Blog Twenty Seven

1st - 7th September

September 1, 2020, 09:22 AM

First day at NHS Wales Informatics Service today.

Digital Health - thankfully having spent years doing this in social care and my recent experience with AI and clinical portals with Cwm Taff I shouldn’t be too far out of my depth!! The main challenge I can see is getting to know a new team when we will be mainly working from home. So cold tonight. So sat under a heated blanket. Still cold. Added another blanket. Getting warmer.

Dislike winter

September 3, 2020, 05:06 PM

Afternoon Run

TimeDistanceElevation1h 44m6.19 mi0 ft

September 4, 2020, 01:49 PM

After work run

So having done an early morning Pilates session and a full day of teams meetings I was planning to move my long run from today. However guilt got the better of me so the full 16 miles it was. But just so slow - at this rate I’ll be doing a 10 hour marathon! So today was raining, I’m stuck in a Travelodge in Barnet (only the best for me), i killed my work laptop asking it to share a calendar at which point it went on strike, knocked a cup of tea over into my suitcase so was feeling quite sorry for myself and to be honest quite down and lonely.

Don’t take this the wrong way - I don’t want sympathy (as in really it annoys me so much), it’s just the shock of adjusting to life where I can’t do so much of what I used to, where I am struggling to adapt to issues around memory loss and timeline confusion - having had a photographic memory which has made me what I am this is a huge issue - just generally feeling as if I have lost so much of my independence, time and realisation of how much extra life is going to cost thanks to my annoying brain). I guess there will be quite a few times like this for a while as things change, as I find what I can no longer do whether that is because of safety, logistics or cost. But I will get used to them and get through it.

Sometimes it’s better to voice those feelings even if it is just to the facebook world as I know everyone feels like this at various points. Tbh it’s a first for me as I have always got over issues by working harder or for longer or just by moving forwards and looking at other possibilities (apparently one of the benefits of how my brain adapts and it’s malfunctions manifest themselves) but this time that’s not an option - so I feel for everyone who is going through, or has ever been through anything similar.

Maybe to many of you it looks like I’m just looking for attention, but I’m really not. I said I would update on my journey to the marathon (which is now a year longer) and the unexpected things that happen on the way. And these feelings are a part of this. At some point I will start a blog/vlog so not everyone has to read my ramblings but I haven’t yet had time, and tbh I don’t know how (can anyone direct me to where I do this please?).

Anyway I forced myself to got to the gym to run. OMG, running 10 miles in the rain is far easier than running 6 on a treadmill.

Tried the eco friendly curve treadmill....face planted onto it when hit the side and it stopped. Moved to traditional treadmill. Face planted off back of it when tripped up my own feet. Thankfully the staff were excellent at hiding their laughter. Bet they have a laugh looking at the CCTV later though !,

Running outside tomorrow. It seems the closer this marathon gets the more unfit I am becoming, I’ll be crawling it at this rate!! I’m hoping you will be there on the 4th to pick up the pieces, or at least wave some buckets to collect some money. At this rate people will pay for the comic value of how many ways I can trip over my own feet!!

If any of my friends near London want to come along and walk/run the last 5k with me (if not more - and I really won’t be fast) I would love to have your support as I’m getting more and more nervous about this!! I’ll let you know my route as soon as I can.

Anyway, nos da iawn. Tomorrow is a new day xxx

TimeDistanceElevation3h 18m16.01 mi714.23 ft

September 5, 2020, 07:56 AM

So was so impressed I managed to get up and get to an early morning Pilates class. Then spent 7 hours on back to back Teams meetings - so originally decided to put off my long run. However guilt got the better of me so went out anyway. Just so hard today - slow and painful but managed the 16 miles the plan required. At this rate I’m on for a 10 hour marathon!! Forgot my aftershockz too and decided I hate running in AirPods. Then off to coach which was fun - we are really getting there with COVID rules and the trampolining itself. When you go to a Pilates class and randomly end up next to a friend from gymnastics and it turns out we have been in the same area for months when I’m in London working . was lovely to see you Sophie - and will definitely see you in a class next week and/for lunch and maybe a run.....

5k with Fordy runners. So a lovely 5k (i day lovely but I hurt before it and even more after!) with the Fordy Runs girls. Then off to a Pilates session where I ended up next to a friend from gymnastics who has been living so near me when I have been working in London. It’s a small world but can’t wait to meet again (next week in a Pilates session by the look of it!). The final photo is the face of someone who should ev feeling really fit and healthy but actually feels they have been hit by a truck (ie me!). The face of someone going to coach trampolining who should be feeling really fit and healthily energetic.

However I actually feel as if I have been hit by a truck. Anyone feeling sorry for me who wants to sponsor me!

TimeDistanceElevation43m 27s3.61 mi99.74 ft

September 6, 2020, 05:09 PM

Speed run

As this is the fourth day running, including a 16 mile long run, I guess I’m happy with the speed of that. Was hoping to get 5k under 30 min but not today clearly. It’s feeling very like winter here - I’ve been so cold all day so thought that the only way I could get warm was to go for a run. But randomly there are still flowers out in my garden!!

After 4 days running, including a 16 mile run, coaching trampoline and attempting Pilates I’m so glad that this is the last run of this block before a rest day tomorrow.

Trouble is there is a plan, and I hate to deviate from a plan when I know it is going to work for me so a 4 mile speed run it was.

I’m clearly not going to ever challenge Mo Farah on his record but it’s not so bad. Was hoping to get 5k under 30 min but I blame getting lost and having to run up a few random paths for that!!

Anyway, rest day from running tomorrow, but an online conference and work instead. Life is getting busy but that’s a great distraction.

And only 28 days until I run the full 26 miles. Terrified!

PS - I’m still cold.

TimeDistanceElevation43m 45s4.16 mi102.03 ft

September 7, 2020, 10:06 PM

Rest day today and much needed I think. But getting to grips with my new job. Tried some yoga instead and stretching - OMG my hamstrings are tight!!