Hello everyone, welcome to the one and only October Quest! Thank you so much to MissUnderstanding for a great Quest in September.
Can that possibly be right? October already? Where is the year going?
On the plus side, October is a great month to run. Lovely golden autumn days, crisp leaves, the feeling that the year is winding down and nature is getting ready to rest. On the downside, it can be cold, wet and miserable and to add insult to injury the clocks go back. Let’s dwell on the positives instead.
Running in the cold is much more pleasant than the heat. Last year I set myself a challenge to see how long I could keep running in my shorts and vest. I think I lasted until November though I’d stand to be corrected.
My own running is constrained by being on holiday and (get out your tiny violins if your frozen fingers will allow 😊) the fact it’s still hot here in Greece. (Apologies, sending sunshine your way ☀☀☀😎
Whatever your personal challenges, the factors that are stopping you from getting out there and running are (unless you’re ill or injured) likely almost as much in your head as physical . So October is a great time to shake things up before we settle into winter so that we can all have a fantastic running month
My suggestions? Firstly, a routine, so that the default is to run unless there really is good reason not to. Secondly, not having too much routine - make sure you enjoy your run. Don't always run the same course, speed or distance.
Thirdly, there are days when 3k is enough so why not accept that it’s enough, rather than feeling like you’ve let yourself down because it wasn’t 5k or 10k or whatever? When it's cold and muddy 3k can feel like a lot further, so remember that 3k is just another number, and the effort you've made would take you a lot further (if that was your original goal) on an easier day.
My Quest this month is pretty modest – run twice a week, at least 3k. I may set some more goals later in the month depending on where we are and what we’re doing. My aim is consistency, with an achievable goal.
So what about you? How’s your running been? What are your aims for October? What are your weekly goals going to be?
Can’t wait to hear from you!
Yesletsgo and the team xx
—————————————————————————-
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, we want to know what you're aiming for!
Written by
Yesletsgo
Administrator
To view profiles and participate in discussions please or .
🍏 oh we are enjoying your Greek adventure. That photo inspires the travel bug! 🐞 Unbelievable that it’s quest time again! These weeks are flying by! My quest has to be about keeping the odds in my favour for a return to running at some point.
🍏 Finish the 3 part podcast on Radio 4 about the origins of running and the Greek Olympics🫶
🍏 Walk every single day 🚶
🍏 Continue strength & flex to be run ready when the day comes! 💪
🍏 Keep an eye on the sales for new running gear.. ☺️
“consistency with an achievable goal” I ❤️ it! Thank you xx
Love a bit of cinnamon here! And absolutely love new quest day. Despite knowing it was coming (and being excited about it!), it’s caught me off guard. I was planning on finding new plans all last month. That just feels like one thing too many on top of what’s going to be a busy couple of months so instead, I think I’m just going to try out more of the runs my garmin recommends for me. It knows I’ve got an event coming up in about three weeks so they look sensible. Why give myself another job to go? I’ll choose three or four runs a week from what it suggests and adapt as I need to.
Strength needs to be a focus too-I’m going to add more weights to what I’m currently using. That always feels like a milestone. I’ve noticed the ones I’m doing now are suddenly feeling easy so time to go up a bit I think.
Lastly, I’ve got in a bit of a rut with my routes and I’m going variations of the same one a lot. I’ve got lots available to me-I just need to consciously think about it a bit more. I’m going to aim for each of my three runs to be different. That might be a bit ambitious but we’ll see how it goes!
So…
🏃♀️Three/four runs a week mainly following Garmin suggestions, with one speed run
🏃♀️Gradually up the weights at strength class
🏃♀️Run three different routes this week
Happy questing everyone! Thank so much for hosting and sending sunshine Yesletsgo !
Downed a pumpkin spice latte on 29th, to see what all the fuss was about. It was OK - the architecture in which I drank it was the best bit.
Goals this month to be largely familiar:
1) A 5K run for a lovely bat medal in the British Wildlife medal a month series. And at least two or three other runs. (Two would equal last month)
2) Average 10 'brisk minutes' a day on the Active 10 app, and 31 'Active 10's recorded on the app (walking and running)
3) 31+ yoga sessions, of which 15+ are classes from my subscription (this is yoga in its widest sense so will include meditation) I'll also think about completing a programme from the subscription as part of that.
plus
4) 31+ 15 minute sessions of decluttering/organising physical things
5) Meet up with a friend (that's a bit dependent on her availability meshing with mine of course - and there's a reason I need to set this as a goal!)
We are very attached to our bats at home - first thing MrGM saw when scoping the place out (I think they live in the school above us). Not as many as there were but still there. We are desperately trying to fly the flag for wildlife friendly gardens. Lost our hedgehogs after work by neighbours who don't share our values.
Yes, we’re with you with wildlife gardening. Although our garden is not that big. But it has had dragonflies, mice, all sorts of birds, foxes (poor chickens didn’t last), squirrels (always) and even snakes. I miss seeing the bats. But I’ve even once encountered a badger in our garden, but we are fortunate to live at the outskirts of a town, adjacent to fields and alongside a railway corridor that attracts all sorts of wanted (and unwanted) wildlife.
We laid a couple of rolls of new turf and a family of badgers would roll them up overnight to get the worms out from underneath. Poor things are being driven out of their habitat by lots of house building locally.
I love the idea of a bat medal, suggests you should be running with a big cape and mask
Really good to be getting in lots of walking and yoga.
Not sure I could commit to all the decluttering sessions, I definitely have to be in exactly the right mood. This makes it easy. If I'm not in the right mood then it just doesn't happen. Best of luck, you'll feel so much better getting rid of all the stuff that isn't really doing much except taking up space.
With goals like this you deserve a wonderful meet up with your friend
It is cooler where you are heading soon... we can handle that x Your Greek ohotos are very envy making!!!
Okay. here goes!
Routine exercise has got to be upped a tad. I need to focus on my arms. Unfortunately I did a twinge thing moving my computer chair, No idea what, but it has made me think I need to give the arms TLC.
Tai Chi- 20 minute morning workout every morning. mind and body refresh.
Run when I am able ,yes, but, try to make sure I get a slightly longer, at least 5K one, in once a week.
Stay calm. Stay strong, Stay believing in myself.
There!
Happy, safe questing all and thank you Yesletsgo for this ! x
Great idea with the arms Oldfloss , I always forget them but they're important too. The Tai Chi sounds like a good idea too, it always looks so serene, so helpful for strength and serenity.I hope you can get the longer runs in too, not easy for someone with as much on her plate as you but so worthwhile.
Please keep believing in yourself, we're all rooting for you x
Content on HealthUnlocked does not replace the relationship between you and doctors or other healthcare professionals nor the advice you receive from them.
Never delay seeking advice or dialling emergency services because of something that you have read on HealthUnlocked.