Hello all, I know, long time no post, 6 months apparently and that was when I was debating signing up to do the longhorn .... Well as you can see from the medal I did the half 
ok I didn't, I didn't run at all. I got the medal as a momento of the day as I was a marshal on the first feed station and I was there ALL day. The ultra runners were amazing.
The second medal on the hanger (the purple women's 10k) is another momento from marshalling. If you ever get a chance to be a marshal for a running event do it, in fact it's not even about a chance, they are always in need of volunteers, and if you are cheeky like me often they will let you have one of the left over medals at the end as a momento.
The medal that I am of course most proud of is the 4th one on the hanger, only my third ever event (the first two not actually being races) - the 2015 Oxford Half Marathon. Who would have ever thought that I would complete a half marathon, little me with my chronic illness (disability) and my wonky joints, but I did 
and in the process I raised a little bit of money for the ME Association.
There should however be two more medals on that hanger, there should be an Asda Nottingham 10k and a Great Notts Bike Ride however something else got in the way.
Running has not only given me courage, improved management of my wonky joint issues and a better belief in myself. It's also helped me to achieve something that I or rather we (my husband and I) thought would never happen.
I was finally diagnosed with polycystic ovary syndrome in 2010, though we suspected something was wrong for a while before that. For the last 8 years we have tried and failed. But April this year we had the biggest shock ever when after being very poorly I took a pregnancy test never expecting the result I got.
I am pleased and amazed to say that I am now 16 weeks +6 days (let's call it 17 weeks) pregnant
Last year we discovered that the cysts on my ovaries had gone and December I had a disagnostic laparoscopy for another reason but while they were there they checked out my tubes and all ok. But still we didn't expect there to be any change, symptoms can come and go, but they are often reduced with weight loss. Running helped me to lose a little weight, it was never an aim because weight loss with pcos is extremely difficult.
So there we have it my greatest achievement from running is growing inside of me and will be delivered in Decemeber (an awesome month to be born).
It does however mean that I am now a grumpy runner, sitting on the sidelines wishing I was out there. I tried to keep it up but I was very poorly and now I am in my second trimester my wonky joints are starting to have issues, so yet more physio for me to arrange.
I hope to be back and I hope there will be a running buggy in my future (omg have you seen the price of them eeek, let alone all the other stuff *faints*). I am the master of having illness breaks and coming back more determined than ever. I hope my ME doesn't get worse and I hope I can continue to pace and manage with my impending change of circumstances and that I can teach my child that exercise is fun and it doesn't matter what size or shape you are or even gender there is something for everyone.
Next challenge however is my husbands spinal surgery next week (they are removing a disc in his neck and fusing) eeek, but hoping the outcome will be that he will actually be able to hold his child without the fear of dropping them and will be able to go on adventure walks and play and be a fully active Dad rather than having to sit on the side lines. We don't like to do things by half lol
So yeah it doesn't matter what your journey is running will always reward you, whether that's improved fitness, better health or medals (I like the medals) there is something for everyone. Fast or slow doesn't matter, all runners are awesome.
P.s please don't use my story as an example to someone going through fertility issues as a 'beacon of hope' or a it will happen, I actually found all of the my friend or a friend of a friend was able to conceive after x y and z stories very upsetting. I know people meant well but I would have rathered just had support without any false promises.
10K bling
fun runs
My favourite running photo.
