Originally written September 2023
I’d like to apologise — and thank those who expressed concern when I went quiet for a while.
I deactivated my Facebook account and limited my phone use for a week because I wanted to get ahead with my studies before flying to Sydney for this weekend’s marathon.
No, I’m not sick. I’m pretty sure the last thing a sick person thinks is, I should deactivate Facebook. 
My account wasn’t hacked. I don’t have a stalker. And I’m not avoiding anyone.
I simply noticed that I had been wasting far too much time on Facebook.
Maybe I was looking for an easy fix for that feeling of isolation and missing out — scrolling through other people’s lives and somehow convincing myself that everybody out there was living a better one.
Training probably didn’t help.
For months, we were out running while other people were still in bed. Then I started studying, and because I worked long days, most of my study happened at night while other people were already asleep.
Eventually it started to weigh me down.
Don’t get me wrong. I enjoy running.
I just miss my life.
I miss sleeping in.
I miss Sunday bacon-and-egg breakfasts with Graeme.
I miss going to bed early.
I miss having friends over for dinner — and being invited to theirs. At this point I’m not even sure I have any of my old friends left. My training excuses may finally be wearing thin. 
Thankfully, this weekend it will all be over.
Then comes the moment of truth.
I know I can bank on my fitness. What I don’t know yet is whether I’m strong enough to hold my pace for 42 kilometres.
So if you don’t want me photo-spamming your feed afterward, feel free to mute me.
But then again…
who will see the posts from my made-up exciting life?
Bear with me. Stay tuned. 
Stories Along the Way 