Paris – Page 2 – Reach for the Seven Stars

This past week has been satisfyingly eventful. And coming home from a long run, David has taken the kids to get Xavier a haircut, slumping on the sofa is the perfect time to reflect.

Monday – The week started with a Registrar Training Day on Bladder and Renal cancers. Being on the Uro-Oncology job, I was actually a bit more attuned and understood the lectures, which was satisfying. I planned to run 13 miles after the teaching but got side-tracked with half a pint of IPA at the pub with colleagues post-lectures.

Tuesday and Wednesday – Standard clinic days. I went for an evening 10 mile run on Tuesday (instead of the originally planned 13 miles).

Thursday – Back in London at the ICR to re-start Part B of the MSc Oncology. Head and Neck cancers were the topics. With a bit of pre-reading, I also managed to get some of it. Of course, it was also Results Day and Hooray for good results! I passed Physics! Then immediately signed up for FRCR Part 2A in August 2026. There is just no rest for the weary. One stipulation from my Clinical Oncology Training Programme Directors is that I can go to Australia if I pass Part 2A and 2B before going. That sounds like a challenge if I ever heard one. But needs must. And I am not passing up a Fellowship in Australia.

Friday – ARCP. I officially became an ST5 (3rd year of a 5 year-training). I also got a SABR pelvic node voluming plan done. And unexpectedly had to present one of my patients at the Urology Multi-Disciplinary Meeting. Yikes!

Saturday – Cleaned the house whilst David took the kids to tennis and swimming. Snuck in a 3 mile run. Then we took the kids to the cinema to watch Hoppers. I shouldn’t have devoured the regular sized salty popcorn but I also cannot pass up a regular sized salty popcorn at the cinema.

Sunday – Ah the day I’ve been waiting for all week long. I’ve been mentally preparing myself for this 18 mile run. Given that I started training late, I needed to get the miles up and get a long run in. And today is the day! I had lots of mashed potato for dinner last night, found that I only have 3 gels left, but also had a bottle of Lucozade in the fridge. Aiming to run by 8 am, woke up early, coffee, water, bagel. Then the kids woke up – made them breakfast.

With water in one soft flask, Lucozade in the other, and packed 3 gels. Off I went at 8 am with my ‘Have a Nice Run’ playlist. I prepared myself for this to be a ‘Don’t get a cardiac arrest run’ as I haven’t ran beyond 11 miles and the last long run I’ve done was May 2025 at the Edinburgh Marathon. No heroics, stay under 11 miles per hour. I ran towards Hayling Island, didn’t follow my usual route and ended up in an industrial estate – turned back as I have no plans of being abducted today. I ran through Farlington Marshes, which proved a bit more challenging thanks to the mud, had to keep my mind alert as I had no plans of twisting my ankle today. I decided against decision of stopping for a wee (Morrison’s has a good accessible toilet). I was about to hit 15 miles and thought of compromising but decided against that too as I still had some Lucozade and water left. Keep going. The last 2 miles were slow and crampy but it was close to home and very familiar territory so I counted down from 20 minutes til I was done. Annoyingly, I think Garmin got confused during my first mile and didn’t record properly so I had to edit and add a mile, which I swear I did! But I don’t trust the average time. Ah well, 18 miles done! 31.2 miles this week!