HAPPY NEW YEAR to every single one of you lovely runners!!!
I hope you have all had a really lovely Christmas 🎄 & enjoyed the new year celebrations 🥳…but now that the celebrations are over I know that there is going to be lots of runderful questers joining me for my absolute favourite month for quest…I am so happy this is my job this month 😊
I don’t know about you but I always feel like I must resemble a Christmas pudding in the new year & cannot wait to get back to my normal eating routine?! Not that I over indulge but I do eat more than I would during a normal couple of weeks.
So, starting today this is my quest…
I have decided to do RED January, now the last time I did RED January I thought it stood for Run Every Day…so that’s just what I did, when I couldn’t manage a run outside for any reason I just ran around the house, in and out of the kids bedrooms!! They thought I’d gone bonkers!! 😜 🤪 I have since found out that it can also involve other forms of exercise and it actually stands for Rise Every Day. Having spent New Year’s Eve in Whitby I did PLENTY of walking yesterday & after a light breakfast this morning I did PLENTY more walking…what is this weather like??!! I nearly got blown off the jetty into the sea!!
I then drove the 2 hrs home and walked the dog so, given we’re only on day 1, my quest is going well so far 🤣 !! So apart from running & walking I would also like to squeeze some yoga sessions into the month here and there. 🤞🏼
Anyway, that’s enough about me…what about you?? What are your plans? What would you like to achieve this month…how are you feeling? Excited & raring to go or a bit 50/50??
Let me know & let’s get some new year plans in place….
We also have something very exciting too…we have a brand new 10k group introduced this month by our very own superstar MissUnderstanding so maybe your quest could be to join her on the starting line??
Here’s the link for any of you who would like to increase your distance, you’ll be in very good company I’m sure with plenty of motivation & chat about how it’s going
For any newbies, here’s an introduction to 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!
Happy questing everyone
MC
Written by
Mummycav
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Thanks for hosting Mummycav , like you say January is a special month for Quests!
My goals are simple: primarily get back to running consistently three times a week. Hoping to do this with the aid of MissUnderstanding and the 10k plan, though I'll be doing it time based for a change.
I already ran this month - a whole 2 MINUTES today, what a start!!
Also, I want to do workouts from the Nike Training app or similar on my non running days. I did one of these this morning. It would really help if some of the trainers were little and fat like me but never mind, I can but try and aspire to their levels of flexibility
🍏 That bee 🐝 gave me a good smile Mummycav !! Just how I look and feel after all the feasting! Time to get back to my Weekly swim, Pilates and daily walks! Thanks for the timely challenge!
Fantastic Annieapple …I think you’re the biggest fan of my pictures, it takes me ages to find and choose one!! I’m liking the sound of your goals, I love swimming, I just don’t like getting out!! Brrrrrr…x
I'm going to give RED January another go but not get bothered if I can't commit every day.
I made a good start by doing the New Year's Day parkrun in Hyde (East Manchester) this morning.
My usual rules for RED will apply: a minimum of 10 minutes every day. But I won't be continuing into February. The last time (2023) I continued for 89 days but probably triggered a few minor injuries by not giving myself any rest days.
Good for you nowster …you have to do what ever you can fit in…and what works best for you…just like you I’m going to try hard not to get too hung up if I don’t manage every single day…but even a 5/10 minute walk is part of the RED challenge so I’m sure I can manage that…I remember you doing the 89 days…don’t be doing that again, we don’t want anyone paying a visit to the IC 😉
I'm going to try RED January again this year. I did it in 2024 . Minimum run 2k each day as slowly as I like. Last year the consistency improved my mojo quite dramatically - here's hoping for a repeat experience.Good luck with your RED too!
Well...inspired by you, I decided to do RED January again... and as I was already registered, I added my Yoga workout from yesterday!
I am about to embark on today's activity in a short while.
Apart from that... I intend running, but, in line with my commitment to myself I shall continue to do what I am able, when I am able.
I shall aim for my regular three times a week and building distance up slowly... but am prepared to have to tweak. Mr OF will have some post-op and some memory clinic appointments coming up !
Well as I need to reduce my blood sugar 😔 I have not indulged or over indulged this Christmas but your health is your wealth!
I had some weights from Santa so I am doing a workout every other day to increase my puny muscles! Plus running every other day was going to try the 10k again but debating 🤨
I am also doing the 7 days of yoga with the gorgeous Adrienne it was very calming which is also what I need after a few years of turmoil which has really taken its toll on me and my body.
Hey Mummycav ! Thanks for a fab quest! I love the January reset…usually! I’d like it if January came a week later this year-I’ve pulled a muscle in my chest so I can’t run at the moment. I also can’t do a lot of my usual cross training while it heals. I’m already feeling a bit itchy and like I need to get out and do something really sweaty! Luckily, some walks are taking the edge off the restlessness!
My quest? Not to panic and just do what I can until I’m running again. That means focussing on eating well (like many in January I’m feeling a bit lumpy after Christmas!), sleeping well and staying active as much as possible. I don’t know what this will mean for April’s marathon. I think I’ll have lost at least 5 weeks of my training plan to fly and this injury so I might switch to the half. That’s not a decision for now though.
Since January has only had one day so far, I’m currently on track for RED January doing it with one activity every day instead of running every day! I might carry on…,
Happy New Year everyone and big thanks to Mummycav for get us going with facing up to the new month 😀
My overall motto for the month is going to be 'holding pattern', especially given I am starting it with a bug.
I've got a 5K run baked in and as the medal is a Highland cow, I fancy doing it somewhere they are, or usually are at any rate.
I am going to keep what have been my usual goals of recent months (the running, the walking, the yoga, the pelvic floor exercises) and see if they'll sort themselves out without much attention (ie be habits) - after all, I was convinced I'd be way off averaging 10 active minutes a day for December but achieved it without deliberately trying) but for the Quest I have some new wellbeing priorities for you to hold me accountable in your ever gentle way:
Make some basic medical appointments:
1) Cervical smear - always used to be diligent about getting these but have had some upsetting experiences more 'recently' - not the test itself but the nurses, in different ways. I shall practice my "No thank you, I am just here for the smear test" After all, I was so annoyed by the behaviour of the last one that... I started C25K! 😆
2) Eye test
A bit of self-care - the winter months are good for a bit of cosseting and Christmas often brings various unguent gifts and New Year the urge to de-clutter so goal number 3 is
3) Daily hand, foot cream and lip balm
linked to that
4) Donations to charity shops (one of the reasons for this is for MrGMs wellbeing as he claims he can't do his back exercises because there's stuff all over the spare bed 🙄).
5) End the month no heavier (traditionally this, not the festive season itself, is the month I put on weight as there is so much eating up of stuff bought or given for Christmas: the Festival of the Baby Cheeses) so my challenge is to avoid waste and waist!
Well GoogleMe …you’ve got plenty to keep your quest going this month on top of your usual routine..and they are ALL super important..you might just inspire others to get their checks done too…great shout out 😇
You absolutely will! I find with those “mental block runs” (and I’ve had a LOT of them!) giving myself options to I feel in control really helps a. I’ll often aim for a much shorter distance and decide if I want to carry on. I’ll embrace walking breaks as a positive part of the run. I’ll choose routes with clear “section to them so I’ll be thinking about “get to the post box and see how you are” rather than “argh I’ve got so much distance still to cover”. You’ll find what works for you! Good luck!
I started when I did the magic plan-setting out with the option to do the short, medium or long run! I almost always end up doing the full longer distance, but it really helps when I decide to stop because that feels like a positive choice rather than a failure. It’s amazing what mental gymnastics we put ourselves through!!
For my longer runs (in North Manchester along the canal) the routes are such that I have options to curtail at 10km, 12km, 13km, 15km, 10 miles and Half Marathon. I've tried to make it such that the maximum walking time after curtailing a long run would be about 20 minutes.
This came about by mucking about on the plotaroute website experimenting with different possibilities. These are all circular routes, not out-and-back.
With an out-and-back if you've hit a "nope, not working" situation on the outward leg you still have that distance to walk back.
Because of the lower density of roads in rural Wales I have fewer options once I've committed to a longer run when I'm there.
What can sometimes help is to have a lot of shorter segments in your repertoire which you can join together to make a longer distance, but none of which leave you too far from your starting point.
This is really similar to me. There’s an initial out and back I do most runs and then it’s loads of loopy bits. An option to go up and over the hill and end next to the village coffee shop if it’s open and a treat is needed post run. Some are bridleways that are best avoided in rain. Lockdown walking was brilliant for discovering new routes. Over the years, how long each little extension is has become ingrained in my head, and they’ve all got names!
I’ve managed 10 miles never being more than about 4km from home.
My goal this month is to increase my distance to c8.5k because that’s what the loop near my home is and I want to be able to go all the way around rather than part way there and then back again. I’m up to 6.2k now but due to an ankle injury that took two years and a lot of ££ to fix, I’m understandably nervous about pushing too hard and injuring it again! 🤞🏻
I have my first run of the year under my belt, so need to keep pressing on with my c25k re-boot. My next run is W8 R1 and I am enjoying the continous runs much more than I expected. Only managing two runs a week, but adding in a daily YWA yoga practice and doing some strength and conditioning work every other day. I hope to get to those 30 min runs in a few weeks time.
I tried not to overindulge over the christmas period, and am hoping to continue shedding a few pounds this month.
I also need to improve my sleep quality, so will be mindful of not being on my phone late at night, and will read a book instead.
Fantastic Bluebirdrunner …I am welcoming you on my quest train with open arms!! You sound like you’re enjoying your return to c25k & I always find your commitment to your yoga sessions an inspiration…you’re def on it with the yoga!!
Sometimes I go through periods of restless/broken sleep, I’ve tried all sorts to improve it but can’t seem to find anything that helps better than reading a book…I fall asleep and then my book clonks me on the nose and I’m back awake again 🤣🤣…I seem to manage on not much sleep though so I’m not too bothered..if there’s not much of the night left when I do wake up I usually just don my running kit, sneak through the snoring and head out of the door!! 😉 xx
Excellent CBDB ..you’re on track already and we’re only on the 4th…I have enjoyed my 2 week break over Christmas but I am keen to get back to my normal eating routine…infact, just normal everything!!
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