either, but I do like too get out early on NY day to see dawn breaking and the sun rise of possible.
As for January quest ..
1) to get better at posting stuff replying on here. For the last two quests I think I only remembered to reply for the first couple of weeks.
2) Run twice a week
3) To join in with YWA January Flow daily practice
4) To run at least one 10k ( I can tick this of as I did it this morning ☺️✅
I get the antipathy to New Years resolutions, January can be challenging enough without setting goals for things you've generally been wanting to do for years and not got around to yet.
The Quest however...small step - and you 've managed two already, number 4 and I suppose number 1 as you replied
2 and 3 will by definition take longer so good luck dijep
Lovely Quest, continuing from your achievements last month. I I think quite a few of us will be starting the NRC 10k plan so maybe some additional moral support on here?
With all the running, yoga and strength your body will definitely be thanking you for taking such good care. You are very kind and we all appreciate it, this is one goal you'll achieve in spades.
Thanks!,There is Ju Ju's magic plan...and a fair few doing the NRC 10k plan..I am opting for Magic Plan. Ice used it before after injury or time put and it is familiar and right for me xx
I absolutely love the photo you’ve chosen!! Ive done the first run of the 10k plan this morning. I wonder whether “cat” might make an appearance when you do it! Coach B is in great form on that run with some really fun questions.
I’ve got loads of things buzzing round my head so I’m not totally nailed down on my quest. I’ve been doing really well with strength and flex over winter and I don’t want to lose that as the runs pick up again. I’ve also finally got back into swimming a couple of times a week and loving that. I need to get back to eating better too so I’m also going to do a 5 a day fruit and veg challenge! That always sort me out.
So…
1) Three runs from the 10k plan
2) Two really good strength and flex workouts
3) Two swims-one gently ticking up the number of lengths
Hi FurtherFaster , what a fantastic long term goal! Look forward to following your progress over the year. Are you mentally dividing it into blocks of 50km a month or will you concentrate your runs at certain times of the year?
Well done on starting today, great Questing, only 597 km to do and a whole year ahead of you
I have a 16K trail race in July so hoping to "front load" the year in the run up to that, and then leave myself plenty of time towards the end to rediscover more joyful running if the training plan takes some of that away.
Your personal quest sounds very achievable and I do agree that January is a long enough month without ditching things we consider a treat…so I’m with you on that. Thank you for hosting this months quest…
A couple of years ago I signed up every month for a virtual run and got some bling at the end of it…I must’ve done 2 in one month because I ended up with 13 medals 🤣 so, my quest is to start by signing up for my January virtual run as well as getting to the end of c25k revisited by running 3 times a week…I last ran on Christmas Eve eve so I am due a run and will probably be up and out of the door in the morning…my last run was a very cold, rainy run which suits me down to the ground, I’ve seen a few runners out and about today and I’ve been itching to get out there so I’m looking forward to tomorrow
It's the first time I've signed up for a monthly medal subscription so I am encouraged by this (I am doing Virtual Racing's British Wildlife series) It took me a long time to try the bling motivation but it does work.
Thank you Yesletsgo …I just google virtual runs, they’re usually between 15-20 quid that goes to charity so I feel like I’m helping while I’m enjoying myself x
Sometimes the best Quest is no Quest at all. All these storms probably aren't helping your sleep either. Just look after yourself and hibernate until the weather improves and the days lengthen. Gather your strength and you'll come back better than ever.
Sorry to hear that's awful. I have read that natural yoghurt, lettuce, kiwi fruit, bananas are great sleep enhancers, if you like or can eat those foods. Happy walking and New Year! ❤️
I eat yogurt, bananas and lettuce fairly regularly but thanks for the info. I'm right at the tail end of a rotten cold cough that left me quite chesty, but sleep is improving again 😁 Happy New Year ❤️
Thank you Yesletsgo for setting the January Quest. A quest is so much more relevant than a resolution I think. I've tried a quest once before on this forum but work life balance meant it went wonky, so I'm going to try to be more realistic and kind to myself. So my quest ...1. Run twice a week through January
2. Add more Strength and Flex weekly than achieved through December.
I had planned a NYE run and to get back to some regular pavement pounding but alas I was struck down again with a hideous water infection luckily the amazing 111 service managed to get me antibiotics before the bank hol started 🙏🏼 but it’s been a dreadful few days and I’m still not feeling my best🙁
But YWA is definitely doable and I love the 30 days of Yoga for January even going to encourage the other half to try some although he is very sceptical!
Once feeling better I’m hoping to re start some gentle regular running, I’ve also moved house so haven’t a clue where I am most of the time but it will keep things interesting.
My January quest is to do 3 slow steady runs per week. No PBs, no speed work, just gentle plodding while I wait for my back pain to subside. I did the first 20 minutes today, including a photo stop to snap the first tree blossom I have seen in 2024. After some very gentle post run stretches and yoga for back pain, my back feels much better.
I'll try to do two 20 minute runs during the week and one 30 minute run on the weekend. That is definitely doable - I would like to fulfill my quest! If all goes well, I will try to finish the month with a week of 20, 30, 30 but if that doesn't work out, I'll stick to 20, 20, 30 and make 20, 30, 30 my February quest. Hopefully, by summer I'll be back to "normal" 20, 40, 60.
Thanks Yesletsgo for hosting the Quest and Happy running in 2024 everyone!
This is a great Quest RollingPea , you've absolutely got your priorities right. Take it gentle, build gradually and you're setting yourself up to succeed
Well done RP! Slowly does it and as you say, you will get there. It is all about being guided by your body whether it be it slow or more progressive, at times 🧎♀️🏃♂️🧎♀️🏃❤️
Thanks for hosting the quest. I didn't join in for December, there was so much going on I thought I would be setting myself up to fail. 2 months ago I completed Juju's plan and got to 10k, but I haven't consolidated it as much as I wanted to. So here's my plan
🤾increase my running to 4 times per week. This will be 2 x 3/4k (recovery run and intervals), one 5k and one longer run 8-10k. If that's too much I'll return to 3 runs pw.
🤾do more regular S&F, will commit to 3-4 sessions pw. I haven't been doing enough over the past few weeks. How do I know? My regular routine is proving tough!
🤾do 2 beginner pilates sessions pw.
I've worked out how to fit it into my week, so weather permitting, I think it's all doable.
My goal this month is to start on the Magic Plan to get back up to 10k, which I last did in 2019. I am older (but obviously not wiser!), and am recovering from a serious illness.
But I have done the C25K again from the start, and now feel I want to push a little more. So I’m going to do it, slow and steady, and I expect it to take about 4-5 months at least. So that will be my quest for the next 5 months.
Thanks for joining us BarbieW , you definitely sound as if you have a lot of wisdom despite what you say! Allowing 4-5 months for your 10k is eminently wise, there is no need to rush, do it gently and you'll get there without doing yourself a mischief.
Make sure to let us know how you get on, we're all rooting for you!
Many thanks for hosting and for your great post! Yes please count me in. January is a tough month and so I understand completely why you are not doing dry January. I will attempt it this year, I did veganuary last year. But I will not attempt both as it's a difficult month anyway x
Thanks for joining us Cassie_7 . Dry January is such a great thing to go for, I used to drink a lot so leaving off the booze for the month was both a challenge and a revelation. I eventually gave up alcohol completely for about 15 years which was the very best thing I could have done.
Now I drink so little that Dry January really wouldn't change much. The no alcohol alternatives get better and better all the time so let's hope you can both achieve your goal and indulge yourself a little at the same time
Definitely! That's amazing you gave up for 15 years! I have been through an extremely stressful time over the last few years especially and running since last spring has certainly helped my mental health enormously. With that and Christmas, I thought it high time to moderate my drinking more and so decided on dry Jan. So far so good👍, it is thinking about curve balls that come my way and that continue to do so sadly and ways of coping with the fall out and stress. Running definitely helps me to burn off angst, nervous energy, and at times, very low mood, especially with these short, dark days. I totally agree low and no alcohol drinks have come a very long way, and so there are always great alternatives when socialising. I will not hold back on the dark chocolate and other food treats throughout January 😀👍
For me the trick when I stopped drinking was to find an alternative. So, analyse what you like from each alcoholic drink and find something else that hits that spot.
I replaced the warming comfort of a glass of red wine in the evening with a warming herbal tea. Sounds daft? Maybe, but our minds can be persuaded.
G&T? It's the tonic that has the flavour.
Lager? I'd tell myself that sparkling water tastes about the same as Carlsberg (not too far off the mark there!!!!)
You get the idea and the excellent alcohol free alternatives will really help.
Wow brilliant tips thanks so much! Yes matching the tastes of each drink really helps. There are some great herbal teas now and most are caffeine free too, so ideal for the long dark evenings. I could look out for low or alcohol free wines and make up some mulled wine or sangria with little or no alcohol. A friend of mine loves prosecco and she drinks sparkling shloer or nosecco in a flute glass when she cuts down. There's also those mocktail drinks sold by lots of supermarkets too. Really looking forward to trying your ideas 👍
What a fabulous start to the new year and your first time at hosting the first quest of 2024. You are a brilliant host so thank you so much.You’ve given us all food for thought about what we are all going to achieve this month and how…..Wonderful!.
My quest is :
To run 2 to 3 times a week.( so far I’ve ran twice this week. New Year’s Day and today)
Increase my distance.
Complete my quest each week with productivity.
Try and do more strength and flex or Pilates ..? I have yet to decide which.watch this space.
Hi Yesletsgo ! Thank you for hosting the January Quest!
Mine is quite simple. Aiming to work up towards 5 runs per week. I'm working the final four weeks of the NRC HM plan, where the long runs are a lot shorter, so I'm hoping to be able to fit 5 in per week without exceeding my weekly distance by too much.
That will put me in a good place come February to start the 10k plan.
I'm also looking for consistency in cross-training: a combination of my own devised workout and a Pilates workout, two each per week.
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It's the Daisy Fresh April Quest!!! 🌼🌼🌼
January Quest week 3 already
