Another year, another stretch of the South West Coast Path. But after illness and a loss of fitness, this year’s challenge taught me that resilience isn’t always about pushing through. Sometimes it’s about knowing when to stop.
Can I train for ATHX while still recovering from severe hypothyroidism? With 21 weeks to go, I’m going to find out. My aim isn’t to break records, but to rebuild my strength and fitness, respect what my body is telling me and, hopefully, make it to the start line in January.
In my quest to complete 70 things in my seventh decade, I’ve recently added four more experiences to the list: cruising a canal on a houseboat,
When being strong stopped working, ChatGPT helped me recognise the emotional exhaustion I hadn’t fully acknowledged after illness and loss.
Five weeks ago, I was diagnosed with severe hypothyroidism. It wasn’t unexpected. Six months earlier, I’d had radioactive iodine treatment (RAI) for an overactive thyroid,
Last week I was told that my thyroid is now underactive. Not welcome news, but it does explain what I’m currently experiencing. Eighteen months ago,
Illness forced an unexpected pause in my life, but within that pause I rediscovered purpose. Over the past year I navigated Graves’ disease, therapy and personal challenges while completing my MA dissertation, running a half marathon and contributing to a published book chapter.