Welcome to the I am not a Bee, I don't need pollen Week 3 Quest - feel free to join.
Hope you all doing well and the pollen and the weather are not getting to you all too much.
Please feel free to join in if you like, it's just a bit of fun. I just thought it would make a good name for the Quest, after nearly three years I'm running out of names so if anyone has any ideas please let me know.
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.
Realfoodieclub
Misswobble
Parseraisin
Googleme
Kallyfudge
Irishprincess
Oldfloss
Folkieboater
Melly4012
Poppypug
Jayseeskinny
Mollydex
Ancientmum
Sparky66
Heledw
Anniemurph
Dagshar
Spongecake7
Dagshar
Kmcm66
Written by
Realfoodieclub
Graduate
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Well first time in 8 weeks I didn't do all my tick boxes, to be honest it was a pig of a week. Eye Operation for My father in law, sick Dad, 16 hour work days and spam, oh and the news transplant has been brought forward from maybe within a couple of years to before or after Christmas! Still hoping for the latter or later with that one.
So one 5km run and a 7km speed walk, that was it all week. Not going to beat myself up at all, I was just about keeping it together last week, so anything I did was a bonus.
This week I'm already feeling stronger and ready to cope, so hopefully all boxes will get ticked this week.
Be kind to yourself and I hope everything resolves well for you and yours. You are one tough cookie to be able to cope with all that! My hat is off to you.
I feel happier with the way this last week has gone in terms of all round fitness, even though, like RFC, the boxes are not all neatly ticked.
I had my run with my Dad which was the biggie in a way. More runs were sacrificed to walks and time with family - reconnecting with a friend, seeing yet more fabulous parts of the Peak District. A little too much eating connected with that, so I undid some real progress with the weight loss. Summer is always a challenge for me!
No swimming - I could have gone on my own but didn't (and there's now the Summer timetable to work round) And no cycle ride, although I did lobby.
I got down to my new yoga programme and did two decent length classes, cutting short the second by 10 minutes, so I definitely need to go back to that one. They seem a very good fit with my needs and abilities.
I feel I need to put in a good week this week and focus on my Quest Goals as the weeks after that are unpredictable with some definite and other possible travel.
I'm struggling a bit at the moment to be honest, the 3 Hs are getting to me - Heat, Hills, and Humidity. Really missing a long slow run, so I'm just doing what I can. I still managed 75K during July, can't complain about that!
Though it is small of me, I admit I am glad to see I am in not quite ticking all the boxes company.
I took a week off, and ended it in bed for two days with a severe migraine/head cold. Both were garden variety, I have regular migraines, and the virus was given to me by my delightful children. This time both hit me particularly hard.
I climbed back on the running horse today. It was a brutal 5k, my HR was through the roof almost immediately and never really stabilised so I think I am still a bit under the weather.
For the rest of the week, I aim to complete 15k more, and to STRETCH, which I did not do enough of last week, even though I know that my knee is hurting because my hamstrings are tight.
I knew I would struggle a bit last week as I was in Ireland and then brought mum back with me so we've had loads of social stuff going on and family visiting.
But I managed three runs! 2x5K's and 1x6K. The orthotics are doing well and I'm feeling a bit more positive about them, but the challenge will come when I try to increase my distance. Sadly, no gym or Pilates but have kept up some exercises at home.
I ran a new route which was gorgeous and I'll try to post about it as it was a few firsts for me.
Have a great week questers and keep the faith to those of you on the IC.
I'm back. hehe I bet you didn't notice I had been deleted for a while. slight hiccup but all my posts are back and pinned posts are all back where they should be. I was panicking a little, don't what I would of done if I had to come back as someone else. still need to get my picture sorted out.
Hi all. My plan last week was to get back to my pre-IC fitness. Very nearly there, now.
I went out for a run on Saturday morning, and I hated it. It was just one of those ones. I was aching, tired, I did a new route with more hills that I didn't like. However, I got a new distance PB - 5.5k- so, not all bad.
Later that morning, I did my first Parkrun volunteering (token giver).
That put me in a much better state of mind- it was fantastic. Made some face-to-face running friends, and got to cheer everyone on as they finished.
Really interesting perspective- it doesn't matter what people's times are (in one sense), because everybody is giving their all in that run. Doesn't matter what your base fitness level is, everyone crosses the finish line in ecstasy (and surprisingly often [temporary] agony).
And sweat. Lots. And occasionally spittle. Except for the kids, who do it all effortlessly.
Anyway...had a day off exercise yesterday, went out for a 05:30 run today, and it was brilliant. Top 3 most enjoyable runs-no- most enjoyable run I've ever had.
I was so full of beans, I got another distance PB (6.05 km).
I stopped after 5km to faff about with my music player/headphones, so had a 5 min walking interval before deciding to do 1 more km.
I even tried mixing in a bit of fartlek - just a few very short distances where I'd go faster and back to slow- that was surprisingly good fun.
Soooo...TL/DR: this week's quest for me is to very gradually increase my distance (ticked today), and do a bit more...I'm just gonna call it speedplay.
Good stuff Fellow Questers. We're all back on it this week hopefully. Good luck everyone with whatever your runs happen to be this week. I hope they all go to plan. As if!
I volunteered at Parkrun too Oldfinch! I was tail runner! It was brilliant. Can't wait to do it again. It's so different a perspective to just running it. I say "just" , you know what I mean though. What's going off at the back is nothing like whats going on at the front, for all different reasons, which you get to share as you're there. I loved it! Do volunteer for that role Oldfinch! I will swap you for token giving, or Siobhan can do tokens and I'll take over the cones.
Had a very good week this week, happy to say. I did 40 kms this week. I did have a "knee" after my jog group run on Thursday but after a good soak in Epsom salts it disappeared and I was able to run on quite happily with no further issues
My longest run this week will be 12 kms, which I plan to do out on the trail
Just the one 5k for me last week, but plenty of walking.
Have to admit though, Wednesday's walking was round the Nantwich Cheese Fair, where I managed to eat my weight in free samples 👍
The weekend was then mainly fuelled by cider as the the boaters get together just happened to be at the pub - it's lucky we only seem to get to one a year🙈
Sitting out the challenge this time I'm afraid. Am away on and off throughout August and its also way hot so not much running. Have been swimming twice a week instead. Will be back for the next challenge ! Happy running all in the meantime.
It didn't feel like a particularly good week for me. But there were some highlights. I'm missing my longer runs at the moment due to the heat and it seems to be having a bad effect on my shorter ones aswell - I've slowed down and rarely even manage 5k. On the other hand I went out 4x last week and had a lovely run in Berlin (running tourism) where I've never run before. I really enjoyed it. And I ran 7k on Sunday, so I can consider that a longer run. I can't seem to get a decent rhythm going though and am feeling a bit frustrated. I hope it passes soon!
I only ran twice last week. Once was with Beginners' Running Club, where I couldn't keep up with the ones who said they were going to run continuously but slowly round a loop I do regularly. That was a bit depressing. The other run was on Sunday which was a 7k and was hard work.
In other news, one of the reasons I didn't run my normal third run is because I cycled! I can (just about) pedal now, so off I went up the Trail for one whole km It was terrifying - a complete white-knuckle ride. I nearly fell off into a badger sett and had to avoid dog walkers and another cyclist. Honestly, when I got off I was shaking and sweating Then, of course, because it's slightly uphill, I was more or less coasting all the way back because I was going too fast But the lovely news is that one of our fellow Beyonders has very kindly volunteered to come and meet me tomorrow to give me some coaching. Isn't that great? Not only do we meet up to run together, but we help each other out for cycling as well!
I'm sure my glutes and quads will strengthen soon and aid my running. (Ouch!) I'm still doing my squats but my upper body training has stopped - although my death-grip on the handlebars of the bike could well replace this.
Happy running to all, and a swift recovery to those on the IC or struggling in other ways x
Not a great week for me. Hen do and then wedding = far too much food and drink. Also the dancing didn't do so well for my ankle I've been walking on it fine so tried to up the walking a little bit but it's aching a little more now than it was last week so more rest, ice, anti-inflammatory gel this week. Am keen to try some different kind of exercise so will be looking into what I can do this week (finding the time to swim, etc, is ridiculous considering how easy running is)! Trying to keep up with the forum to stay motivated. Also bought some thermal running gear ready for colder weather so I have to make sure I get back to running once the injury has healed!
Thanks Finchy. I know, you're absolutely right, it's just so frustrating. Glad you're back to it too. Hopefully can use that as inspiration when the ankle has recovered. You seemed to be slightly ahead the whole way through the programme and now the injury and return from injury too!
I love your new pic Rfc, if a picture could capture all the joy of running, it would definitely be that one ! Sorry you had a tough week , hope next week's a better one for you xxx
I had a good week last week , a 7k and a 10k with my HM training. Still enjoying it and I even threw in a hill on my 10k ( which I started to regret half way up Ha ha ! ) No , it was good and I could feel my muscles working which is a good sign !
Strength training has been a bit meh and a bit hit and miss, so I definitely need to improve on that .
Have a great week fellow Questers , lets do this thang !
Big hugs and healing and soothing vibes to all those on the IC, and to all those going through tough times , hang on in there , this too shall pass xxx
I haven't entered a target for this quest, as I lost the first couple of weeks of the quest with my odd little injury, and am not really sure how long it will take me to get back to where I was. I have managed a couple of runs now, slow and steady, but am not quite right yet. Fortunately it hasn't affected my ability to swim. Happy questing to all.
Anni don't stand up on the pedals! I did before I was fit for it. I wonder if that was the cause of my subsequent calf injury. I didn't know how the gears worked so to climb a hill I stood up on the pedals. It's probably fine to do if you are cycle fit.
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Then, of course, because it's slightly uphill, I was more or less coasting all the way back because I was going too fast 
I've been walking on it fine so tried to up the walking a little bit but it's aching a little more now than it was last week so more rest, ice, anti-inflammatory gel this week. Am keen to try some different kind of exercise so will be looking into what I can do this week (finding the time to swim, etc, is ridiculous considering how easy running is)! Trying to keep up with the forum to stay motivated. Also bought some thermal running gear ready for colder weather so I have to make sure I get back to running once the injury has healed! 
