Katherine's Quest week 1 - feel free to join - Couch to 5K

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Katherine's Quest week 1 - feel free to join

Realfoodieclub profile image
RealfoodieclubGraduate
35 Replies

Welcome to Week 1

(27 September -8 November)

Week 1

I was so touched by this picture this weekend. I still can't believe in my lifetime women would not of been allowed to enter a specific race. Something I totally take for granted when I get excited about entering my next event. I just wanted to pay a little respect to a woman who has changed my life by giving me the ability to follow my dreams and run more or less any race I like.

What the quest is:-

The quest takes six weeks. You can join any time within that six weeks.

The main 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.

I ask that you will be a graduate or about to graduate to join the quest. The main reason I ask this is that while you are doing the program your plan is very structured so 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 In Stretch and strength exercises

As you can see they are personal to yourself and it's totally your own choice.

Every week I will pin a new post where all the members of the quest can talk about how things are going.

So if you wanted to join all you have to do is put

I would like to join the quest, or count me in and then I would like to. ..............

Your name will then be added to the top post and every week your name will be in the quest until the end.

At the end, only for those that would like to, we each put out longest run of the quest and it is then marked on a virtual run we are doing London to Paris

Realfoodieclub

Dagshar

Poppypug

Pot58

Curlygurly2

Pigivi

Mcgurranhouse

Ajwyld

Runswithdogs

Dawncoates34

Irishprincess

Ridingstar

Fitfor60

Folkieboater

Sarah469

Net68

Runningnearbeirut

Parseraisin

Googleme

Lizziebeth57

Mimsickle

Ancientmum

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Realfoodieclub profile image
Realfoodieclub
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35 Replies
Realfoodieclub profile image
RealfoodieclubGraduate

And breathe. Now I think I am back on track with things.. How come when your rushing nothing quite works out OK on the computer!

Anyway my quest this week is to get back my training mindset. It's gone for a little walk recently and I am missing it.

I've been doing my runs but haven't got the same buzz from them because I think too much red wine has been consumed recently.

So healthy mind, body and food is in order. And my quest is that that is for the whole 6 weeks.

dagshar profile image
dagsharGraduate in reply to Realfoodieclub

This period starts and ends with multi terrain and trail events on 4 October and 7 November. Neither will produce a PB as the courses are not fast/flat, so target is to enjoy both and not come last! Secondary target is to push weekly long run distance to 16/17k as part of longer term HM training. This will be weather dependent as this sort of distance only works on weekends now, so here's hoping for lots of dry Sunday afternoons (still got 3 uni open days and a wedding on the Saturdays!)

poppypug profile image
poppypugGraduate

Brilliant Quest RFC , yes I will dedicate mine to Katherine too !

I am still on my healthy eating plan and this is a lifelong quest for me now ! I was watching the rugby on Saturday night and sooo wanted a big bar of chocolate , but resisted . I am looking at the bigger picture now rather than just stuffing things into my mouth and regretting it after .

I am going to run 3 times a week . Cycle and Squat on my non running days ( I did this last week for the first time and really enjoyed it ) plus some work on my arms as my biceps look like knots in cotton ha ha :-)

Thanks for organising this RFC , Good luck to all fellow questers and healing vibes to all those on the IC another day closer to recovery :-) xxx

Coddfish profile image
CoddfishGraduate in reply to poppypug

I felt the need to hide behind the sofa on Saturday evening. Am going to the England v Australia match and can't wait but am so, so nervous.

poppypug profile image
poppypugGraduate in reply to Coddfish

I know ! Definitely squeaky bum time ! :-)

Bet its a fantastic atmosphere though ! :-) xxx

pot58 profile image
pot58Graduate

Hi,..Count me in....I have struggled for a few weeks now to get back into a routine after the school holidays so I would be happy to get 3 runs a week in...whilst following a programme to lengthen time spent...good luck to everyone😊

Onwards and upwards....

Curlygurly2 profile image
Curlygurly2Graduate

I'm working on my cadence, experimenting to see if faster, shorter steps work for me. Today's run suggest that they might, but different muscles are complaining a bit so I won't do so many longer runs this week. I love running, always something new!

I found this from Katrine...

google.fr/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=... .

Irishprincess profile image
IrishprincessGraduate in reply to Curlygurly2

I've been working on my cadence too CG. How are you finding it? I have to concentrate and if I don't I slip back to my normal cadence. I couldn't open your link for some reason.

Curlygurly2 profile image
Curlygurly2Graduate in reply to Irishprincess

I've only done a couple of runs at higher cadence so far IP. On Saturday I did the Speed and Stamina podcasts, but deliberately moving my feet faster - not easy with such an insistent beat! I think I will have to leave those podcasts behind now, they are too slow for me....yesterday I did 5k faster than I've ever done except when doing the + podcasts, so I guess it's working. It's somehow less tiring, but as you say you do have to concentrate. Oh, and watch you don't trip as your feet are closer to the floor!

Pigivi profile image
Pigivi

Decided to go to see a physio, hopefully soon - in the meantime even walking is a struggle, so I'll focus on swimming - at least 4 times a week...

mcgurranhouse profile image
mcgurranhouseGraduate

I would like to join the quest and then I would like to run at least 3 times a week (not counting Parkrun)! At least 5k each time!

ajwyld profile image
ajwyldGraduate

Excellent Quest title !

Things slipped over the summer, what with heat and holidays and so on - but now we're back in our routine, so my goals are:

* run 3 times a week

* increase distance to 13k

* lose a couple of kg

We're having a week in Barcelona mid October - which will be bad news on the diet front but might be good news for running. Maybe I'll try to do my 13k run along the seafront - that's a thought.

runswithdogs profile image
runswithdogsGraduate

I'm in RFC. I'd like to add one speed session per week this quest please.

Coddfish profile image
CoddfishGraduate

Count me in. I want to try to work on both stamina and speed (each week doing one 5k, plus at least one other run). For the other runs I will alternate a longer interval run for stamina with a short sprint interval run for speed. I will keep on swimming, doing weights and aqua classes.

dawncoates34 profile image
dawncoates34Graduate

Fantastic honey 😄 I'm working on my 5k and 10k times ready for Mo-Run November 10k X got niggly shoulder injury driving me mad wish it would just go away !!! But count me in xx

Sandraj39 profile image
Sandraj39Graduate

Ooh, so glad you reposted that picture!

I hope to graduate after my final two runs. After that, my personal goal is to consolidate running for thirty minutes + and achieve 5k comfortably so that I can start going to Parkruns!

I think Katherine Switzer would be proud!

Sandraj39 profile image
Sandraj39Graduate in reply to Sandraj39

RFC - Not really sure I understand this Quest thingy! Do I have to update weekly or something??

Realfoodieclub profile image
RealfoodieclubGraduate in reply to Sandraj39

When you come and ask me for your graduation badge ask to be made part of the quest if you like. Then your goals will be totally up to you. It could be just to continue running three times a week, work up to 5km if your not there already whatever you want and then it is completely personal if you want to post every week or not. Some do and some don't, it's a very relaxed thing, it is more about saying will be doing xyz out loud. Good luck with your last two runs.

Sandraj39 profile image
Sandraj39Graduate in reply to Realfoodieclub

Lovely - thanks for clarifying that RFC. Hope to be coming for that coveted badge soon!

Irishprincess profile image
IrishprincessGraduate

Great Quest. We owe a lot to women like Katherine and the other runners who supported her.

Please count me in again RFC. I find the Quest a great motivator as I have to confess to what I've done as well as what I've not done! As I still haven't got the all clear from my heart monitor I'm not doing speed or hill work. So I'll work on my cadence and distance this quest and aim to reach 10 miles. (Well it's a nice round number!)

Good luck fellow questers and take care of yourselves to those on the IC.

ridingstar profile image
ridingstarGraduate

Count me in please I want to get to my 10k target and will be doing 1 5k (Parkrun) and 2 longer runs each week :)

ridingstar profile image
ridingstarGraduate in reply to ridingstar

I have realised at least 3 Saturdays will be Uni visits so no Parkruns on those days will still do 1 5k and 2 longer runs to get me to my 10k target which is my real quest ! :)

Fitfor60 profile image
Fitfor60Graduate

Mmmm am in a bit of a dither for this quest. Last few months were all about training for HM and now feeling bit lost. So think I'll take this quest 1 week at a time.

So for next 7 days no stodgy puddings and will just go for 3 x runs and not worry about speed or distance.

Happy running everyone

folkieboater profile image
folkieboaterGraduate

Count me in again please.

My mission this time is to get home, get back into a regular routine and to loose the extra pounds that summer seems to have sent to me 😀

The next 3 weeks will be mainly working. Hoping to get 2 runs in each of those week - maybe a parkrun or two.

The following 2 weeks will be back to boating. This is going to involve lots of night boating and long hours as there's only the 2 weeks before the winter closures kick in and really we could do with 3! Therefore running may be a little lacking, but excercise will most definitely not.

Good luck to everyone and thanks rfc for all your efforts.

sarah469 profile image
sarah469Graduate

Hello! Count me in! My quest is to work out a routine that will work for me as the daylight hours decrease, something I can stick to like I did when I was doing Couchto5K. Also to start doing Parkrun/s (all set for this Saturday!)

In terms of the actual runs, I hesitate to say I would like to get to 5K in 30 mins! But not sure I am quite there yet.

Net68 profile image
Net68Graduate

Hi count me in again please. I have signed up for the RonHill October Challenge, run every day for the whole of October.

So my challenge is going to be a bit more for strength and stamina, I will aim to do some hill training and swimming at least twice each a week.

No I mean I will do some hill training and go swimming at least twice a week!

Good questing everyone 😺👟 👟

runningnearbeirut profile image
runningnearbeirutGraduate

OK, I'll sign up - perhaps it will help get me out of the door!

Being realistic, my aims need to be quite modest, so here goes:

1. Run at least twice a week.

2. Get back up to running for 30 minutes, and then make that one run a week.

3. Go down to the sea front for a nice flat motivating run at least twice in the 6 weeks.

parseraisin profile image
parseraisinGraduate

Hi, I'd like to join, if I may. I've been plugging along since graduating, but nagging hip pain + turning colder = excuses, excuses, excuses!

My aim is to run three times a week, and to myrtl five. I've started as I mean to go on, with a 3 mile (or so) run this morning and a myrtl.

My second aim is to see my doctor about a new asthma inhaler.

poppypug profile image
poppypugGraduate in reply to parseraisin

Sorry , whats myrtl please ? xxx

parseraisin profile image
parseraisinGraduate in reply to poppypug

Myrtl are a series of hip strengthening/stabilising exercises! They feel silly but really help.

runnersworld.com/training-v...

poppypug profile image
poppypugGraduate in reply to parseraisin

Great ! Thanks for that, very interesting as I have had hip bursitis in the past, thank you ! :-) xxx

GoogleMe profile image
GoogleMeGraduate

Really want to be part of this Quest but the last two have been a bit of a (though not a total) washout and sadly the same reason is going to apply throughout this one as the local authority have got their postponement on our SEN tribunal.

However, I got out for the first run in weeks (longest break since I started in Feb 2012) this lunchtime.

So I'm going to go for a kind of triathlon goal

1) I'm going to go for a run with my Dad

2) I am going to swim (ideally a kilometre but that takes me 40 minutes and at the moment I am taking my son who is out of education and he can only handle 30 minutes in the pool so far...)

3) I am going to ride my bike

lizziebeth57 profile image
lizziebeth57Graduate

Count me in please. I am liking the idea of weekly goals so my quest for this coming week is to:

1. Go out with my running group on Wednesday.

2. Go for a 10k run on Sunday

3. Get out on my bike for at least half an hour

For the record my longest run last quest was 10k - I forgot to post that last week. Good luck to all questers, have a great week :)

Wow, I'm so dense. I thought Katherine was RFC's name. Duh!

Anyway, I would like to join the quest. My first quest!

My aim is to run three times a week (when my leg recovers sufficiently).

Going to keep it easy for my first quest, to try and get myself into a post grad routine now my 5k event is over.

AncientMum profile image
AncientMumGraduate

Count me in again please, RFC. My goals are to run 3times a week and to consolidate my recent re-graduation by doing a 5k every week. My other 2 runs will be either hills, intervals or just a nice 30 minute poodle about.

The story of Katherine Switzer is indeed both inspiring and shocking. Thanks for sharing. Xx

Forgot to say, the quest ends on the weekend I do the MoRun, so hope I have some bling by the end :)

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