2017 a look back

I have a lot to be grateful for this year.

1. My RA is well controlled. I managed the whole year without methotrexate or a major flare. This allowed me to gradually build my running mileage through the year and finish a 10k race and a half marathon. I listened to my body (for the most part) and rested when I needed to.

2. Being able to see Arkells and Marianas Trench live again. Both bands put on a good show and I am grateful that I have the means to get there and people to share it with.

3. Friends and family that care about me and love me for me. I know there are times where I am not the best person to be around but I am lucky to have unconditional love from them.

4. Finishing 5 courses towards my personal fitness trainer diploma, maintaining my 4.0 GPA and now only having 3 courses and 2 practicals to go and I will be finished next year. 

As most people do, there are areas that I could use some growth and maturity. I continue to let some people live rent free in my head and they don't deserve to, yet there they are. I need to kick them out. I need to be accepting that some relationships aren't going to be what I want and I should stop hoping that things will change. I could always be kinder to myself.

Overall it was a good year and I am happy to close this book and start a fresh one tomorrow.

Shit's real, yo.

Last week I saw the gastroenerologist.

A few month's a go I had a very bad run, bad enough that I finally called my doctor to talk about it. He ran some tests and discovered I have an intestinal parasite. I was actually away when they called me with the results, and when a doctor calls you on a Friday night, you know it's important. He also said he was putting a referral to a gastro just to be same and rule out any other autoimmune illnesses.

I started the antibiotics and then repeated the test and all was clear. Yay! I get a call from the gastro saying that I have an appointment. I need to repeat the tests for their office. No problem. I am a pro by now.

Turns out the parasite is still in my body so I am on a stronger antibiotic, tetracycline. I take it 4 times a day and it has to be on an empty stomach, so that means at the very least I am eating every 4 hours, taking it in the middle. Long story short. I'm hungry. I also set my alarm to take it before I am supposed to wake up for the day so I can have a morning coffee. I'm also tired.

However, my school classes are done and I don't teach until January 8, so lots of time for relaxing and destressing!

Some days I'm just hanging on

This weather needs to stop. It's seriously fucking with me. The wind is making my body ache. Last night I took 3 Advil so I would be able to sleep, and thankfully I was able to sleep the whole night through. I have taken more pain medication in the past week than I have in the past 4 months. I am really tired of this.

So I am not the best at updating...

I have been busy with the final weeks of my classes. The end is near. I just have the last quiz in both classes to do this week and then it is relaxation until January.

I have also been sick. Still. Seriously. This time it was pink eye. My husband had it first and the worst but I ended up having to sub out one of m classes because I was still infectious. My eyes are still dry from all the drops I put in and still look tired.

I have still been participating in the running streak. Last week totaled 36.2km with a 11.4km long run. Both are the highest numbers since I went to Vancouver at the end of September.

I am hoping to hold steady at that for at least this coming week. I know I need to build and maintain slowly.

December begins

I have caught pink eye from my husband and I hope it avoids all the kids.

I'm tired of being tired. Will there be a time when I am not tired? Looking forward to that.

This week I managed 24.5 km running which really isn't that bad. The mile a day is helping me but it adds to the fatigue. I need to make sure I am eating enough. When I get busy I forget to eat. I'm just like that.

November wrap up

The month finished with 103.6 km so I am still achieving my goal of staying over 100km a month. It can be tiring at times though. It can be a struggle for me to weigh listening to my body and resting when I know I need to against looking ahead at a running goal and focusing on the training that I need/want to do. I know the importance of rest and that it's important in the long run because if I am tired then I know there will not be a race anyway.

I also taught 8:30 in cycle classes and did 5 strength classes. I know I need to lift more weights so I should find the time to do that. Given my recovery time from activity I'd rather run then lift weights.

Looking ahead to December I will be done my online classes by the 15th and the classes I teach wind down in number. I am looking forward to the reduction in stress and the increase in downtime. I even scheduled the first week of January completely off: I won't be teaching and my next classes won't have started yet.