October Quest Week 3: the best of the season to you all

[Yesletsgo]

Week 3 of October already! The season of mists and mellow fruitfulness, low sunshine through the clouds casting golden light on the changing leaves, beautiful. Let’s not talk about the downsides to autumn.

Autumn is a great time to run. We had a poll earlier in the year and a significant number of us said it was our favourite. This year though I’m missing out. Poor me, I’m still in Greece though coming towards the end of my stay.

My last week’s Quest goal was to get a run done by last Saturday. A combination of boat life and inertia isn’t conducive to activity but now I’m staying in a house (my sister’s) so have no excuses and had a run today. I’m only three days late, oops. For this week I am aiming to run at least twice before setting off on the long drive back to England.

So how has your Quest gone? Will you be showing me up as the lazy slob I’m turning into or are my poor achievements making you feel better about yourself? Last week we had some great posts, covering everything as a possible goal – exercise, diet, self motivation and plans to be followed. Are you sticking to these?

It’s not too late to join in with this month’s Quest, just tell us you’re with us and we’ll help you to stick to your resolutions.

In the meantime I'm sending you sunshine ☀ to show up all the lovely colours of the season 🍂🍁🍂🍁🍁

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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, we want to know what you're aiming for!

Yesletsgo and the team xx

[Annieapple]

🍏 Oh we are going to miss these beautiful photos and heartwarming travel posts from Greece. Well done on your run!

Really pleased to say my ongoing quest of walking briskly every day is going well. I am being encouraged now to using a cane rather than my hubby. So that’s exactly my quest this week

🍏 walk independently and briskly every day plus get used to the cane.

🍏 continue my prescribed S & F exercises

🍏 Drink more water now the heating is back on again.

🍏 Use the vision of running again as motivation for all the rehab ahead of me

Happy questing everyone 🦯 🚶‍♀️ 😉

[Yesletsgo Administrator Graduate10 in reply to Annieapple]

It really is a wonderful place and going straight back to cold dark evenings will be a shock but I can't complain really,can I?

Your growing independence is inspiring, and the cane will help you achieve even more. The S&F too, it all helps. The prospect of going for a run is a great motivator and will keep you going if things get tough.

Oh, and the water, very important too!

[MissUnderstanding Administrator Graduate10]

Tbat sky 😍😍😍 I’m loving your Greek quest. Send some feta my way! The closest I’m going to get is Lidl Greek week…

I’ve had a pretty good week. I’ve run three times in three different places. There was a fab 7k with an unexpectedly fast 5k on the weekend. MrU picked me up from the next village-it’s so nice running from somewhere to somewhere else instead of a loop or an out and back. The drive back is fab for realising you’ve actually gone quite a long way! I’ve also got my first 3 miles ticked off my marathon plan, which crazily needs starting now since I’ve chosen such a long one. Excited though!

I’m running a 10k on Sunday so this week is all about sleeping well, eating well and not arriving on the start line with doms! I’ve switched weights for yoga. I still need to plan my travel. MrU can’t crew so I think I’m going to be on the train. Thats what I’m most nervous about! Wish me luck!!

Have a fab week all xx

[misswobble Graduate10 in reply to MissUnderstanding]

Lidl Greek week has some goodly running snacks! 😋. Individually wrapped inside a bigger bag are a selection of three flavours - basically nuts and seeds encased in a honey shell. I usually have a stash in the cupboard, plus the nugget sized oat, thyme, orange biscuits. They’re great as they don’t crumble in the pocket but are easy to eat on the run. Not sticky either 🙂

[MissUnderstanding Administrator Graduate10 in reply to misswobble]

Oooh they sound wonderful! I love the tins of aubergines, green beans, gigantes beans, vine leaves etc and always buy loads for when I can’t be bothered with making lunch. The frozen pastries (mini feta ones, the cheese and leek scroll things, the bougatsa) are amazing!! This is making me hungry despite just having eaten lunch!! Thanks for the tip off about the run snacks!

[Yesletsgo Administrator Graduate10 in reply to MissUnderstanding]

You're both making me hungry too and I'm in Greece! Sounds like Lidl has a better selection than the shops on the island 😂

You're doing really well getting the distances in, 26 weeks is a long time to be training for an event but with the Marathon I daresay you can't cut corners. Really looking forward to hearing about your progress.

Good luck with the 10K as well. Taking care of yourself and not overdoing things this week is really important so maybe have a few of those Lidl delicacies with a clear conscience, you'll need all the energy you can use on Sunday. Hope the train journey is straightforward and the kms fly by 🏃‍♀️💨

[misswobble Graduate10 in reply to MissUnderstanding]

I’d like to grow the gigantic beans but can’t lay my hands on any seed. Love em 😋

The Eridanous range has some fab eats in it 😀

[Cassie_7]

Beautiful picture Yesletsgo, how amazing to be in Greece! The choice between 🌳🌿Spring and 🍁🍄autumn was really difficult- both are really great seasons for running. It is great you got out for a run today! I have been very busy, but i managed to get out for a run for 40 mins today in the misty fine drizzle. It was invigorating and lovely to be outside, a bit damp underfoot, but definitely worth it! On other days, I have squeezed in a bit of toning/stretching whenever I can. Wow driving back from Greece, that is a feat of endurance! Safe travels 💓

[Yesletsgo Administrator Graduate10 in reply to Cassie_7]

Thank you Cassie_7

Running in drizzle can be very enjoyable if you've got the right clothes on and you're hot enough. The toning and stretching will help too.

Funny you mention endurance, when I start a long day's driving I tap into the feeling at the beginning of a long run - just one step after another and I'll get there

Keep at it!

[Cassie_7 in reply to Yesletsgo]

Yes thanks, the old saying.... Rome wasn't built in a day..... is so true! I would not even attempt a long marathon without preparation.

[SueAppleRun Graduate10 60minGraduate]

How lovely, autumn running and photos are really great.I've totally got lost in my quests, so forgetting what's gone and moving on...

This week I'll try and continue the walk challenge with a bit of running when I can .

[misswobble Graduate10 in reply to SueAppleRun]

keeping moving is the thing 🙂. I hope you’re feeling well this morning 🙂👍

I’ve got the old hound dog in tow today so enjoying his leisurely pace 🐕

[SueAppleRun Graduate10 60minGraduate in reply to misswobble]

I miss my dog, as she got older we used to amble all over the place.

The sun is shining here so I'm gardening 😁

[Yesletsgo Administrator Graduate10 in reply to SueAppleRun]

Sometimes the Quest is just part of what we do and keeping on with the walking and running is paying dividends for you.

Enjoy the sunshine

[misswobble Graduate10 in reply to SueAppleRun]

My running pal is too old to run now so we just amble about. He’s got a poorly paw at the moment so was a bit hampered yesterday, but we managed three short walks 🐕

I was pottering in the veg garden the other day, getting the squashes gathered in 🙂Got quite toasty 😀

[Oldfloss Administrator Graduate10]

Hello... I am here... just!

Still exercising and still walking but my runs... oh my... no run for nearly a week.

But.. it is a s it is... ,The three As are really coming into their own right now, Annieapple !

It is hard... the will is there, but the time is not. It will come.

I am focusing on taking in the beauty of the world, whenever I am out there... your photograph is so beautiful! if I cannot run, I will walk, if I cannot walk, I will stand and I will stare.

The runs as I keel saying to folk are patient.. they will wait for me, thank goodness.

Keep questing folks, your posts are so wonderfully helpful to me x

[Annieapple in reply to Oldfloss]

🍏 “if I cannot run, I will walk, if I cannot walk, I will stand and I will stare.” 🤣Lots of staring happening in my life right now! Love this Oldfloss

[Oldfloss Administrator Graduate10 in reply to Annieapple]

We stand and we stare together !! x

[Yesletsgo Administrator Graduate10 in reply to Oldfloss]

Can I stare too? Sometimes it's just wonderful to imprint the good stuff on our memory and store it for harder times.

The run will call you when you're ready...

[misswobble Graduate10 in reply to Oldfloss]

Standing and staring is under-estimated. The dog I walk has always done a lot of it so I joined in. It has a lot to recommend it 😀🐕🏃‍♀️

[Oldfloss Administrator Graduate10 in reply to misswobble]

I agree. totally.... I love standing and staring...no dog ...but I do it anyway... and take loads of photographs.. Just breathing in everything... works wonders!

Good to see you here x

[misswobble Graduate10 in reply to Oldfloss]

Hi OF 👋😘

[Oldfloss Administrator Graduate10 in reply to misswobble]

Helloxxx

[misswobble Graduate10 in reply to Oldfloss]

Hi shug 😀. I’m loafing about on the settee, resting my weary legs. I’d take myself off to bed but I just remembered the Tesco man is coming but not til 9-10 pm. Trying to keep awake so am browsing t’internet 😁

I ran a 20 miler today 🏃‍♀️ Glad one’s out of the way 🙂

[Oldfloss Administrator Graduate10 in reply to misswobble]

Oh my!!!! That is brilliant.... but a late Tesco delivery... no! I have my deliveries before 8.30... always!

[misswobble Graduate10 in reply to Oldfloss]

He was here at dead on 9 on so I hastily stashed it and cleared bed 🛌

[Yesletsgo Administrator Graduate10 in reply to misswobble]

Animals seem to have the right idea, enjoy the moment for what it is.

[misswobble Graduate10 in reply to Yesletsgo]

he’s a hound so he likes to pause to scent the air. He can take quite some time to decide which scent to follow. I just tag along 😁🐕

[GoogleMe Graduate10 in reply to Oldfloss]

Big hugs Oldfloss No runs for me for similar reasons I suspect.

[Oldfloss Administrator Graduate10 in reply to GoogleMe]

Hug received...one coming to you !

[GoogleMe Graduate10]

Lovely to read what everyone is up to... and not up to!

I can keep those in the latter camp company. Did get caught up with the average 10 brisk minutes 😀 'Popped' up to see the deer rut on the moor... just the one splendiferously antlered beast and his laaaaaadeeez and a few distant 'loser!' bellows from him to any stag listening, but honour was satisfied.

Added a very few of the other shorts of sessions. (I don't think anyone else would be able to tell that those 15 minute decluttering sessions have had any impact - but I can!) And have got togged up to run umpteen times...

[Yesletsgo Administrator Graduate10]

Well for someone who claims not to be doing much it sounds like you are maximising the things you have done! That stag sounds like a sight to be treasured, fantastic. You've got your priorities right.

15 minutes of decluttering is nearly 2 hours over a week - pat yourself on the back. Tackling a big task in small steps is the best way to get it done. If you see the difference that's all that matters (this is from a woman whose friends, when we were in our 20s, would congratulate me if they could see my carpet).

[CBDB Graduate10]

I’m late ⏰ I’m late! By now you probably have done all your runs at your sisters and started the homeward journey!

Weather is beautiful here this morning, so you might arrive back to a sunny England! It’s also pretty warm at the moment!

What a week! It’s been busy in our household!

So looking over my quests (I love these regular quest posts, affording us to reflect on how far or how consistently or how safely we have moved forward):

1) keep running 2-3 times (✅): yes, but not over the last 3 days as work has been exceedingly eating into my free time. But there were also pubs and nights-out involved, so fun nevertheless. This month I did decide to rather do the fun 4-week NRC plan with some hilarious Coach Bennett experiences! (The 1-minute run is THE BEST AND THE FUNNIEST!!!). So the start to my planned 10k plan is a bit on hold as I go through the NRC RUN BEYOND plan. I am about to start week 3.

2) successfully do the A10 25day walking challenge (✅ yes we are on day 17 and I’ve done a daily walk 17times! I am now on track to get my Perfect Month badge on our A10 walking App, which has eluded me for years!!!

3) continue with my 5k rowing plan, finishing it in November (✅ am on week 3, so still going well)

4) At the start to the month I had set out to continue doing daily 5 Tibetan Rites, but that had to be out on hold ✖️ because ……

5) ….. I have fallen in love with a new S&F practice, that of Rope Flow! We completed a 4-day beginners challenge learning how to Rope Flow on S&F and now I’m hooked! More info in our now dedicated S&F folder filled with Row Flow posts at healthunlocked.com/strength...

Have a wonderful journey back home! And if you are already back in the UK, welcome back home!

[Yesletsgo Administrator Graduate10]

Thanks CBDB , setting off tomorrow morning, definitely not bright and early. If I've got to drive I'm going to set my own timeframes thank you Will be home in 4-5 days unless we get distracted

You've definitely got goals 1-3 covered, well done, it takes dedication when you have so many other demands on your time. Have to say I'm intrigued by the Rope Flow, going to check it out once I'm home.

Thanks again and happy Questing

[CBDB Graduate10 in reply to Yesletsgo]

🥰😘👍🏽 Safe travel!

[Progressoverperfect Graduate10]

Good morning, may I join the Quest? I have a 10km race in December and have just completed the C25K following injury. I have downloaded Nike Running Club App and am starting the 8 week plan tomorrow.So my quest is to run 4 times this coming week, focusing on the new elements of training I have not done before which are part of the NRC 8 week plan.

[Yesletsgo Administrator Graduate10]

Hello Progressoverperfect , you are very welcome to join the Quest.The NRC 10k plan is great, challenging in a good way and really enjoyable. Remember, you don't have to do all 5 runs each week and you can take longer than a week to do them if you want. As your run is in December you might not be able to stretch the time too much.

As a 10k Graduate you know what you're doing so best of luck, go for it (and come back next week to let us all know how you get on 😁)