22. A Week of Resilience
Balancing 110km of Running with Sleepless Nights
This week wrapped up with a solid 110 kilometers, a feat I’m moderately happy with, considering the obstacles. Midway through, I would have given myself zero chance of reaching the end of the week. The primary challenge was Coach Matthew's illness, which significantly disrupted our household and my sleep routine.
Matthew was sick for most of the week, which had a huge impact on our sleep and my overall feeling during the day. At night, he insisted on being between me and my wife, which made for some restless nights. He was feverish (poor thing) and tossed and turned incessantly, occasionally landing a slap on my face or a kick to my chest. It was rough, to say the least. One night, around 2 a.m., we moved to the living room and spent more than an hour there until the ibuprofen kicked in, and he could finally fall asleep again.
Despite these challenges, I managed to get out the door every day and log my runs. Here’s the breakdown:
Monday: 15km
Wednesday: 15km
Thursday: 15km
Friday: 20km
Saturday: 25km
Sunday: 20km
I didn’t run on Tuesday due to work travel, but I definitely don’t consider it a rest day. Adding to the chaos, it was ridiculously hot in Frankfurt. The only way to beat the heat was to run very early. I managed this on Friday, leaving home at 5 a.m. after a half-decent night’s sleep. Unfortunately, I couldn’t replicate this on Saturday, resulting in the longest run of the week turning into a roasting fest.
Looking back, I’m quite proud of having come through it. It was a tough week, but I emerged on the other side stronger. If Matthew (and all of us) stay healthy, things shouldn’t be this crazy again.
On to other bits and bobs, I recently finished reading The Trading Game by Gary Stevenson. The book is a tale of two halves. The first half, which I thoroughly enjoyed, recounts his journey from Ilford to the Citi trading floor, with relatable experiences from university life as I started my career around the same time. The second half was a bit disappointing, detailing his growing disillusionment with banking, his attempts to get fired without losing his deferred bonus, and a general sense of melancholy.
I’ve also been reading Abroad in Japan by Chris Broad. So far, it has been incredibly fun and entertaining. Let’s see if the last third holds up as well as the first two.
Here’s to hoping for a healthier and less hectic week ahead, both in running and in life. Stay tuned!
