October Quest Week 3: Get your ducks in a row before the clocks change

[Yesletsgo]

Welcome Questers new and old, it’s so great to see fresh faces as well as the regulars. If you haven’t joined in before it’s not too late, all the instructions are at the end of this post.

I hope you’re keeping to the goals you set yourself and reaping the benefits.

Time is passing and it’s now the third week in October. I have to confess I don’t like this part of the year. The knowledge that the clocks will change on Saturday plays on my mind. I hate the dark evenings when the days draw prematurely to a close. I suppose that this is why all the comfort foods – soups, stews, shepherds pie and so on - were invented.

The upside is that it’ll be getting light earlier in the morning so this is good news for the early morning runners among us. Let’s concentrate on the positives of this time of year – autumn colours, cooler weather, I’ll let you suggest your personal favourites.

If you now find yourself running in the dark please make sure you make sure that you can see and be seen, and if you’re a morning person sorry, your run will be taking the place of your lie in!

How is your Quest going? Mine has pretty much fallen by the wayside. I haven’t run since last Tuesday. All week I was very busy packing up the boat and making it ready for the winter, then on Saturday we set off on our trek across Europe to drive home. At the time of writing (Tuesday) I’m in Italy, still another couple of days on the road before I’m back home and can go for a run across the fields. I really need it! So that’s this week’s goal for me – have a run in the beautiful countryside near where I live. I just need to get back to my routine…

So, how is it for you? Are all your ducks in a row or has life thrown the cat among the pigeons?

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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

PS my ducks are as much in a row as the ducks in the picture!

[SueAppleRun Graduate10 60minGraduate]

I'm a cat among the pigeons, still waiting for an appointment for iron infusion and a few weeks after that hopefully a return of more energy, but I'm not running at the moment my legs and head want to go but then I get exhausted for days after even a short run .

[Yesletsgo Administrator Graduate10 in reply to SueAppleRun]

You're having a tough slog, the iron should help. Once you get going there'll be no stopping you, you'll be like a cheetah crossing the savanna, not a pussycat chasing the birdies!!

[CBDB Graduate10]

Hia! I’m fairly earlish this week with considering my month quest, so it’s just been 5 days since my last review.

1) keep running 2-3 times (✅): rocky still. As I’m increasing my other activities (daily walks), often it hits my running regularity. But looking at my diary, I’m still running in the average 2 times per week. On my NRC plan I’m on week 3 run 2.

2) successfully do the A10 25day walking challenge (✅ yes we are on day 22 and I've been walking daily! Even if only 10 minutes, but often 20 minutes at lunch break. It’s been great seeing the pics of all our walkers pooping up on Active10 and I now need my daily lunchtime walk and don’t want to miss it. So I must have built a daily habit! 😃

3) continue with my 5k rowing plan, finishing it in November (✅ still on week 3’s five rows and still going well)

4) probably fair to say that I’ve dropped daily 5 Tibetan Rites, but I still integrate rite 5 into post-row stretches.

5) still doing and learning Rope Flow! Often just as a 5-10 min warmup before heading out for my walk.

[Yesletsgo Administrator Graduate10 in reply to CBDB]

Good to hear your plans are all going...according to plan, if you'll pardon the pun (sorry, it's been a long day lol).

I was curious and googled 5 Tibetan Rites and was taken with the simplicity and apparent effectiveness so you've inspired me to try and make it part of my daily routine when I get home. It should be something I can do on the boat so if I can get into the habit it'll be easy to carry on with it next year when we set off again, thanks

The rope flow sounds intriguing too, sounds like you're persisting

Well done

[CBDB Graduate10 in reply to Yesletsgo]

Oh yes. We did a Tibetan Rites challenge a couple of month ago over on S&F. This post has all the videos and links you might need: healthunlocked.com/strength...

The rites are great as the routine is so short and simple, really.

[GoogleMe Graduate10]

Wise words from you Yesletsgo and the icing on the cake of imagining all your travel views. But I can understand the slight niggle at what it does to active goals.

I am one of those who looks forward to the clocks going back. It's daft I know but it always feels as though GMT is 'proper' time.

Not too bad a week - I am currently achieving the average 10 active minutes a day, some work to do to catch up with the actual Active 10s. Went for what turned out to be a more strenuous walk than anticipated but the kind that doesn't impress the app. It doesn't care about uphill yomps through pathless heather.

A short run. I need to get better at leaving the house soon enough for me to have time for a 5k before daycare pickup.

Yoga could be better, as could the clearing/sorting sessions (but both have seen *some* action - I was particularly pleased with composting several moth ravaged jumpers, could feel the mental weight lifting)

The one thing that is a dismal effort is the walk with a friend as I haven't even sent a message to arrange it (TBF neither has she but...)

[Yesletsgo Administrator Graduate10 in reply to GoogleMe]

Maybe I've just got the wrong idea about the daylight saving thing, I'm going to try out your approach and see if I can make the dark my friend

Sounds like you're sticking to your Quest goals, oh the frustration of tough terrain and dismal numbers, we really shouldn't pay attention to them but it's so hard not to.

I love the idea of composting old jumpers! Obviously they must be natural fibres to do that. Apparently you can test the health of your soil by burying old cotton knickers - I learned that from The Archers! The quicker they disintegrate the healthier your soil!

Have a good run, and make the effort to call your friend, you know you'll be happier for it!

[Oldfloss Administrator Graduate10]

I am here... not exactly u and running but, if the fog clears, I shall get one on in before 8!

Routine exercises ongoing... yoga as and when.. . LOTS if walking...!

I am moving, but would love for the runs to be in there more!

Thanks for this..it does keep me going... ! Safe journey you! Happy Questing all!

PS... Not sure my ducks even know where the water is!!! x

[Yesletsgo Administrator Graduate10 in reply to Oldfloss]

Hi Oldfloss , sounds like you are doing more than you give yourself credit for. All that walking adds up you know, you'd be quick enough to reassure someone else who was lamenting their inactivity

The runs are waiting for you, you just have to put your gear on, step out of the door and look for them. Easy enough to say it I know, but it doesn't have to be a long run, even 10 or 15 minutes can get the blood flowing and calm the spirit.

PS the ducks don't have to be in the water to be in a row

Ducks on a beach

[Annieapple]

🍏Thanks for challenging us with this Quest Yesletsgo & taking time out in the midst of your travels to write it. The serenity of that beautiful, photo especially with the swan centre page only tells half the story… underneath those legs are paddling furiously!

🍏Enjoying The 28 day walking challenge over on Active 10 & will continue this & like CBDB It’s becoming a wonderful habit in spite of being a short term goal to get me back to running in the future.

🍏Happy Questing everyone..

[Yesletsgo Administrator Graduate10 in reply to Annieapple]

Happy you like the photo Annieapple , you're right about the swan!

Glad you're enjoying the walking, it's a fantastic habit and will build you up for when you're able to run again.

Enjoy your Quest, it's going well

[MissUnderstanding Administrator Graduate10]

Great post as ever-I love that photo!

Last week’s quest was all about getting ready for a 10k event on Sunday. Massive overthinking of what to wear, take and how to get there but it all went smoothly and I had a great race…despite some horrendous weather! That was the highlight of the week. I also ran twice and did some stretchy yoga.

Now that’s done, I’m back on the training plan (week 2/25!). I’m wondering whether that’s a bit long mentally to be following a plan but at the moment, it’s lovely to have something on the fridge accumulating ticks. I’ve got a little bit of the fear that I’ll have injury problems again so I’ve started doing some specific IT band strength (strength runner’s IT band rehab routine plus some things the physio told me to do when I had issues) a few times a week on top of the gym. I still really need to find a programme to freshen things up there-I might ask MrU for a few PT sessions as a Christmas present! The last (and nicest!) goal for this week’s quest is to look for a half marathon at a suitable point in my training plan.

So…

🏃‍♀️Continue with the training plan… three runs this week, 5k, 6.5k,11k (or 8k if I switch the cutback weeks around) plus cross training (swim and Zumba!)

🏃‍♀️2x gym strength, 3x IT band routine (this is only short and done at home)

🏃‍♀️Find a half marathon event

Happy questing everyone!

[Yesletsgo Administrator Graduate10 in reply to MissUnderstanding]

Thanks MissUnderstanding , the birds were on Lake Como in Italy. It was pretty dull and overcast but they didn't seem to mind - much like you doing your 10K, congratulations on completing it despite the adverse conditions.

Glad you're enjoying the Marathon plan. 25 weeks is a long time to keep to a plan but with something as physically and mentally demanding as a marathon you can't rush it. The strength exercises are a great idea, mind you PT sessions will certainly give Mr U a challenge when he comes to wrap them up to put under the Christmas tree 😂

Your persistence and determination will carry you through! Good luck finding a suitable HM as well.

[Progressoverperfect Graduate10]

Good afternoon, I have started my 7 week 10k plan on Tuesday with my first interval session, I really enjoyed it, today I had 3 miles easy and tomorrow I have my 4 mile long run.Really enjoying my running at the moment ☺️

[Yesletsgo Administrator Graduate10 in reply to Progressoverperfect]

That's a great start, the rhythm of interval-easy run-long run feels really good. No getting bored when every run is different, no wonder you're enjoying it

Keep at it and keep us updated on your progress