Changing My 2026 Running Plans After Surgery

I had quite a few races planned for 2026.

But sometimes, life has other plans.

Why am I changing my plans?

I recently had surgery to remove multiple fibroids. They had grown and were causing enough problems that, after discussing things with my doctor, we decided it was better to deal with them now rather than keep putting it off.

Honestly, I had hoped to get through my races first and sort everything out afterwards.

But surgery obviously changed things.

And I realised I don’t want to rush my recovery just to make a race happen.

So… What Happened to My 2026 Races?

I’ve decided to step away from my remaining 2026 races.

My calendar now looks a little different:

Oh well… there goes my nicely planned race calendar. 🫠

Of course I’m disappointed. I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t. 🥲

I had plans for these races, and it’s hard to just let them go.

But it wasn’t exactly how I imagined my running year would go, and I’m okay with changing the plan.

For now, I’d rather take care of myself, recover properly and choose quality of life.

Running will still be there when I’m ready.

There will be other races, other starting lines and other goals.

For now, it’s just one step at a time. 🐌🤍

May xx

The Cat Who Saved Books by Sōsuke Natsukawa: Book Review & Thoughts

🚨SPOILER ALERT 🚨

The Cat Who Saved Books by Sōsuke Natsukawa, translated by Louise Heal Kawai

"Books have tremendous power."

Well, indeed they do. ❤️

The story follows Rintaro, a young book lover who has just lost his grandfather, the owner of a secondhand bookshop. While Rintaro is grieving, a talking tabby cat named Tiger suddenly appears and takes him on a series of strange journeys through four magical labyrinths.

In each labyrinth, Rintaro has to save books from people who have very different ideas about what books are for.

It sounds like a whimsical fantasy, but underneath the talking cat and magical labyrinths, I think the book is actually commenting on some very real problems with reading today.

The first labyrinth is about books being imprisoned. A man owns an enormous collection of books but treats them more like trophies than something to actually read.

The first labyrinth is about books being imprisoned. A man has an enormous collection of books, but he treats them more like possessions than something meant to be read.

I especially liked this one because it reminded me of myself. 😂

I buy lots of books, proudly put them on my shelves… and then sometimes don't actually read them.

Yet. 😂

It made me think about whether owning books is the same as actually appreciating them.

In the second labyrinth, Rintaro encounters a professor who cuts books into pieces and simplifies them so people can read them more quickly.

And honestly, I could kind of relate to this one too. 😂

There are definitely times when I look at a really thick book and think, “Is there a shorter version?”

But the story makes an interesting point: sometimes the effort of reading is part of the experience. If we remove all the difficult or challenging parts, we might also lose something important along the way.

The third labyrinth focuses on a publisher who sees books mainly as products.

Books that don't sell are considered worthless and are thrown away.

This one made me think about how easily books can become just another commercial product. We talk about bestsellers, sales figures and what everyone else is reading.

But does a book's value really depend on how many copies it sells?

Sometimes a book that sells very little might still have a huge impact on one particular reader.

And then comes the fourth and final labyrinth, which is probably the most personal one.

Rintaro has to rescue Sayo, and this time the challenge goes beyond simply saving books. He begins to understand that the real power of books isn't just in the physical books themselves.

It's in what they can do for people.

They can challenge us, change how we see the world and, most importantly, help us understand other people.

I think that's probably what stayed with me most.

This book also made me think a little more about why I read. Books aren't just something to collect, finish or tick off a reading list. They can make us think, make us feel, and sometimes help us understand people who are completely different from us.

At the same time, I have to admit that some parts felt a little too preachy for me. The message about the importance of books is quite clear, and sometimes I felt the book was trying a little too hard to make sure I understood the lesson.

And perhaps the biggest takeaway for me is that reading isn't really about how many books we read.

It's about what those books do to us.

If you love books about books, reading and the power of stories, this is definitely worth picking up. ❤️

May xx

Apparently, I’m Quite Annoying: A Very Honest Look at Couple Life 😂

Sometimes, living with someone long enough means they know you a little too well.

Apparently, I’m quite annoying.

At least, according to my boyfriend. 😂

To be fair, I don't think I'm that annoying.

I just like moving around the house. A lot.

Our house was originally built for a family of five, but these days there are only two of us living here.

Which means I've slowly, and somewhat unintentionally, claimed quite a few corners of the house.

I have my reading corners.

My little sitting corners.

A spot for crocheting.

A spot for playing games.

And various other random places where I can sit, read, crochet, scroll, play something or simply exist for a while.

Basically, I don't really have one designated place. 

I roam. 😂

My boyfriend, meanwhile, has somehow learned my patterns.

Most of the time, he knows exactly where I am.

If he needs me and can't see me, he'll just yell from his study.

And I'll yell back from wherever I've decided to settle myself.

It's actually a pretty efficient system.

No need to walk around the house looking for each other.

Apparently, My Silence Is Suspicious

But then something happened that made me realise just how well he knows me.

When the house was unusually quiet.

With me not responding to his call...and he couldn't find me...

And apparently, there was only one logical explanation.

"If you're quiet, I know you're in the toilet pooping. Because that's the only time you're so quiet."

...

What? Excuse me?! 😂😂😂

I wasn't sure whether I should be offended or impressed.

On the one hand, it's slightly insulting that my boyfriend has apparently identified my toilet habits as one of my most defining characteristics.

On the other hand…

He wasn't wrong. 😂

Apparently, after spending enough time together, you start learning all the tiny, ridiculous things about each other.

The sounds.

The routines.

The little habits.

Even the places your partner disappears to when the house suddenly goes quiet.

I think that's one of the funny things about long-term relationships.

It's not always the big romantic moments that make you feel close to someone.

Sometimes it's the completely ordinary stuff.

Knowing which corner of the house they'll probably be sitting in.

Knowing what they're probably doing when they're unusually quiet.

Knowing their little routines without them having to explain anything.

And, apparently, knowing exactly when they're in the bathroom.🤦🏻‍♀️😂

I thought I was being mysterious.

Apparently, I'm just predictable.

And perhaps a little annoying.

But that's couple life, I suppose.

You learn each other's quirks, you tease each other about them, and somehow those silly little moments become some of your favourite memories.

I originally shared this little episode on Instagram because, honestly, I thought it was too ridiculous not to.

What started as a random conversation about how my boyfriend somehow always knows where I am turned into an entire story about my suspiciously quiet toilet habits.

Naturally, I had to turn it into a carousel. 😂

If you came here from that post, thank you for indulging me in this completely unnecessary piece of our everyday life.

And if you haven't seen it yet, you can find the original post over on my Instagram, @justmemay.

Because apparently, I've reached the stage of life where even my toilet habits can become content.

You're welcome. 🤭

Well, do you have a funny little habit that your partner or family knows you for?

I'd love to know I'm not the only one who has become completely predictable to the people I live with. 😂

May xx

Convenience Store Woman by Sayaka Murata | Book Review & Thoughts on “Normal”

This was a short but surprisingly thought-provoking read.

It’s funny in a very dry way and sometimes quite uncomfortable — because the person who seems “strange” may actually be the one who understands the world most clearly.

The story follows Keiko, a woman who has worked at the same convenience store for 18 years and is perfectly happy with her life.

Keiko has always been considered unusual. Even as a child, she reacted to situations differently from everyone else.

But because she doesn't follow the usual path of getting married, having children and building a conventional career, everyone around her thinks something is wrong with her. They think she needs to be “fixed.”

I actually liked how the book made me question what “normal” really means. Why do we assume everyone has to want the same things in life?

And then there’s Shiraha. 🫩

The more I read about him, the more I kept thinking, is there really such a human being? And how can someone like this exist and live their life?

What an arrogant, useless human being. I honestly found him so infuriating. 😂

He drove me crazy, but perhaps that's also what made his character so memorable.

Maybe that's part of what makes the book so good — it makes you uncomfortable, makes you question society, and definitely gives you someone to hate. 😂

Not sure I loved the book, but it definitely gave me a lot to think about.

Maybe the biggest takeaway for me is that “normal” is not necessarily the same as “right.” We all have different ideas of what makes a life meaningful, and perhaps we should be a little less quick to decide that someone else needs to be “fixed.”

May xx

I Got Into the Prague Half Marathon 2027 | My Running Journey

Well… I wasn’t expecting this.

I entered the ballot for the Generali Prague Half Marathon 2027 not really knowing what would happen.

And today, I found out:

I GOT IN. 🥹🏃🏻‍♀️

So, apparently, I’m going to Prague on 3 April 2027 to run 21.1 km through one of Europe’s most beautiful cities. 🇨🇿

And there’s an even bigger reason I’m excited about this one.

Prague is part of the SuperHalfs series — six iconic half marathons across Europe, with runners taking on Lisbon, Prague, Berlin, Copenhagen, Cardiff and Valencia.

And somehow, I’ve already started my own little SuperHalfs adventure.

Cardiff Half Marathon — October 2026 🏃🏻‍♀️

Lisbon Half Marathon — I got in! 🇵🇹

Prague Half Marathon — I got in! 🇨🇿

Three races on the list. Three cities to run through. And potentially the beginning of a much bigger challenge.

I never really set out thinking, I’m going to complete the SuperHalfs.

But now that I have Cardiff, Lisbon and Prague lined up… well, maybe I should see where this takes me. 😂

No big goals yet. No time target.

Just another race to train for, another city to explore on foot, and another finish line to look forward to.

Sometimes you enter a ballot thinking, let’s see what happens.

And then… it happens.

Prague, I’ll see you in April. 🇨🇿❤️

One more race added to the calendar.

One more reason to keep showing up.

May xx