Well here we are in February, having endured some truly offputting weather for what seemed like the fifteen long weeks of January. Thank you to Mummycav for hosting last month, at least one thing starting 2025 was great 😊
The days are now perceptibly longer, not by much but enough that it’s nearly light in the mornings, and the evenings are starting just a little bit later. When we get a few decent days the incentive to pull on our running shoes and get out of the house will become irresistible🤞. If the weather doesn't cooperate at least we know that spring is on the way, the worst of the darkness of winter is behind us.
So, on to the Quest. For me the major challenge is to keep going with the Group 10k (or 60 minutes if you prefer. I do 😊). This encourages consistency which for me is key to actually forcing myself out of the door in the morning. I’m a bit behind, instead of week 4 I’m on week 3, but at least I’m still at it. Here are links to the first post and this week’s:
Coupled with this I will make a determined effort to do some strength/yoga/Pilates type workouts on the non running days. I use the Nike Training Club app because I like being able to pick and choose what I work on according to my mood. Again, if I can make this a habit it will get easier.
Anyway, that’s enough about me…what about you?? A fresh month, a fresh start, things will get better? Or are you in need of some encouragement after last month’s absolute washout?
We are all ears waiting to hear from you so don’t disappoint!
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
Yesletsgo
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Yesletsgo
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Can’t believe I’ve beaten everyone to the quest starting line !!! I’m firrrsssstttt!!! (Gotta type quickly now 🤣🤣🤣)
Hello YesLetsGo! Yes, it’s good to look forward to lighter mornings, isn’t it.
My January started awfully with a flu before XMas and one after! But then by first week of January it got rapidly better and I managed to tick off quite a few fitness goals during the month! I just love my little diary (pictured) which helps keep reminding me how well I’m doing! (For a solo runner, the power of the tickboxes in a diary should not be underestimated.)
However, although I manage to squeeze a lot into this cold month, I now have a tiny niggle of Plantar Fasciitis. So I’m leaving 3-4 days between runs, but continue to row.
So for Feb my goals are:
1) Continue on my Runner’s World 6-week 5k plan (but leaving 2-3 days recovery between runs)
2) Continue on my Half Marathon rowing plan, which is a long one of 13 weeks! (I’m on week 3 day 3)
3) Do my mid-foot strengthening stretches. I’ve put together a Plantar Fasciitis Prevention 4-Week Plan that I’ll start any day now!
You've had a run of bad luck with your health, let's hope that as winter draws to an end everything will resolve itself. There have been so many bugs, never known anything like it.
That's a great diary, I'm sorely tempted, but as I already have 2 on the go I'd better restrain my enthusiasm (my real diary and my work diary, there's also an old diary I use to make lists which is sort of a future diary when I write it).
For your goals, they reflect the knowledge you've gained about how best to achieve what you set out to do, knowing when to be active, when to stop and what to work on.
Please may I join the February Quest. I have noticed too, that the evenings are beginning to be a little bit lighter, which is when I run, the mornings still seem quite gloomy though. Kudos to those who go exercising early doors.
Today I completed the c25k program again, W9 R3 third time around at least, and my running confidence has grown because of doing the full plan.
This month is for consolidation runs. I will keep up the 30 mins aiming to sustain my stamina, and hoping they get a little easier.
Still just 2 runs per week.
I have begun the YWA Inhale Feb calendar, so will try hard to get on the mat every day. I will add in some clams, squats, lunges on alternate days to maintain strength.
I have joined the Strava walking badge for 30k this month, so will see how far I get with that.
This evening, the view fron the podium is sweet, the c25k plan keeps on giving and I am grateful to still be running.
Hi Bluebirdrunner , congratulations on regraduating Consolidation is so important, from past experience you know that things will improve and get easier.
The Inhale calendar looks fascinating, quite a challenge so good luck. The 30K too - it sounds daunting but I suppose if you break it down to just over 1k a day it's more manageable.
Well I am here ,but I am not sure what my Quest goal could be... except to get some runs in!
Acknowledge that I am struggling with time constraints and uncooperative weather, accept the fact and don't overthink it... and then adapt, and a fourth 'A' ,do what I am ABLE.
So... simple eh?
Apart from that routine daily exercise goes on,. and YWA February... INHALE .. Focus here on breathing.. which suits me down to the ground..
Thank you for hosting and happy Questing all !
UPDATE.... FIRST RUN this morning since 17th January...
'Get some runs in' is a goal we can all relate to! When there are multiple demands on our precious time we have to prioritise. What we want to do can come in second place to what we have to do. Your 4 'A's recognise this, so any runs you manage are a little victory, aren't they?
Hi all, I would like to join this month’s quest. I have managed to keep running in January, sometimes twice a week and sometimes only once if the weather has been particularly off putting 😂. I am trying to be kinder and less self critical and have found it makes the runs more enjoyable. I try to do a weekly Pilates class and intend to make sure I go to them all in February. Now that it’s lighter I would like to get my running up to 3 times a week again plus maybe trying out another exercise class.
Given the weather last month you did really well to manage two runs a week!
When we run it's very easy to listen to the voices in our heads saying we're doing it wrong, we're too slow/old/unfit etc. Why don't we listen to the one saying 'I'm a lean mean running machine'? (Gotta confess, I don't hear that particular voice terribly often - but when I do there's no stopping me 😂).
One of the best tips I had was that if it gets really tough, smile. Then say out loud, 'I've got this, it's fantastic and I'm fantastic!' Somehow this will snap you out of the negative mood. You'll probably burst out laughing too, at the difference between what you said and how you feel, but try it, it works
Enjoy your Pilates, it all helps.
Once the days get lighter the incentive to get out and do more really works for us.
Are you saying the person in the picture is a figurehead? 😆
I've completed RED January (making up a missed day on Feb 1st).
Today I had a non-running day. Just a short walk.
Tomorrow I plan to do another run. And that's the extent of my plans for this month.
(OK, now you've pressed me on it, I actually plan to do a few longer runs at some point in the month, possibly 15km or longer. But unlike this time two years ago, I'm not going to overdo things.)
Since graduating for the second time in December, and doing a Christmas Day Parkrun, I've only managed two runs in January, when I forced myself to go out. One of the days it was perishing cold but I perversely enjoyed that more than the one in milder but wetter conditions.
So my February Quest is to run twice a week, that will get me back into a routine, then I can build on that.
Me please! Me please! GM says ... with far more gusto than is warranted by her goal plans...
I won't say that last month was a washout for me in terms of a successful quest but it was... odd, both the goals I set and the overall outcome.
I am seriously tempted by Oldfloss 's 'Get some runs in' goal. February's running medal is a cartoon ladybird and I'd really like to do some other runs besides, even if they are 10 minutes. More of less would be a good principle I think this month when it comes to running.
On reflection I think I've found my Quest goals... 'get some [x] in - running, yoga, decluttering' and so on and so forth. With a slight modification for 'get some g off' 😂 (you note I am not being unrealistic so it is gs not kgs!)
Happy Questing all. Here in the Derbyshire Dales there's a subtle sniff of Spring in the air so I hope this will give us all a boost.
Get some in, get some off....like the song about getting up, getting down and turning around. I can hear it in my head but can't remember the title for the life of me 😂
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JULY QUEST WEEK 4: Sunny Delight: we survived the heatwave! ☀️ 🏃♀️ ☀️ 🏃♀️ ☀️ 
WEEK THREE OF THE QUEST ALREADY? How did that happen? 🏃♀️🏃♂️🏃♀️🏃♂️
