Morning everyone and welcome to September’s quest. This is my favourite one of the whole year. August is often a tricky month for running for many of us with holidays, routine changes and heat! September is a reset. A return to some sort of normality! A super time to set some new goals for your running and make a fresh start. Big or small, why not shake things up in some way?
My running has been absolutely rubbish lately. I’ve been having a miserable time coming back from covid and I feel really unfit because my breathing is still not recovered fully. My big goal for the month is just to get back to feeling like myself again when I’m running. My weekly goals will all be aiming towards that. I’m hoping to run three times a week, any length, consistently for the whole month. If I can manage that, I’ll make a huge difference. I’m trying not to let it feel like a big step back from where I was pre-covid.
I always have a monthly strength goal of two good workouts a week-that keeps me off the injury couch. This week I’ll be looking for a new programme to increase the gradually increase the weights I’m using. I’ve been doing well with sticking at it. Seeing the benefits really helps.
Finally, after a summer of eating out and all my clothes feeling a bit snug, I’m back on a healthy eating plan. For me, that’s just aiming for five a day fruit and veg with conscious snacking rather than a formal diet.
So this week…
🍁 Three runs (or jeffs or walks if needed) a week
🍁 Find a new strength plan
🍁 Aim for mostly healthy eating
Now it’s your turn! How’s your running been going? What are you aiming for this month? What are your weekly goals going to be?
Can’t wait to hear from you!
MissU and the team xx
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For any newbies, here’s what it’s all about:
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
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...”
Any questions, just ask! Come and say hi!
Written by
MissUnderstanding
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Hopefully you're starting to feel better and you smash you're quest.For me this month it's all about time on feet and distance gradually,I'm currently working my way through the NRC half marathon. Gym I tried to get to at least once a week and football once not twice now after a injury. So basically mine is about building this week and month.
I could write a whole essay about proper convalescence... but I'll stick with 'watch out for that 3x a week goal, it might be what holds you back'
As for me, big, big, big, big month demanding all my limited personal resources. Will my younger son sink or swim or crash and burn at university, is 'Imposter Syndrome-by-Proxy' a thing? [For those who don't know, this is not at all a 'normal' situation and I've seen one child through university, plus he's had four terms at residential college already]
So, at a time of change, time to keep some things as steady as possible... but know absolutely that I have to look after myself in the round.
1) Continuing my British Wildlife monthly 5k run medal - and like last month, aiming to get that in the bag well before the end of the month. This month is a dolphin. The stretch goal is to make sure that's not the only run!
2) Dull but doable (only 2 days last month when I didn't do the full 3 sessions a day, and always at least one): pelvic floor exercises with the Squezy app
3) A small tweak to last month's yoga goal: 30+ yoga (in its widest sense, so might be breathwork or meditation too) sessions of which 15+ are from Ekhart yoga. It's not quite the same as 'yoga every day' and will get more reliable physical practice in by including my own personal practice in the goal.
4) Average 10 brisk minutes a day with the Active 10 app. With a stretch goal of 30 'Active 10's over the month (last month was 26)
Hope all goes well for your younger son. My oldest is starting secondary school after a messy year 6 and it will be a specialist SEN school because he didn't get on in mainstream. We have high hopes but it's very nerve-wracking too! He's smart but not that interested in school. If this doesn't suit who knows where we go next. Aren't children a worry?! I'm sure it will all work out in the end!
Thank you! I had chronic fatigue a few years ago so I’m well trained in pacing and adapting…going for a short walk is always doable for me ao that’s a good adaptation for the run three times a week if I’m not having a good week. Appreciate the advice though. ❤️
You’ve had loads going on-hopefully things will go well as your son starts uni. It’s hard to be the caring relative watching hopefully as a new phase of life starts for a loved one. Good luck to him and to you too.
Great goals. Those wildlife medals are gorgeous. You’ve reminded me I’m hoping to add to my bling collection in a couple of weeks. Hoping both of us will warm our medals, but you will definitely win the prize for the prettiest!
September is definitely going to be a reset here. Over the summer I've managed only 1-2 30 min runs a week because my 4 kids have been home. I wouldn't say my husband is actively unsupportive but I have to really push to be able to run even on days he's around. So I'm looking forward to getting back to 3 runs a week during school hours and starting the 60min plan. So my goals are
1) start juju's 60 min training plan and run 3 times a week
2) add some core strength workouts and upper body weight training on non running days
3) start a healthier eating regime as I've steadily put on weight for the last 3 years and running hasn't made a dent on this (I didn't expect it to). School holidays have also made my eating much worse!
4) get back on schedule with my pelvic floor exercises too as the holidays have derailed that also!!!
I'm hoping that's not too much. The running feels like a normal thing I do as do the pelvic floor exercises even though they've suffered in recent weeks so it's 2 and 3 that are new challenges. I don't want to bite off more than I can chew! Pun intended.
My hope is that the core strength will help with number 4 too because frankly the pelvic floor exercises alone haven't been making much difference for me so far, disappointingly.
Summer holiday is a bit of a misnomer isn’t it!! Even getting two runs in is a win. Here’s hoping reset goes well for both of us! Lots of similar goals for us and hopefully we’ll be in a great position to cheer each other on. Juju’s plan is a great one-that got me to 10k for the first time. I’m sure you’ll have great fun with it!
Really good luck to your son too as he starts his new school. ❤️
Hoping your breathing is recovering soon back to full strength. I think I got off easy start of last month when I had some form of tummy-affecting Covid, not being able to eat or keeping food on for at least 10 days.
So it’s surprising that in the second half of last month I managed to recover quite quickly and I feel I am now back to full strength again with running every other day and rowing 5 times a week, as usual.
I do feel sometimes quite tired in the early evenings, and on those days I take it easy with my rowing. I think this might be a combination of still recovering, as well as me following a new calorie-reduced way of eating (800 calories 2-4 times a week / following the New 5:2 diet and yummy recipes from Michael Mosley, thx to a pointer from our own Fionamags ! ☺️😘 ).
So I feel great at the moment, exploring some new ways of cooking (a version of Mediterranean diet but with low carb, high protein, reduced calories) and also having lost some weight (after years of trying hard but never getting anywhere).
So my goals this month are quite exciting:
⭐️ Finish C25k (I’ve just finished week 7)
⭐️ Experience the new C25k+ runs! (I’m so excited about trying these new ones out!)
⭐️ Possibly start a new 10k plan, following the new (exciting!!!) NRC10k in-app (!!!) plan!!! (if not this month, than next month)
⭐️ Row, walk, S&F as usual (I’m searching for a new training plan for rowing, but until then : steady state!)
⭐️ … oh, …. and watch as much of Paralympics as I can. The opening ceremony was just simply stunnnning!!!
Thank you! I remember you’ve had a rough time with Covid too-so glad you’ve recovered well. You got loads to look forward to! The Beyond Couch to 5k section on the app now has a choice of two trainers. I’ve only used Steve Cram-looking forward to someone reporting back on Jo Whiley! No pressure though!!!
Have a great week of questing-as ever you’ve got varied and interesting goals. I love the one about watching paralysmpics! Enjoy!!!
Jo Wiley will indeed be my choice! I recently listened to her podcasts (The Rise and Fall of Britpop, The Rise and Fall of Oasis), and they reminded me how cool she was for her time reporting on the music scene! Some great podcasts!
I'm another one to recommend the 5:2 diet. I lost two and a half stone over 12 to 18 months, all put on as a result of 3 years of very inactive office job. My top tip is treat yourself to 800 really lovely (but healthy) calories ☺️I'll always go back to it if I put a few pounds back on.
Those are such good goals , 😃, I'd like to add my goal or walking to the beach, it's a 7 minute walk and at the moment totally unachievable, but if I keep that in mind I'm sure I will get there one day 😄. I'm already feeling more positive about my future.Have fun setting goals my running friends xx
One step at a time-you’ll get to your beach. There’s a really good guided run on NRC called Running Towards your Goal. That’s helpful for thinking about big picture goals and ones that just get you through the day. I’m so pleased you’re feeling more positive. Sending hugs right back at you my friend!
I've done that run, I think I'm possibly looking at a couple of months before any running will be happening, but short walks outside my home may happen by the end of this first week of September 😁
It sounds really frustrating if you can barely walk for 7 minutes when not so long ago you were running regularly. The strength you built up then should help you on the road to recovery. You've had a really tough time, I hope that you turn a corner soon and everything good falls into place x
I can't walk for 7 minutes, I'm hoping to build up to that this week but it might take longer, I'm very weak but happy to be able to do washing up and put washing on the line so far, extreme fatigue and weakness is now part of my condition but as treatment progresses I should be able to do more, if I can't I'll bow out of this running forum because not being able to run is sad
Finally getting back in to some sort of quasi-normality here.
Still gradually increasing activity after hurting my right big toe (while emptying the dishwasher) and having to put the running on hold for the best part of two months.
This month's quest is to safely build back up my level of activity to the point where I'm able to do longer runs comfortably again.
And the key to that will be taking rest days after most runs, doing about three to four runs a week. I know I've been capable of running every day, but that isn't wise at the moment.
I've proved I'm currently capable of doing a parkrun and feeling comfortable doing it at a steady pace.
If I can get back up to 10km by the end of the month I'll be very happy. If I can do a half marathon distance again before the end of the year I'll be ecstatic.
My plan is also to reincorporate an element I have been neglecting for a while: intervals runs.
Coming back from an enforced break is tough! Sounds like lots of wins for you so far. Great goals. I absolutely love an interval run. If you’re a user of Nike Run Club I’ve got some favourites but I vaguely remember you’re not a fan. However you do them, enjoy! Watch out though-the high you get from them is addictive!!
I've enough fitness apps on the phone without adding more! I do have a few ideas as I used to always have a slow run with short fast bits as part of my weekly rotation of runs.
Sub 30 always feels like a big win to me! I’ve gone faster but that’s the special milestone time! Speed is underrated for both enjoyment and effectiveness!
I find that when I can get myself out in time for a Park Run (seldom) that gives me a boost. Particularly when the run is on a harder surface than my trails; just seems easier.
Runner up and Hill, hillier, hilliest are two of my absolute favours Nike Run Club runs. The joy of intervals mixed with the joy of hills! A total high.
I take the hill run as a recovery run. Monday long run, Thursday Hill Run, Saturday intervals, except that I don’t slow off much (or at all sometimes) between intervals, so I guess it is really a tempo run. Keeps me out of mischief 🙂
Hi MissUnderstanding Well I haven’t ran yet since I came home from Yorkshire on Monday. However I’ve managed to do a couple of walks one on Friday and the other this morning.
So for me my quest for the first week of September as well as the walk this morning I’m going to :
Nice set of goals there Folkylass ! I think August was tricky for a lot of us-getting out walking is still great and you’re in a great position to pick up the runs again. Happy questing!!
hi MissUnderstanding …I would like to join your quest please…I am aiming for three ‘Jeff’s’ this week..I’m following a Garmin plan…so fingers crossed it gets me back at it…
Glad to hear you’re getting out and about…I’m sure your quest will work for you x
Thank you! I’m thinking I’m going to need to Jeff the 10k I’m doing on a couple of weeks so I might investigate that. If it rains or the temperature drops I’ll be ok but I’m hating this muggy heat! So energy sapping. Appreciate the tip about where to find Jeff!
Ooh, conkers! Surely we're not that late in the year already??
Good luck with your goals MissUnderstanding , it's rotten when you can't do what you want to do but hopefully you're on the road to recovery.
As for me, I'm going away mid month, so have a lot of organising to do. We are driving to Greece, yeah, bonkers, but we have a huge amount of stuff to take including two marine toilets for my sister (bonkers runs in the family) so can't fit everything into a suitcase. My nephew wanted to join us with his unfriendly bulldog which can't fly because of its flat nose but I put my foot down at that.
So, this means a 4 day 2,250 km drive, Mr Y doesn't drive so it's all down to me. I probably won't be able to run as we're on a tight time schedule but I will be aiming to walk 2km per day once we stop driving for the night.
Once we arrive it'll be hot and hilly so short runs will be the order of the day. We're staying with my sister a few days so I'm aiming to run every other day while we're there. When we move back on the boat and start cruising I'll be happy if I get one run a week.
Until we leave I'm aiming to carry on running more or less alternate days, making the most of the cool weather and the flat terrain where I live.
It’s crazy isn’t it! How did we get to September?! I have to admit, on a grey and misty day, I’m super jealous of your holiday plans. I’d love a bit of sunshine! Greece is a gorgeous place to be, and those hills (walking or running!) will be great for the legs! Have a fantastic time away and enjoy your quest.
I hope your Covid recovery goes from strength to strength this month. It's just rubbish not being on form, isn't it? It sounds like you will get there though with a combination of patience and perseverance.
My quest is to keep on with what I'm doing at the moment:
⭐ run 3 times per week
⭐ increase the distance on one run
⭐ do one 5K per week
⭐ do one interval run per week
By the end of September I want to be back to running for 60 minutes.
Those sound like a super of goals! I think as soon as I’m more recovered, we’ll be doing very similar running-intervals are so much fun and I’m missing them. Wishing you a very happy week of questing-can’t wait to hear how you get on. Thanks for the good wishes!!
Morning MissU and fellow runnersI've not joined a quest for a while now but I feel I need a bit more structure and accountability to keep me on track at the moment.
I could almost just say "ditto" to your own quests ☺️ A combination of Covid, birthday celebrations, heat and holidays resulted in lack of running, a few extra pounds and no strength and flex at all ☹️
On a positive note I am running again and feel able to increase my distance.
Coming back is tough isn’t it! We can absolutely hold each other to account with our matching goals!! It’s great to be in the position of being able to pick up the distance again-that’s no small thing!
I’m hoping that eating less random cake/choc will make me appreciate what I do eat even more! Good luck to us!!
You are on the way back! Hopefully, the breathing issue will ease and you will start to feel more like, you!
I am not sure whether to make Quest goals or not. I am feeling so uncertain and down, right now that I feel, the goals I set for myself, although small are still unattainable, and I have to keep changing them.., or I just don't meet them.
My routine morning workouts and Yoga bits are the only things that are constant, before any issue crop up as the day goes on.
Maybe:
: Continue with my morning routines.
:The Tibetan Rites... ( I am doing the seven day challenge on S and F, because I love these)... the seated ones. I used these coming back from illness and they are really useful.
: Runs? I have had to abandon the NRC 10K plan... too many runs missed and tweaked... so; just run as and when I am able... (I am trickling along at around 7K mostly)...short or longer runs... and as CB says, " If you cannot do the run you wanted to, do the run you can".
Sorry...negative overtones? I will try to do better
You can be as negative as you like-that’s absolutely what we’re here for. We should be able to be real about how things going and sometimes that’s just admitting “I feel fed up and everything is hard”. Sometimes it’s not so much about trying to do better but accepting it’s a tough time and giving yourself a break. Sending hugs.
Goals are only useful if they’re actually motivating and not condemning (talking to myself here too!). Don’t feel under any pressure to set any. Running just as you are able is a totally valid place to be. That’s what I’m doing too. Maybe I’ll pick up a plan at some point but at the moment, it’s too depressing to see how far off track I am to think about it. Ditching your plan seems like a really sensible decision. Tricking at 7k is still a really decent distance. As you always say, slow and steady, and the longer ones will be waiting for you when you’re ready. ❤️
Yoga seems to be a real positive in a difficult time. Hopefully the Tibetan rites will be a good challenge.
Whether you keep your goals or drop them, I hope you can find something that feels good this week (to quote the lovely Adriene). One step at a time my friend ❤️
Many thanks for your post MissUnderstanding and lovely photo! I hope you are feeling better, bless you, covid is awful. Take it easy as I know it can take a long time to get over it! I have been running 3 times a week and then toning with weights or stretching exercises on most of the other days. It has been very changeable weather wise here-more autumnal and the leaves are starting to turn. I am starting to run for longer around 35 minutes now compared to 30 minutes when it was hot and humid in August, so a bit of progress x
I missed this hiding at the bottom of the thread. Thank you! I’m still a little more tired than usual but it’s minor and manageable. I’ve had some much more normal runs and hopefully the breathing issues are gone now. Phew!!
Sounds like you’ve been doing really well-the change in weather away from that humid heat is so welcomed! Have a great week ❤️
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