Tired

Not blogged, not cycled, hardly run either and feeling pretty flogged right now. About 6 weeks off the marathon and not managed more than 2 or 3 runs in any week, really not good enough. On the other hand I have 2 12 on call hour shifts a week for this rotation and whilst clearly I'm not the one responsible for patients I am still running around with the SHO. Obstetrics on call shifts are more hands on, delivered 3 babies, seen another 9 being delivered and a few sections but about to head back for the 3rd night shift of the week and feeling dog tired. Not made any notes yet (get consultants teaching us every day which is nice) and not got a handle on marathon training at all but starting to get an idea of what life will be like after we graduate...(having said that we're doing more hours than the F1s!)

Conclusions

Back in the motherland after what seems like a very long trip back to the UK. Flight arrived in Manchester at 2am, hung about until our train at 4.45am and finally got to bed at 8am before collecting a hire car at half 12. Tried to sleep again before driving up but to no avail so 4 stops and 2 double espressos were necessary to keep the brain in gear and the eyes open. Finally got to the outskirts of Glasgow to have the computer tell me '0 miles of petrol' were left. Feck. Cue much coasting and praying to the gods of traffic as we roll along Alexandra Parade to a garage on vapour. Anyway we made it.

The week was good, did almost nothing and I really mean it-sat by the pool every day bar one and read. Lovely. Did remember neither of us tan. At all. Never mind but would have been nice. Also decided that 38 degrees was probably too hot, got a morning run in which just sapped the energy even though the temperature at that time would have been much less than I've run in Madrid in the past. Also got a session on the treadmill but even with air con that felt worse. Plus after meeting mates who happened to be in Marrakesh at the same time I felt like the travel bug was getting under my skin again, managed to keep it at bay for about 6 years now but it's starting to lay eggs- how long before they hatch?* Luckily it's only 2 years until electives roll around.

So at best 2 bike rides this week but given they'll be on dirt rather than road I'm pretty excited. Although still feel a bit sleepy...

*Have I killed this analogy?

Holibags

Take off to Morocco for a week tomorrow! Can't wait, feel like could sleep for a week. First time we've had off on the course where we didn't have exams after our holidays.

Exam week means training was almost non existent:

Thursday - Road bike approx. 30 miles in 2 hours
Saturday - about 7.5 miles in 1.07
Sunday - Road bike 2 hours not sure how far

Taking my kit on holiday so will try get a few runs in....

And breath

All done, another 3 exams in the bag and that's 'third year' over. Technically not been at med school for 2 years yet but our numbering system is the one the undergrads use (because they outnumber us) so in a year we'll be final year. And in 2 years we'll be on the wards. Terrifying.

Someone has counted and discovered yesterday was our 38th exam since we started 18 months ago! In some ways it's flown by but at the same time I can't help but feel we've come a very long way in a short space of time. When we started I didn't know what diabetes was (shocking I know) and last week I got to do an Arterial Blood Gas (sticking a needle in someone's artery rather than their vein) A short time but a great journey.

bleurgh

Exams kick off tomorrow, haven't really done enough work but hopefully enough to carry me through. Ah well live and learn. Decided to stick my training up on here so can look back at it, probably should have done it for tri training but never mind. Distances are approximate and runs have different 'speeds' eg easy, steady, fast

Week 1:

Monday - 6 miles 46min
Wednesday - 6 miles 52min
Friday - 5 miles 42min
Saturday - 12 miles 1hr 42min

*I think those were my times, this is why I should write things down ;)

still around

It's been a long, long time since I posted anything more than a few words. This post will be no different but I fully intend to write up my first ever tri races. (a sprint tri as a dress rehearsal then a middle distance as the real deal) I had the stirrings of maybe an ironman this year at the back of my mind, if i could find the time to keep my training up, but a back injury that almost saw me drop out of the middle distance the physio has shut the door on any lengthy bike rides. Hopefully I'll have the opportunity again before I finish uni but I doubt it.

Plus a few words about the first clinical phase of my training. It's only been 4 months but I feel quite different to when I started, consultants still have the power to intimidate* but I feel at least a smidgen more confident in presenting a history (if not reporting a full examination with any authority-was that basal creps? Bronchial breathing?)

Anyway exams kick off on Monday then 2 and a half weeks holiday, including a week sat by a pool in Morocco, before it all starts again. This time with Obs and Gynae where I'll be a *gulp* 4th year.....



*I assume consultants will always have that power

slack

Yeah, yeah I've fallen off the wagon already. Maybe I should stick my training stuff up here and at least I'll visit once in a while. 6 weeks in did 8 and a half hours last week which isn't terrible but isn't ideal either. Not that I've ever managed to train properly for any event.