Hello all you happy and dedicated Questers! Can you believe this is already the third week of our Quest?
It’s chilly so it’s important to make sure that you run safely. My personal rule is that cold is fine (better than fine, so much nicer than extreme heat) but ice is a no go. So if you’re staying home or using a treadmill that’s good news. Ultimately the best runner is a safe runner and we all know our limits.
I feel a bit hypocritical writing this as I’m actually not in the UK at the moment, I’m sitting in the shade of an olive tree watching the local cats, a Jack Russell and a couple of tortoises in the garden of the place where we’re staying. I’ve brought my running gear with me and hope to get out tomorrow morning once I’ve worked out a place to run.
My own Quest is well on target if we discount this week 😊 Thanks to sticking to the NRC 10k plan I’ve managed 19.55 km towards my initial target of running more than January last year (22.65 km). One more run and that should be it. Then I’ll be aiming to beat last month, 31.1 km. Probably doable if I carry on the 10k plan as we are actually only halfway through the month. Doubtful I’ll reach the giddy heights of January 2022's 46.22km though. Not impossible, just very unlikely.
The 10k plan is going well though slower than suggested. This is fine as it's not like there's a race or event planned that needs to be accounted for. I'm even trying to do the workouts they suggested. Warning: the Week 2 Runners Bodyweight Burn is aptly named. The next day I had aches in muscles that I had previously only seen on anatomical diagrams.
So how is your Quest going? Last week everyone was doing fantastically. A few of you have been under the weather for various reasons, hope you are recovering. At least when it’s so cold outside you have a good reason to take it easy and get better. Every cloud and all that!
So, in case you are new to this:
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 !
Let us all know how you’re getting on, are you managing to keep on running or is the lure of hearth, home and heat all too much. Whatever you’re doing I hope you enjoy it 😊
Sending you all warm wishes
Yesletsgo
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Yesletsgo
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🍏🙈 My Red January of Run or walk or exercise every day was somewhat snookered last week but heigh ho I am back on track today with a really unexpectedly good 35 min run with Coach B. It’s cold 🥶 with a -4 feel like factor but we dress for that don’t we. The distance is good to stretch my legs so no bother there.. Both my head and heart want this run so why unexpected? I was expecting at the least to feel the toxic 10 or at most the run to feel longer due to a few days of slacking off… I was therefore surprised to enjoy every second and feel as if I was gliding along! Well I could say a rest does you good.. it sometimes does but I think today it’s a direct result of all the previous runs, walking & exercises. It’s an encouragement to keep on with Red January!
Great to hear your Quest and your holiday plans are going well. Fab post and love the picture as always. Thank you! Xx
Thank you Annieapple , glad you like the doggie too
It's sooo freezing where you are, you make me feel guilty!! I was in shorts this afternoon (and I wasn't even running, though scrubbing a filthy paddleboard certainly felt like exercise to me).
Isn't it odd how different we can feel at the start of a run, some days it's a total slog, others everything comes into alignment and we feel we have superpowers. Resting can make a huge difference especially if we come back to the run really having missed being able to get out.
Glad to hear that RED January is back on track, you are an inspiration for those of us who find an excuse not to go and exercise 😎
Am I really the first one to reply? It looks like your own questing is going really well, such excellent news. It also looks like you're appealing to the doggie lovers this week too! Anyway, I'm really chuffed with this week. The running has gone really well, I've been concentrating on slowing my pace to reduce my heart rate and increase my endurance. Once in that happy zone my body knows what to do. I did my first 10k of the year on Sunday too. I don't know about anyone else, but I find 10k a real mental challenge. I really need to talk myself into it the day before and choose a route carefully. I did a brand new running route, although I've cycled it 100s of times. A circuit to the neighbouring village and around back home. I stopped to take the sunrise pic and stopped again at 7k when I could feel my left calf tightening. Determined to be kind to myself, I took time to do some stretches and massage, which really did the trick, no further problems. In fact the route was 10.6k, so also my longest ever run. The pilates is challenging, stretching and exercising areas I've not really moved much before. It compliments the strength work beautifully, and I'm not going to let it beat me. Happy questing everyone.
Hi Sax64 , looks like you and Annieapple must have posted simultaneously!! I decided to add a dog to the mix today because I know a lot of you like them
Well done on the 10, I mean 10.6 k, I've only done 10k once and the prospect of doing it again is a bit daunting. To run for that length of time merits some serious preparation, mentally as well as physically. It sounds like you have smashed it. Finding that slow pace where everything else works alongside all your strength etc work is the answer to your success.
It's not just about the run, it's about how you feel afterwards too and you sound like you're still buzzing. Your hard work, commitment and positivity are certainly paying off.
Also, very impressive to not only manage 4 runs a week plus all the workouts but also to document them. fantastic!
Ah, thanks for your encouragement, it means a lot. You're right about the mental preparation to tackle that longer run, but I know I'm physically in a good place to tackle it. But seriously, I think it's far enough, I really can't envisage HM training to start next month's quest. Happy questing
I know what you mean about HM being daunting. For me it would be 3-4 hours running, the level of commitment of time to achieve that is just something else again. Part of me is tempted, just to see how far I can get, but the bigger part is just saying 'reality check!'
Yeah, OK (and funny you should mention dogs). I said last time that I was going for a 30 minute run... well, that's been a bit weird. Out to do it, glorious, goldcrest city!
Lots of dog walkers when I wouldn't expect them and one chap with four who turned back when he saw me coming but whilst I am slow, I am not *that* slow so I got closer to him and the two large dogs came and had something to say to me. I wasn't bothered about stopping and eventually he stopped and I went past and all was fine.... except later on when I saw him coming the other way again. I thought I'd detour onto another path. Well, fine FRBs, it was not a path, it was the Amazon (minus the leeches at least and the Amazon has no dry stone walls) and I had not brought a machete... so I was active for longer than 30 minutes... despite the goldcrests and the very cute lichens I'd have to say this was Not A Good Run.
However, because it was a bit rubbish, it did propel me to get out again, that and the lovely weather, but I did kind of knowingly sabotage that by getting onto the trail (no risk of needing a machete) and heading the direction of our famous waxwings that you just can't run past... so that was another rather broken up session but oh the joy!
Yoga is going OK... pain has been an encouragement and I've got another Qi Gong class under my belt too.
Walks a bit piddling... but the fact I've got out for runs rather compensates for that. I was pleased with myself for nipping out on an errand and walking rather than taking the car and then extending the walk for a bit... at least I was until the after effects kicked in (I am good at not going too fast when running, not so good when walking by myself)
Sorry it's taken so long to respond GoogleMe , every minute seems to be occupied!
The dreaded detour that doesn't go like you think it will... I've heard of going to the dogs, you've sort of done the opposite.
The picture of the waxwing is beautiful. I'm very impressed you spotted it while you were on the move. You must know what you're looking for.
Well done too on keeping up the yoga and walking. Since I discovered how far I can run, the 1km to the shops doesn't feel very far at all. I nearly always used to drive there but now I hardly even thing about doing that, and feel guilty if I do. Keep it up until it's a routine and it will go a lot quicker, even if you don't
Well done Yesletsgo you're doing so well and it's lovely to read how you're getting on. We're still doing well and are both running every day so far in January and our legs feel really good (we're around 60 miles so far). We're taking it steady but having a few speed sessions too and this has helped us remain fresh. So far, so good.
Hi @yesletsgo, I missed your post when it first came out! Back on the wagon since last week, we had a good Parkrun on Saturday and I managed a solid intervals workout on the treadmill on Sunday. This week aiming to do something - run or cross training - every day after having yesterday off.
No, you are not seeing two persons in the picture, walking in a fog. That's just what it looks when you use a mobile phone camera. Snow flakes flying too fast to catch them.
The storm has been going on for many hours, and does not show signs of losing strength. It will clear, eventually and that’s when the temperature will drop to somewhere below –10. It’s been like that for weeks. Lots of snow in the air, and on the ground, or else it's really freezing. And dark.
My original quest was to run two or three times a week, covering all aerobic zones. Plus maybe add strength training and mobility. As it turned out, I have enough with holding on to my aerobic fitness. I really thought running two or three times a week would do it, but that was before the worst winter weather in 20 years struck the Oslo area.
It either snows a lot, or it gets too cold, right. The temperatures have been below –10 most of the time, and I have a post-Covid cough that gets worse with hard breathing in cold air. Which is hard to avoid when running.
So, what to do?
For the low intensity training I’ve been walking. or wading, through snow. I bought a pair of Yaktrax Run cleats/soles, but I haven’t actually run on them yet, ha, just walked.
I also need to do intervals, at least once a week. I tried cross country skiing for HIT a couple of times, and my pulse was in the right zones, plus I had fun – but my lungs got much worse.
Today I’m going to wrap myself in layers of wool and a windproof layer, and jog slowly through the storm to the gym
(it’s only –6 now! that's nothing!)
I hate the treadmill. I promise that I’m not going to elaborate on that, I'm just saying that I hate the treadmill. Really hate it.
I feel cold just looking at your photo 5KCouch ! Those are challenging conditions and I admire your willpower getting out there when it's that cold and snowy. The only snow I've run on was very dry and powdery and firm underfoot, definitely on the ground where it's supposed to be and not in the air. That was great, even at -10C, worth the frozen thighs when I got home 😂
Well done on your walk to the gym, I hope you found an exercise you enjoyed when you arrived, or maybe just a sauna/steam room, which would be a lot more fun.
Oh, it was insane. People were skiing to work in downtown Oslo. Trains did not run for hours, buses only on major roads, etc. etc. Visits cancelled. grr
And then the weather changed so fast, got still and cold. Black skies and not a twig moving, If it weren't for all the snow you'd never have guessed.
Took me an hour to shovel the snow off the balcony and clear the drifts around my car.
And then I got stupid. I ran on the treadmill, at full speed, for more than half an hour. Should have asked myself how long it is since I'd been sprinting like that - or running at all. Got potato starch inside my knees today, burning.
Cross-country skiing tomorrow. Definitely not going to be running.
That weather sounds crazy. A couple of mm of snow and Britain grinds to a halt. You're made of tougher stuff in Scandinavia! Especially running after all that!Enjoy the skiing 😁
But I am here... and I ran... okay it was Sunday... but I ran !!!
Sunny, dry, no rain, no wind, no ice, no snow...
...okay, since then it has been so snowy and icy that apart from an amazing walk on Tuesday morning, I have not run...but Sunday I did 3.5K... and it was brilliant... and it was up my favourite hill ...and the sunrise was spectacular!
I am considering that I now have, officially begun Ju Ju's Magic Plan ..( I am running by the time, not distance).... so I am moving on to Week 2, hopefully on Sunday... wind gusts permitting!
I have kept up with YWA ,Red January and lots of extra S and F work... it is keeping me going.. Real feel is minus 5, here this morning and wall to wall, ice and hard snow! I have to head out...but I am not sure, unless the sun gets its hat on whether a walk will be possible...
But, I am feeling positive and looking forward, ??? to the wilder, wetter but warmer weather forecast from Sunday. Did I just say that????
Hello Oldfloss , I'm a bit late too in answering this. Fab pic of the fogbow, impressive. Isn't nature amazing when it shows us things like this?
Well done starting the Magic Plan, with your determination you are bound to succeed, take it steady and you'll get there. All the S&F and yoga will help you too.
I checked the weather forecast this morning and it seems it'll be back to normal when I get home on Sunday. In the meantime I'm enjoying the other side of the cold weather system attacking the UK right now - apparently everywhere to the south of France is a lot warmer than usual. 22C today but so windy I'm surprised I have any hair at all left, it was standing on end!
France. Warm... nice.... here... snowing now.. and temp is dropping again... no run tomorrow I fear.... an extra care day for a small one will supplement my workout! Thanks you xxx
Hellooooo! I’m always late to the party. Hope your well Yesletsgo. Thanks for doing a grand job hosting👍👏👏.
Well my last run was Sunday.
So yesterday I went out into the Forest of Dean with hubby and our beautiful 9 year old black Labrador girl. It’s mad to think that it will be a year in May since we had to bid a sad farewell to her uncle Jack he was almost 12 when we had to make that sad decision.Where has the time gone?
Anyway I completely forgot to turn on my strava walk so no record of that. ☹️☹️. Still it was lovely even though it was cold,and muddy with ice in places.
Tomorrow I’m hoping to get out for my first run of the week.
I will also be running on Sunday too.
So there you have it. This is my quest for this week.
I’m afraid it’s not much different from last weeks quest but I’m getting out there.
I’m loving the dog picture … Brilliant and thanks 👍👏👏😂😂🥰x
Better late than never Folkylass , I hear it's been so cold it must be hard to get anything done. My last run was Sunday too next one probably won't be until Monday at least, there isn't an obvious running route near where we're staying.
Walking in the forest with hubby and doggie sounds wonderful, dogs always seem to be so happy and smily when they have a walk. Doesn't matter if Strava knows about it, you (and husband and dog) know you were out there and that's the most important thing.
Enjoy your run tomorrow, I hear the temperatures are rising so it should be a bit easier.
PS I generated a pic of what I think your dog looks like when she's been out walking/running
Thank you so much Yesletsgo for that fab picture which I might add does look similar to Myfanwy ( Myfi).Love the medal too😂 Today I did manage to get out and it was a bit warmer. Although I felt the cold slightly on my face 🥶 but all in all I did enjoy it.
I’m out again Sunday morning before the rain comes.😂
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week3run1 ✅. 3 x 17 mins with 1 min walks. 
How did your parkrun or (not)parkrun go?