Welcome to the July Quest! Can’t believe that we are halfway through this year, where did it go?
Many thanks to Folkylass for her fantastic hosting of the Quest in June. She did a great job in motivating and encouraging us even when the weather turned so hot that running was the last thing some of us felt like doing.
Will July’s weather be more of the same or will it be warmer? Will it be cooler? Will it rain? Whichever, the thing that stays the same is that we’ll all be wanting to run, taking advantage of the light mornings and long, long evenings. So, with that in mind I’m looking forward to hearing about your Quests.
June was a good month for me despite the heat. By limiting myself to shorter 3km runs I was able to keep running regularly. For this month I want to build on that consistency and also to get some longer runs in. I’m going away mid-month though so not sure how that’ll affect things. So, with that in mind my goals are very straightforward:
• Run three times a week. Consistency is so important, and at this time of year with the challenges of warm weather, holidays, life in general it can be harder to achieve.
• Do at least one more 5k*
• Do at least one more run of more than 5k*
*I wrote this last night then ran 5.4K this morning so had to add the word ‘more’ to the second and third goals 😂
So what about you? Are you going high, aiming for the moon but happy if you catch the clouds? Or is aiming low more your style, giving yourself the satisfaction of knowing you can beat your goals.
In case you haven’t taken part in the Quest before, here’s what you need to know…
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.
Some popular goals are:
🌼🌺To run three times a week
🌼🌺To slowly increase distance
🌼🌺To train for a specific race
🌼🌺To add Stretch and Strength exercises to your weekly routine
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.
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 want to ..............
Soooooo...another month, another challenge, good luck, keep us posted about your progress and I'll check in each week to see how it's going
Thanks for a fab quest! Send that sky my way. I’m on a lunch break in a cafe with rain outside and over enthusiastic air con inside. I’m cold even with a jumper on. Hey ho! It’ll be better for running!
I had a really good June. I’ve kept up with my current training plan. My knee is behaving. The miles are ticking up and I’ve hit 100km in a month for the first time in absolutely ages. Long runs hit 10 miles this week (or maybe next week if I adapt). I ran 10km as a normal, nothing special run last night. That’s never happened before. I’m putting this down to a long, slow, consistent build of mileage with strength, flex and speed. It’s such a great feeling. That’s not to say the haven’t been some utterly rubbish runs because there have… it’s easier to put them in perspective when the general trajectory is up!
So quest for this month? Continue with consistency! For me, that’s four runs a week with one swim, one Zumba class, two proper strength sessions and assorted yoga. It seems a bit dull to have the same goals but it’s working. I didn’t get round to finding a formal strength programme and I’ve now got a hankering for some more bling so I might do a half in the summer. So..,
🌼 Keep going with the training plan, three runs and a speed run every week
🌼 Two good strength sessions a week and look for a programme to follow in the gym
🌼 Look for a summer half marathon at the right point in the training programme
I hope this doesn’t come off as me being a big show off. This time last year I was off injured and utterly miserable. It’s been quite a long road back with a LOT of work to get back here. It’s just so good to be feeling this good again!
Wow, you achieved that much in June despite the heat! I am in awe!!
Nothing wrong with having the same goals, isn't it just another aspect of consistency?🤔
it's really good to hear that you've recovered from injury and are going from strength to strength. This has got to cheer up anyone languishing on the IC and thinking things will never get better. You really are a role model MissUnderstanding 🥇
Hi Yesletsgo. Thanks for hosting this months quest encouraging us all to succeed in all of our goals👏👏🥳
So for me July has already given me joy .. I’ve just returned from the dental clinic after seeing my hygienist and all good there so no need to see her until next year yippee!. However I still have my check up with my dentist next month so hoping that will be another joyous occasion with a next year appointment at the end of it😂😂😂.
So for July these are my goal which I have carried on from June.
I finished C25K again (for …the 4th time, I think) and have been doing a mix of runs to consolidate. I’m not back to running 5K and by the end of this month I want to start building distance again. I have been really good at sticking to 3 runs per week and it really showed in my fitness.
Things were going brilliantly until I got Covid last week. So I’m taking it easy until I’m sure the fatigue has passed. I aim to start again on Wednesday with a gentle tootle to see how things go. All being well, my goals for this month are:
Hope you feel better soon, there seems to be a lot of Covid about, along with another nasty bug which just seems to make people feel generally yuk and under the weather. Make sure you allow your body time to recover, frustrating but worth it in the longer run.
Sounds like your goals are very achievable once you get better and, provided the weather doesn't start frying us all again, you should be able to tick all of these off by the end of the month
Well done to you...but steady as you go... make sure you are feeling properly well before heading out again As Yesletsgo says, it may be frustrating but the runs will be all the sweeter.
Great Quest on the cards... good to be here and good to see that blue sky...grey and rainy here today and chilly...brrrr !
Okay..
I am running... and have started the NRC 10K plan... just for fun, and to act as a, stay with it and something to keep me on track again.
* Time to head to the longer runs again
* The Spitfire Run at Cosford was in August bit has been postponed, so I think I may be able to go for that whenever the new date is.. ( August would have been too warm). It is a great race to do, such fun !
I am finding my running is steady and feels comfortable, I think that all the short and sweet runs, have had a great impact...strong legs, light steps and easy breathing...
I have found my joy...and I am holding on to it.
* Regular exercise routines continue... but upping my T'ai Chi over this month.#
Still eating well and weight is going on slow and steadily !
* No overthinking, the three As are still working for me
So... here we go and happy safe questing everyone !
PS
That is probably the most garbled Quest goals, I have ever written !
I'm so sorely tempted to start the 10k plan too but have decided to leave it until later in the year when I'll be in one place for long enough to actually stick to it. It's a great plan, I'm sure you'll enjoy it (and it'll take care of those longer runs for sure). You'll be good and ready when the new date for the Spitfire run is announced
All the slow and steady stuff is/will be paying dividends - steady runs, regular exercise and Tai Chi, good food, altogether you sound like you've got this month's Quest wrapped up!
As you will know from my recent post, June was a difficult one for me because of the heat! Bit cooler again now but who knows which way the weather will turn in July!
My quest is to continue to do three runs a week (I use the term ‘run’ loosely!). If I can carry on getting out there through the summer, I’ll be in a better place when the weather cools down and can start thinking about extending my distance.
My other goals are linked: to continue to try to ‘find the joy’ rather than looking forward to the end! And to allow myself to do shorter or slower runs without feeling like I’ve failed. Every run is a good run, because the alternative is no run!
Sounds like you have a great attitude to your running, and I love your goals. Please can you write mine next month
It was so warm last month that just keeping on getting out for a run at all was an achievement in itself. Where's the point in doing long, fast runs if you end up getting sunstroke? Much better to aim for something achievable that you can, actually, enjoy! After all, running is supposed to be a hobby, something we do for pleasure.
Short runs, long runs, slow runs, faster runs, they all have their place and if we all ran the same runs all the time how dull would that be?
It’s the enjoyment factor that’s still missing a bit for me, I enjoy the end and the sense of achievement but only occasionally do I feel pleasure while I’m running!
Something went ping in my calf yesterday when I was one minute from finishing so am now having to rest, which is frustrating 😟
Aaaaah, that feels better! Thanks for hosting July.
I've got some pre-sets and some things to fiddle about with this month.
1) A 5K run for the next British Wildlife medal series on Virtual Racing - July is a moon jellyfish and jellyfish has a special meaning for me so I am looking forward to this one. And more running.
2) Average more than 10 brisk minutes a day over the month
3) Complete a yoga programme (or a cobbled together set of classes combining two or make a start on a programme which will take more than one month...)
4) Sort out and implement a pelvic floor exercise regime
That 5k sounds good, do you get a jellyfish shaped medal ?
The walking and yoga sound like a great way of keeping yourself fit outside the running, it's important that all the muscles get a workout. Including the pelvic floor. Do you know, I only discovered recently that men have a pelvic floor too? How mad is that!!
Tiredness is horrible, it makes it so difficult to do anything. Even a seemingly good night's sleep can sometimes leave you yawning. When you feel like that the best thing is to take it easy especially when you had such a good month in June.
Your goals are eminently realistic, by next week I hope you're firing on all 4 cylinders again.
Here is July and I am hoping the worst of the hay-fever season is over. I had a frantic May where work took over my life and exercise had to take a back seat. That was followed by a very tired June full of sneezing, antihistamines, almost no cycling and occasional wheezy runs. After all that I am feeling heavy and lethargic. I think wistfully back to the end of April when I was cycling daily, and 70 % through a 5K improvement programme which was obviously working because even at that stage, I did a run just a few seconds off my all time PB for 5 K. But life happened and that's as far as I got. Now it's time to start building back. My goals for July are:
* 3 runs/week, any distance, short is fine
* strength and flex after every run
* more cycling, increasing to 5/week by the end of the month.
I did one run already this week by running 3 km to the station to meet a visitor. Tomorrow is looking good for run #2 and parkrun on Saturday will make 3....
I feel so sorry for hay fever sufferers. Instead of enjoying the summer you have such a miserable time, a choice of being really uncomfortable or knocked out. Let's hope the pollen count is more reasonable now.
Provided you can breathe OK your goals are great, not just running but the strength and flex plus cycling will make sure all your muscles get a decent workout. You're well on track for Goal 1 so here's to your continued success
Thanks for your encouragement Yesletsgo. I managed a relaxed 5.5K run after work today, listening to Glastonbury live. Followed by stretching and a quick pilates session. Still wheezing 2 h later, but on track again. It'll get better eventually. 🏃♀️
Hi Yesletsgo thank you for hosting this month's Quest! Thank you to Folkylass too for hosting last time I finally got some consistency going last week and hoping to bring this into July
Sounds like you have a great Quest going @yesletsgo! Build on last month's successes
I learned last month that running 5x per week just doesn't work for me but having the day of recovery in between made all the difference last week. I'm wanting to keep a similar weekly distance so I'm doubling up some of the guided runs.
Currently on "3 weeks to go" in the NRC 10k plan.
So my Quest is to complete it this month, running 3x per week and follow the suggested strength workouts, hoping for a 10k PB at the end of the month
With doubling up the guided runs, I'll be aiming for 30km(ish) per week, give or take.
If I squeeze in a couple of additional strength or Pilates workouts then I'll be very pleased.
Glad to hear you're doing so well on the NRC 10k plan. I really enjoyed it though I didn't get as far as you. Wishing you every success with the remaining three weeks!
Running five times a week is hard work. At least I'm assuming it is, I've never managed that many except maybe in the first week of the 10k plan where there are those really really short runs.
Rest days are really important to allow us to recover and repair the damage that running can do. Make sure you have enough recovery time especially after your longer runs. They put quite a strain on our bodies particularly if we are, shall we say, into the second half of our lives. Maybe up the strength/Pilates and do a few less km? A strong core is so important for runners, it's not just about legs, is it?
Happy Questing and make sure you let us know how you get on
Thank you Yesletsgo , great tips there, thank you. Yes, unless I'm very lucky definitely into part 2 of 2! I have a favourite Pilates workout that gives my glutes and abs a good sorting out. Maybe do that again tomorrow!
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I have a favourite Pilates workout that gives my glutes and abs a good sorting out. Maybe do that again tomorrow!
