It's been a long time!

Still getting free massages post-race!

I shouldn't have left you! Lol!

I couldn't help myself!

It is too easy to just get busy being busy and not post on here.

Updates about hair and life below....

With hair updates:
I'm now Tailbone length! Yes, that once dreamed of (actually I'm pretty sure I had 2 dreams about this one, but I digress!) length is here.

What did I do to reach this august new length you ask?
It was boringly simple. I protective styled.
Yes, crochet faux locs - individually installed around two strand twists, have been my go-to style for more than a year now.
I messed about with detangling brushes for a few wash sessions between styles. That may have cost me some length.

However, I am keeping it simple and cute.

These goddess locs got me feeling myself. I know I will likely wear my own hair out it the weather ever gets warm enough again (warning, I haven't felt it was warm enough for the last 20 months).

After all, today it rained, was sunny and we had hail!

Now for other life updates!

Life Updates:

I completed the final training part of being a junior doctor in the United Kingdom and now can be my own boss! We thank God! It has been a long journey.

In the last year of training, I got to 2.7 months left to go, and BURNED OUT!

My general practitioner saved me (family doctor for the non-UK folks)!
She picked up on my symptoms and was firm about me handing in a sick note. I have had a total of 3 sick days in the preceding 15 years of working.
I was off for SIX MONTHS!

I needed it. With some regular checking in with a therapist, I have come out the other side. I  still notice my energy levels are easily drained. I cannot push myself like I used to for work or play, and my empathy levels are not what they used to be.

As a child, I knew I would not suffer fools gladly. However,by way of my upbringing, I became a people-pleaser who let people start to breach my boundaries.

The pandemic led to most of the insult - I am a helper and a workaholic. Yet, when I asked for time off, I had other people's work thrust on me. 

To make a long story short, I had to rebuild from the ground up. I had noticed my running had started becoming harder in 2021 from the London Marathon and virtual Boston Marathon. I just didn't know I was teetering on the burnout edge for almost 2 years after!

I am much better and working again. I am close to home now and I get to hav a short commute (who even am I?)

I have an amazing work team with these beautiful black nurses who make everyday a joy to go in!
Not every part of the job is perfect (what is?) but I am in a much better place now!
I have even been taking outfit of the day pictures again.

Who knows? I might even start uploading videos to YouTube again.

Running:
Coming up soon is the London Marathon! I love this race and when I was burned out, I wasn't able to run it for a few years. That alone broke my heart. Though I cheered with my run club from the sidelines.

I am always training and am currently using a McMillan run coaching to keep me going. They allow me to have a running-specific strength program (or two) and build up to paces that aren't crazy - I'm not a fan of the Garmin coaching algorithm.

However, I don't feel like my usual self - my past self. I am unable to hold focus when running faster for much time. I also need to go super slowly for my recovery runs (not a bad thing). I just feel like I can't tell were my fitness really is.

I did run Berlin Marathon last September which solidified 2 things:
1. I still LOVE running marathons - they are not easy and I am able to will myself through it.
2. I am energised by running the marathon DISTANCE - I felt amazing for a whole month after the race. I am not exaggerating. Point of fact, I contracted Covid19 again on return to work in the land of Covid (read, Leicester) a few days after the race. I felt great! I had a cough for one day (wore a mask) and 5 mins of a dizzy feeling. I had to do TWO flow tests to confirm, YES, I had Covid19 and was highly-infectious!

I never want to miss out on running a race I am so passionate about. I still want to get faster again (not there yet) and I was to travel whilst doing it.

So, I'm taking my running as it ebbs and flows. I felt awesome for that month after Berlin Marathon. Then a feeling of lethargy or not feeling as great on runs seeped over me. I went from daily 45 min to 1 hour runs to being thankful for a shorter run.

I am on a run streak though!

According to Garmin, it is day 407!

Let's keep going, praying and running. I am leaning towards NYC Marathon through tour companies for the end of the year!

Ps: I'll be helping out at the Altra running booth at the London Marathon on Friday the 19th of April, 2024. Runners and supporters all welcomed!

Have a great April!