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March's Journal
May's Journal
30/04/2023
OK, so I'm writing this in May rather than April but I don't think anyone is
actually reading this any more. Not even me. However, as the host of
Mastermind would say, "I've started so I'll finish."
So, right at the end of March I had what I'm calling my first middle-aged
health check. It's odd to consider myself so, as I mostly feel like I haven't
completely matured into an adult at this point. But anyway, I had the check
and honestly I'm healthier than I thought I was. Both my blood sugar and
cholesterol levels are fine, I'm definitely not overweight, and my blood
pressure (at least when she took it) was right in the middle of where it's
supposed to be (which is frankly the thing I was most anticipating being way
off).
After that Rel and her mum went on a trip-of-a-lifetime to South Africa, which
I really wish was something I'd been able to join them on, but some things are
just for family, which I don't begrudge at all. Rel sent me at least one photo
a day, which was wonderful. While they were out of the country I had my
birthday. Rather htan spend it alone I headed to Manchester to stay with my
parents for a few days and, aside from having a lovely relaxed time with them
(and getting some son-ly jobs done for them), managed to fit in a 47km run on
my birthday. I set out in perfect running weather, but then had to battle an
occasionally very sore knee and lashing rain and a driving, cold wind for much
of the time. Not to mention that about 6km from home my watch told me it was
low on battery. That was the point at which I had to speed up (only to the
speed I initially started at!) to get home before it ran out as there was no
way I was going to not record the whole 47km. I made it.
Once I was home again it was back to work and the Q2 patching round of all of
the hosts I have any sort of control/responsibility for. That's still actually
going on as I write this in early May. When Rel got home she found she had
COVID-19 from somewhere, so her short stay with me changed into staying the
whole week, which was brilliant (for me at least!). It also meant that we
travelled together to London to watch Max run his first (only?) (London)
marathon. He absolutely smashed it, and my PB, with a time of 2:51 and change,
which was utterly amazing. We managed to see him once on the route, and then
after Rel headed off to volunteer on the course I walked him back to Euston via
a GBK for a well-deserved lunch. Sadly I didn't get to see Stacey and their
slightly-older-than-newborn girl, Mara. But hopefully that'll happen some
time later this year when they come down from Scotland for a visit.
The final weekend of April I headed to London to stay with Rel for the Friday
and Saturday nights, and we headed out to a section of the North Downs Way we
haven't seen before to recce it for her attempt at a 100 mile race along it
later in the year. Owing to tram issues and train station layouts we had to
run for a train and I managed to trip and graze elbow, palms of hands, knee,
and worst of all ultra pack falling on the station forecourt after
safely negotiating the stairs. All well in the end, but still disappointing.
We're actually now into May and Rel is in Kenya with a load of donors to her
charity and having a very interesting time with local tribe on tribe violence,
gastric issues among the donors, and the usual logistical issues that can
crop up. She (and they all) will be fine, but it's not the best trip so far!