Bye Bye October Quest! Treat yourself and celebrate your goals :)

[Yesletsgo]

October is nearly over so time to wrap up our Quest! Well done everyone who has taken part, whether you're an old faithful or a fresh young thing (in Quest terms anyway). Congratulations on setting your goals and being accountable by posting on here.

Looking back over the month did you achieve what you set out to do? Are your goals smashed in pieces on your floor? Or did life intervene and they are still sitting on the shelf staring at you? There’s always next month to set new goals, work on old goals or reframe what’s important to you as you run. The lovely Oldfloss will be taking the helm in November so you can expect a lot of help and encouragement from her as she shares her wisdom.

For me the month was dominated by travel. I didn’t get much running in, less than 10km all in all. I’ve run more than that in a single morning, let alone week!

This month I was pleased I managed anything. I was aiming for two runs a week but that just wasn’t feasible where I was staying.

One big positive, I did a treadmill run, the first time in about 20 years. I discovered that I quite liked it so I may be toddling along to my local gym when the weather gets worse and the paths are impassable.

By the way, apologies if I confused anyone by calling last week’s Quest post Week 3. It should have been week 4. Obviously I didn’t have all my ducks in a row (ironic it would be that one where I made this rookie error!) 🙃

All in all a pretty good month for me, I’m back home and raring to go. Have a think about your Goals for next month and we can get off to a flying start!!

Here are the October Quest posts:

Week 1: healthunlocked.com/bridgeto...

Week 2: healthunlocked.com/bridgeto...

Week 3: healthunlocked.com/bridgeto...

Week 4: healthunlocked.com/bridgeto... (this says Week 3 but it's actually Week 4!)

Thanks for joining in

[MissUnderstanding Administrator Graduate10]

I’ve had a great month questing! My main goal was to have a good time at the 10k event and that was definitely a success. Not what I’d planned-the weather was awful and my trainers still stink bit it was worth it. New bling is always a win!

I’ve hit 50km already this month and I’m back in a good rhythm of regular running and strength. One of my goals was to run some different routes and that’s been fun. In a moment of enthusiasm/madness, I’ve signed up for a marathon next April. It's exciting and a bit scary-that’s probably appropriate!! I’ve got a new training plan and ticks are starting to mount up.

So next month, I’m hoping to carry on the momentum. Bring it on!

Thanks for keeping us on track! You’ve got loads to celebrate too!! Happy November questing to you!

[Yesletsgo Administrator Graduate10 in reply to MissUnderstanding]

You've definitely had a good month MissU!! Great 10k, bling, a new and very challenging project in the Marathon, you go girl as they say

Happy November Quest to you too, keep up your momentum, there's not stopping you 🏃‍♀️💨💨💨

[GoogleMe Graduate10]

I can be a bit of a take it to the wire gal with my Quests but I am going to report in now - testament to the power of our forum Quests because when I saw this post yesterday I thought 'No, I'm not reporting in until I've done my 5k run' which persuaded me not to let it slip another day.

So - 5K run done (it was hard going so I don't think I was merely procrastinating for the sake of procrastinating), evidence submitted and I can sit back and await my bat medal. I'd aimed to do 3 more runs over the month. It's possible I'll get one in on Thursday but I'll settle for 2 which is the same as last month.

Just two more active minutes to ensure I average 10 brisk minutes a day (the app was being extremely mean yesterday, how can my run not be all brisk minutes???) But looks likely I won't get much above 21 'Active 10s' rather than 31 aimed for. I don't think I can put that down to the app's behaviour entirely.

And the other activities I was hoping to tick off 31 times (not necessarily every day) have fallen well short. I might just about get half the yoga done and not even that for the 15 minute declutter sessions. But I can feel and see the benefit of what I have done. - which is the most important bit!

Meet up with a friend - nope. Takes two to tango of course and I have come to some conclusions about managing my share of caring responsibilities and stated them to people who need to know. On the bright side, have entered some discussions with someone we all know and love about a meet up...

Thanks Yesletsgo for your superb hosting this month through all your travels.

[Yesletsgo Administrator Graduate10 in reply to GoogleMe]

Well I am so pleased that I helped you get that run done I'd love to see the bat medal - visions of you running cross country with your cape flying behind you 😂🦇

As to the 31 times goals, you have done so many more of these activities than if there hadn't been a target of 31. It's all about what you do do, not what you could have done.

Your meet up will happen in its own time, you have to coordinate busy people so it's all the better when it happens.

Here's to November!

[GoogleMe Graduate10 in reply to Yesletsgo]

I think I am going to post one photo with all my British Wildlife Medals when I've done them🤞 And again, thanks you and the Quest I got out and did that extra run on the last day, plus half (because plank pose and me are strangers) a very amusing Ekhart Yoga class called Count Scapula (hard to do for laughing 1...2...3...4) plus a couple more personal practices and notched up to 24 Active 10s 😀😀😀😀

[Annieapple]

🍏Bye bye lovely summer treats. Yummy photo! Thanks for writing fab quest posts in spite of travelling. We loved those photos!

🍏 Get to grips with our new treadmill.. never ever used one before … 🙈

🍏 Continue my Physiotherapy program to recovery

🍏Watch the diet… I find it less easy to stay away from unhealthy snacks as it gets colder!

🍏 Try to get back to my weekly swim session

Happy Questing everyone 😊

[Yesletsgo Administrator Graduate10 in reply to Annieapple]

I feel cold even looking at that ice cream now! Glad you enjoyed the Quest.

Good luck with the treadmill, swimming and physio. Every step matters and these are safe ways to build yourself up again.

Oh the temptation to snack when it's cold! Divert yourself to healthy soups and stews and save the cakes and sweeties for special occasions - like, I don't know - it's Wednesday!!

[Annieapple in reply to Yesletsgo]

🍏🤣☕️ 🍩 it’s Wednesday!

[Cassie_7]

Great photo and post there Yesletsgo! 🍦🍧 Treadmills are a great alternative! I have been out running 2/3 times for most of the weeks, not as often as I would have liked, due to commitments and very wet weather. On some of those stormy days I stretched and toned with hand weights indoors. So on the whole, I managed to keep some level of fitness going throughout 🍄October 🍁with some gardening at times x

[Yesletsgo Administrator Graduate10]

Thanks Cassie_7

Getting 2-3 runs a week is great, especially with all the things you could have used as an excuse not to get out there.

The garden will keep you fit too!

[CBDB Graduate10]

Already end of month! These quests fly by!

So good to read your safely back home!

it’s been quite a busy month for me! Only one questchas been left on the side, replaced with another one. So all good in my book:

1) keep running 2-3 times (✅): I only have one last 5k run to do in my 4-week NRC Beyond plan, which was all about experiencing different running experiences. It was fun, especially as it was a return to NRC and Coach Benett for me. (I get bored when listening to his podcast, but his NRC runs are just great!)

2) successfully do the A10 25day walking challenge (✅ TADAAA!!! Can’t believe it! I know really feel I need my daily pre-lunchtime walk. It’s really become a habit! I have a perfect score for daily walks throughout this month. Today, last day of the month and I must get out there to not blow my perfect score!

3) continue with my 5k rowing plan, finishing it in November (✅ am on week 4 of 5 weeks)

4) yes, I’ve dropped daily 5 Tibetan Rites, but ,…. I have replaced it with daily 5 min Rope Flow!

5) and next month I start on a little walking training plan for my new treadmill. I think I need a plan to get used to its 3% incline.

Tadaaaaa!

Thank you for a lovely time questing!

[Yesletsgo Administrator Graduate10 in reply to CBDB]

Well done with keeping to all those goals. You do sooo much that I feel quite encouraged to know that you sometimes drop an activity, even if it is in favour of another one.

I'm just starting an NRC plan, they're great aren't they? Good ol' Coach B sending his encouragement, great when it's to run slowly 😂

And well done with the walking every day, little things like this add up to a whole lot of activity that's way better for us than sitting down and having another cuppa over lunch

[Oldfloss Administrator Graduate10]

Well... I made it and I did get TWO runs in, in this last week... Run 3 tomorrow!

Building back, slow and steady and doing what I am able...

Regular strength and flex work... plenty of stretching...yoga wake ups and lots of breathing and mindful exercising ! Walks YES!

So I made it ! Looking forward to the next Quest, enormously... because it is ME hosting it

Thank you for a great Quest which has, with all the support, kept me going throughout!

On we go ! See you all next month!

[Yesletsgo Administrator Graduate10 in reply to Oldfloss]

Fantastic, I know you've had a lot to deal with this month so well done for fitting in those runs.

Make use of all the stretching and flexing and pat yourself on the back Then look in the mirror and smile, that smile is from me! 😘

I'm looking forward to next month's Quest too - we're in expert hands

[SueAppleRun Graduate10 60minGraduate]

I looked back and I didn't really do a quest, but I kept meaning to....does that count? I did the walking challenge though and kept that up for most the month, hopefully soon some running will happen.

[Yesletsgo Administrator Graduate10 in reply to SueAppleRun]

It's the thought that counts SueAppleRun , walking is the next best thing to running and it's really important not to try and do too much too soon. You definitely don't need me telling you that, you know it already

[SueAppleRun Graduate10 60minGraduate in reply to Yesletsgo]

I just don't have the energy any more, I'm hoping I'll get the iron infusions soon then I might, I haven't walked today but have done some weeding and planted the last of the bulbs I bought in September 😀

[Yesletsgo Administrator Graduate10 in reply to SueAppleRun]

Well you're beating me on the practical stuff, that's for sure. I cleared a bed the other day and haven't even bought the bulbs yet!

[SueAppleRun Graduate10 60minGraduate in reply to Yesletsgo]

I probably should have waited, when I started to dig to plant bulbs I was just digging up bulbs that were already there, most of my garden is shingle or patio so I started by filling pots with bulbs but there's a bit out the front that's trees, plants, weeds and soil so I've planted a lot of daffodils and crocuses there. The picture shows the bit I've cut back and weeded, so should be full of daffodils in spring

Trees