February Quest Week 3: We're getting there

[Yesletsgo]

February is the shortest month and it seems to be flying by. The weather hasn't been our friend, lots of grey dull mornings where the best thing to do seems to be to stay in bed, but once we make the effort, put on our running gear and get out the door we know we've made the best choice. This is where taking part in the monthly Quest can help, the way it holds us to account to achieve the goals we set ourselves.

For me, my challenge has been the Group 10k/60 minutes. Last month a combination of travel and weather put me way behind where I wanted to be but over the last couple of weeks I am catching up. OK, I'm on Week 4 not Week 6 but at least I'm still at it. I'm loving the steady increase in distances.

I have to go away again next week. Realistically I know the chances of getting a run in are low, the temperatures will barely be above freezing, so I've reluctantly left my running gear out of my bag and added an extra jumper instead. Rather than running I'll be doing a lot of walking, so I aim to pick up where I left off once I get home again.

If you want to find out more about the Group 10k here's the latest post about it: healthunlocked.com/bridgeto...

I've also managed to do quite a few Nike Training Club workouts but for some reason the app isn't showing the ones I've done, which is a bit annoying. Never mind, I know I did them.

Enough about me, what about you? Are you keeping to the goals you set or is life getting in the way. Is the weather your best friend or your nemesis? Let us know and we can cheer you on.

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 and the team

Picture is Marathon by Natalya Zalmanovna Levyant (1923-2012)

[Oldfloss Administrator Graduate10]

Loving the photograph... we are doing Cubism/abstract skills in my art class!

Hope you stay warm next week!

Well; all my plans upended as you know so... there may be runs or not:

Run... short , sweet and when able

Yoga... Yes. my so to right now... mind and body refreshed and recharged. YWA February Challenge, ( with tweaks) ongoing.

Walking... yes... going to be upped slightly, and as the weather continues to be cold, well wrapped up.

Acknowledge, accept and Adapt... never have my three As, been so pertinent !

Happy Questing all !

[Yesletsgo Administrator Graduate10 in reply to Oldfloss]

Thanks, I saw the painting in a museum in Russia and immediately thought of this group

Good to hear the yoga is going well, and here's hoping the runs sneak into your routine too, though I know you have to take it easy The walking will help, hoping you've got warmer weather than me 🕸

AAA - a great strategy

[GoogleMe Graduate10]

Ooooh, thank you for sharing that artwork (I am sure we'd all have something to say about stride length and arm position!)

So this week... didn't do a 5K so that's still to do this month

My loose 'get some runs, yoga, decluttering etc in' is going pretty well even though I have overall been very physically inactive due to commitments :-

a run, and whilst I told myself that 15-20 minutes would do, I did my C25K friend 30 minutes. The part of the wood is one which may be lost soon to Forest Holidays and it holds many memories for me. And the sun came out, just as it was feeling as though we'd never see it again.

yoga, including some interesting classes (eg a more accessible way of doing plank using a toilet (well, the video involved a chair but I was using the toilet)

decluttering forced upon us by the behaviour of certain resident felines

However, grammes off, no.

Hope my fellow Questers are seeing some green shoots.

[Yesletsgo Administrator Graduate10 in reply to GoogleMe]

If the painting wasn't called Marathon you might think they were doing disco dancing (though it's not for me to criticise anyone's work).

One positive about setting out to do a short 15-20 minute run is the temptation to carry on to 30+ minutes if you're enjoying yourself. Such a pity your woods will be built on, what a loss.

That chair/toilet plank is intriguing....

The moggies are encouraging you to your goals too, they're just pretending to be hooligans 🐱‍👤

Don't worry about the grammes, we all know muscle weighs more than flab (as I keep telling myself lol)

Happy Questing, spring is on the way

[Floradora2]

made it out for a run on Tuesday and Thursday plus Pilates on Friday. Have also been doing some short online exercise classes followed by a yoga class on the days when I haven’t been out. Raining this morning so no running today but will aim for tomorrow. So far it’s going well but, as I know, keeping it up is always the problem.

[Yesletsgo Administrator Graduate10 in reply to Floradora2]

This is really good progress, two runs in a week plus Pilates.

Short online classes are a really good way to keep moving if you can't do anything else. I use the Nike Training club app, so lots of choice depending on whether what's needed is a stretch to ease the overworked muscles or something more demanding to keep them working.

You're really doing well, the more you run and exercise, the more it becomes part of your routine and the more likely you are to continue. Just believe in yourself and you'll be amazed at what you manage to do

[CBDB Graduate10]

I am getting there. Tomorrow (Sunday) will be finishing both week 3/6 of my running plan and week 4/13 of my HM Rowing plan.

Also I think I’ve successfully embedded some quick exercises for PF prevention into my regular stretches.

So I’m very happy! (Although the last run was a slog, as it was so cold!)

[Yesletsgo Administrator Graduate10 in reply to CBDB]

It's always really encouraging to see you ticking the boxes as you move through all the plans you do Glad to hear that both running and rowing are going well.

If your PF stretches are in with your regular ones you are so much more likely to keep doing them. I stand on one leg (alternate legs) and do calf lifts while I stir my porridge which hopefully helps more generally (at least for the days when breakfast is porridge lol)

Keep at it CBDB you're doing great!

[CBDB Graduate10 in reply to Yesletsgo]

Awwwh thank you. 🦩🦩🦩👍🏽👏👏

[Bluebirdrunner Graduate10]

Hi Yesletsgo,

Reporting in now that 'my week' is done.

I have been out for two runs this week, the first was the 30 min Thank yous NRC guilded run. The second was today when I picked a 4k guided run and allowed myself a couple of walk breaks at tricky points. Pleased with my progress.

I have done 5 YWA practices (missed two days this week) but my 3 year old grandson did a Cosmic Kids little farm yoga practice when he was here on Friday which was smashing to see.

Its been too cold to go out walking so still on only 21k, towards my 50k badge.

Still on track with my running, which is my priority with that 10k in April. Still injury free and having fun out there.

Good luck everyone

💚xxx

[Yesletsgo Administrator Graduate10 in reply to Bluebirdrunner]

Hi, you're really doing well this month, aren't you. The guided runs can be so helpful to motivate you . It's good too that you know you can stop for a little walk if you need it.

Well done on the yoga too, I bet your little grandson was so cute doing his practice.

You're nearly half way there on the walking and there's nearly 2 weeks left in February if maths isn't your favourite subject. All we need is some decent weather and you'll be able to cover those km like a boss!

Happy Questing

[Yesletsgo Administrator Graduate10]

Hi All, PROMISE I'll catch up with replies this evening. Huge apologies for the delay s, I 've had a very busy weekend and I'm out most of today but like I say will get back to everyone tonight 😁