Katherine's Quest week 6 - Feel free to join - Couch to 5K

Couch to 5K

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Katherine's Quest week 6 - Feel free to join

Realfoodieclub profile image
RealfoodieclubGraduate
25 Replies

Welcome to Week 6

(27 September -8 November)

Week 6i can't believe it, here we are at the last week of the Quest. Boy it's gone fast this one for me.

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

Anniemurph

Glen53

Sandraj39

Coddfish

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Realfoodieclub profile image
Realfoodieclub
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25 Replies
Realfoodieclub profile image
RealfoodieclubGraduate

I have been working On my speed this week. Not something that I really bother about but I just wanted to work on the muscles that running fast use. I found the strangest thing half way through my speed 1km, I can use my ankles better at a faster run. I found they had a little more movement and more of a push off, so that's something I will be working on in the future.

My running this week was 5km tempo plus 2km walk with an added 1km speed. (I knocked 2 min off my average 1km pace). Then a 5km and then a 5km event. The BigFunRun with a fellow graduate. I knocked a whole 6min of my average 5km time. I was 30 seconds of an all time personal best, a bit gutted I didn't know that. Happy running and healing to all.

GoogleMe profile image
GoogleMeGraduate

I do not think I'll achieve my goals for this quest...

....haven't even been swimming for several weeks, let alone swimming a kilometre, although I am hoping to swim this week.

... haven't been for a run with my Dad, needs careful timing and this has not been the time... but I did go for a planned run this week and a couple of unplanned little ones, firstly in my wellies keeping up with a raft on the river (proper chest bursting that was) and second in my ('Barefoot') walking boots out on the moors.

... haven't got out on my bike (I need my husband's help with this and we have been too busy... or we have seized briefer moments and got out for a walk with the dog instead whilst the weather has been decent)

I did add in a new hip opening forward bend to my morning yoga practice which has been quite challenging but feels like something I need to do.

I am very hopeful that the next Quest will be better as we had some fabulous news that our son *will* now be placed in a school which will provide what he needs and without having to go to court. We still have various things to sort out but I will not have to spend so much of my life in meetings or slaving over a hot laptop.

Irishprincess profile image
IrishprincessGraduate in reply toGoogleMe

That's great news about your son GoogleMe. You've had a tough time recently.

GoogleMe profile image
GoogleMeGraduate in reply toIrishprincess

Thanks - it is a little hard to take in at the moment and we can't quite believe nothing is going to go wrong at the last minute. I've been holding it together for months and now with the light at the end of the tunnel it feels a bit as though my body has given way.

I know I need to be kind to myself but having the Quests will keep it a constructive kindness rather than a wallowing in nothingness not -really-a-kindness-in-the-end, if that makes sense?

Irishprincess profile image
IrishprincessGraduate in reply toGoogleMe

Yes it does. And running helps a lot. I hope it all works out.

Realfoodieclub profile image
RealfoodieclubGraduate in reply toGoogleMe

So pleased to hear the news about your son, It must be such a relief. The good thing about the quests is there is always another one round the corner. I often forsake a run for a walk with my other half, because of his health it's precious time we get to just be outside and chat and leave everything behind us so I would always say that's so worth it.

GoogleMe profile image
GoogleMeGraduate in reply toRealfoodieclub

Yes - I would have gone for a run yesterday leaving mine slaving over room decorating he wouldn't finish before the end of his week off but the sun was shining...

ajwyld profile image
ajwyldGraduate in reply toGoogleMe

Fantastic news about your son GoogleMe. And I'm sure your walking and little runs all add up !

Anniemurph profile image
AnniemurphGraduate in reply toGoogleMe

Brilliant news about your son! Well done after all your hard work - you must be so relieved.

Irishprincess profile image
IrishprincessGraduate

I can't believe this is the last week! I had a very good week with three runs (7K, 12k, 5k), a Pilates class and a gym session with rowing. Off to physio tonight to get a hip pain sorted before HM training and I have a sports massage tomorrow! Who said running was a cheap sport?

Have a great week fellow questers and a temporary spell on the IC to those injured.

ajwyld profile image
ajwyldGraduate

I'll claim 2 and a half runs last week rather than 3. Its school holiday time and I was away for the weekend taking our church youth on a weekend a 7 hour drive from home...

Anyway, Tuesday I was short of time, so I went out and did the Speed podcast. It must have done me good because Thursday I went out for a longer run and did a new 5k best time of 39.39 minutes ! So my 5K time now starts with a 3 ! I'm so pleased about it (will write a separate post to encourage those who feel wobbly about not managing 5k in 30 minutes, as I suspect that many of them don't yet read the quest in detail).

Saturday I found myself with a free hour in an unfamiliar place to put my kit on to go for a short jog. Did about 10 minutes and then, I dunno, just didn't feel like jogging any more. (I think it was too soon after lunch and also I was dead tired from driving on Friday and sleeping in an unfamiliar bed). But the weather was fab, so rather than just going back to my room I decided to turn my jog into a walk - which was rather nice and constructive. So counting it as half a run !

Schools went back today and I'm at home for the next few weekends, so back to normal routine !

GoogleMe profile image
GoogleMeGraduate in reply toajwyld

That's excellent news on the 5k time. My PB is 43 minutes so I might eye up that challenge some time in the future!

ajwyld profile image
ajwyldGraduate in reply toGoogleMe

Thanks GM. My previous PB was 41:10 - so I'm really chuffed. We were in Barcelona on holiday the previous week and my Garmin tells me I walked more than 10k each day, also I've been doing the speed podcast once a week and have started stretching my long runs (longest is now 13k). I suspect that all that helped !

dawncoates34 profile image
dawncoates34Graduate

Well I haven't achieved my goals this week... Been poorly but am hopeful for full recovery by Sunday 10k mo-run. Have managed strength 4 days and ran today for first time in 13 days!! Did 5.2k was hard but feel alot better having done it 🙂 Hope everyone is well think I'm going to start some different training next week thinking of incorporating intervals/hills and speed running so watch this space X good news Googleme very pleased for you and your son x

runswithdogs profile image
runswithdogsGraduate

It's been a good quest, I've added a speed session almost every week. Perfect timing, saw some snow yesterday, so soon enough the paths will be icy and thoughtful running not mad fartleks will be in order. Happy running folks.

poppypug profile image
poppypugGraduate

Mornin ' All !

Did a 5k last week and Zumba and my normal 5 X 5k walks to work .

On the IC at the moment as my legs are feeling very stiff and sore . I am blaming it on a cross country race I did all on grass , very short grass is fine but this wasn't and I think it has taken its toll on my poor pegs :-(

Thanks to you RFC for doing this . Good to hear about your son Google me . Best of luck to all questers and my fellow IC 'ers . We are another day closer to recovery ! :-) xxx

dagshar profile image
dagsharGraduate

Four runs last week with a total of 22k. Leas than the previous weeks which were around 25-30. Originally I had planned 10k yesterday, but decided to cut that down a bit as my knees were a bit achy from using trail shoes on the road. 7k was plenty in the end as I also felt quite tired yesterday morning- lot of driving again Fri / sat and I now have a hint of headache and sore throat so hopefully not coming down with anything.

On the plus side I managed 4.5k on sand and dunes in South Wales which was a nice change - certainly a run for the fun of it rather than speed :-)

Resting for a few days and not planning to do much before a 5k trail on sat to finish off this quest.

Glen53 profile image
Glen53Graduate

My quest was to run for 5K/3.1 miles. I am lucky to have been able to do x 2 runs most weeks over the 3.1/5K. Mondays are a little different I go to the running group.

:) :) :) Glen

ridingstar profile image
ridingstarGraduate

Not sure I can beat last weeks 2 x 10K and I loved both of them and a new PB at Parkrun 33.45. I x 5K already done for this week. My longest distance for this quest was 12.5K. So please to have been part of it as I got real inspiration ! :) :)

AncientMum profile image
AncientMumGraduate

Me, I got a 5k PB on Tuesday (encouraged by a fast Parkrun on the previous Saturday). Then I did a 6k on Thursday and a combination of those 3 runs made my ancient legs ache so much I've only run 3k since then. On the IC for a couple of days with Poppypug but hubby route marched me down to the local for a quiz night yesterday and now have ITB twinges for the first time ever. Grrr! Think a sports massage might be in order but not sure I'm brave enough!

Thanks for doing the quest each month RFC, it's always a good focus :)

parseraisin profile image
parseraisinGraduate

We are on the home stretch!

I managed three runs, but just barely, because my son was home from nursery one day. I managed with back to back runs on Saturday and Sunday, which is something I've been wanting to try anyway in order to simulate a long run. I just can't take more than 45 minutes away from my young ones, and so I've been having a hard time achieving a truly long run each week.

So: 5k, 4k?, 4k? (I ran by time on Sat, Sun)

This week I'm going to try four runs for my big finish: 5k, 5k, 5k and then a 25 minute run on Sunday.

Good luck everyone, onward!

Anniemurph profile image
AnniemurphGraduate

I managed two runs last week, hooray! Not long, only 3k and 3.5k, but at least I got out there twice. The second one was hard work because I just felt very heavy and had no energy so had to stop twice to catch my breath, but instead of calling it a fail, I realise that the whole thing is still a run and it *is* okay. It has taken me a long time to get to this point :)

I went back to the chiropractor yesterday because my neck was still not right and my shoulder was clunking ominously. She has 'recommended' (ha!) that I swim and do gentle upper body strength exercises again now, so I will try and start those this week. She has also given me several sheets of exercises for my hip/pelvis and to stretch my hamstrings, some of which I'm already doing for running, but some of which are new. It's great that she is a runner because she understands the need to get back out there.

So, happy running to everyone who can, and a swift recovery to those on the IC. And thanks to Rfc for setting up these Quests :)

Curlygurly2 profile image
Curlygurly2Graduate

I'm getting back into my stride now I've been home a couple of weeks. Had a couple of disappointing runs to start with, but did my longest ever run on Friday last week - 12 KM and got a 5 K PB yesterday, 34.54 and I'm well chuffed! Really enjoying the running here too, comfortable temperatures and no hills!

Coddfish profile image
CoddfishGraduate

It's not been a good quest for me as I struggled with a chest infection for several weeks. Although I thought I was recovering a couple of weeks or so ago, and had started running again, I suffered a relapse which took me out of operation again for another 10 day period. I tried a short run today (which was ok) and hope to be able to rebuild from here. So I have only managed one (or two?) 5Ks in the whole of the quest, and nothing longer. Thanks RFC for organising these quests.

Sandraj39 profile image
Sandraj39Graduate

Well my goal, after graduating,mess to run three times a week (30mins) and then extend this to 5k. Happy to say, I have cracked the 5k runs and am loving them! Did take a couple of extra rest days last week as my knees were a little troublesome, but they seem to be settling again and felt great after yesterday's (slightly shortened) run, so we shall see. Have really noticed a massive change in my breathing, feeling so much more comfortable on the longer runs. Happy running one and all!🏃🏻🏃🏻🏃🏻

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