**Disclaimer: I’m writing this blog post after getting very limited sleep last night. As a result I’m feeling incredibly tired and grumpy. I’m also a little frustrated because the weather is rubbish. As always all rants and raves and moans and groans represent my own views. Other far less moany and far, far superior running and fitness blogs are available**

Rave: Running

I don’t want to tempt fate, but I’m really enjoying most of my training runs at the moment. Okay so running loops around a slightly dodgy housing estate in the dark isn’t ideal, but I genuinely believe that some running is better than no running. This may some daft and slightly paranoid, but I’ve reached the stage that I’m enjoying running so much, I’m scared that I’m about to pick up some sort of new and completely random injury.

I was actually quite pleased with my recent 10 mile run.

Running with the Run Wallingford group has enabled me to meet people and to make friends outside of work. However, whenever I run I’m scared I’ll pick up an injury and will have to miss my weekly training sessions with Run Wallingford. I’m also aware that if I get injured I may not be able to complete the Cambridge Half Marathon and would let down my mentor and all the people who have sponsored me.

Rant: my complete lack of self-confidence

Most of you know that just over three weeks ago I started a new job. Unfortunately, I already feel like I’m not doing very well and that I’m a burden on the rest of my team. I’ve done the same job before and feel I should have picked up exactly where I left off, and hit the ground running. Slightly daft given that I last worked as a hydrologist in 2009. One of my colleagues reminded me that it takes at least six months to feel completely settled in a new job. I’m hoping to feel slightly more confident in my new role before June.

Sometimes my complete lack of self-confidence is a nightmare. I’m certain that I come across as being quite negative. Although I’ve now stopped feeling stressed during my 30 minute walk into the office, I still feel as if my manager is about to realise she made a huge mistake, and that I’ll be asked to gather my belongings before being escorted out of the office.

Rave: Wallingford

Although Wallingford definitely doesn’t feel like ‘home’ at the moment – probably because I’ve been spending my weekends in Four Oaks – I’m hopeful that when the weather improves, I’ll start to enjoy living in the town. A number of colleagues have told me that once people move to Wallingford they rarely leave. I’m not convinced!Parts of my 1.5 mile walk into the office are incredibly scenic. I love walking across Wallingford Bridge and checking out the River Thames every morning. I’m really looking forward to being able to run along the river when the weather improves in the spring. One of my housemates is a runner and has promised to show me some of his favourite running routes.

Rant: The weather

Can someone explain to me why the weather is generally okayish during the week but rubbish during the weekend? I’ve lost count of the number of times I’ve checked the weather forecast for tomorrow morning. Some sites are forecasting icy conditions others are forecasting heavy rain. This is such a #thirdworldproblem but I just want to be able to run without worrying about snow and ice.

And don’t get me started on the complete lack of consistency between Met Check, the Met Office and BBC weather. It’s 2018, surely there should be slightly more consistency!?

Rave: Flexitime

One of the main perks of my new job has to be the flexitime system. There are other perks but the flexitime system is my favourite. Thanks to the wonders of flexitime, as long as I’ve done enough hours, I’m able to escape from the office at 15:00 on a Friday afternoon. Leaving the office at a sensible time means that if my trains aren’t too delayed, I’m back at home eating a Chinese takeaway less than three hours after leaving the office.

Rant: Noisy housemates

Five of my housemates are really friendly and the house is generally so quiet I forget I’m living with six other people (luckily there are two bathrooms and three loos). However, one housemate has a rather irritating habit of cooking his breakfast at 05:30 and turning on the extractor fan. Not ideal when my room is directly over the kitchen and I’m generally kept awake until 23:00.

The first time it happened – the noise was so loud even my deluxe earplugs didn’t keep the noise out – I wondered what the hell was happening. I’ve now got used to being occasionally woken up at 05:30 but I can’t say that I’m thrilled when I hear the extractor fan first thing in the morning.

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I’ll save the running the tap and instant shower scalding combination, the lack of living room and the loo roll thief rants for a future rants and raves blog.

I was going to rant about delayed, smelly and overcrowded trains but I think I’ve complained enough already. I also need to do something slightly more productive with my Sunday afternoon.

Once again, if you made it to the end of my latest random selection of rants and raves then thank you!

How is your running going at the moment and do you have any races planned? Although I’m slightly paranoid I’m going to pick up an injury, I think I’m finally starting to look forward to the Cambridge Half in March.

Does your job come with any unusual perks? My office is located a short walk from the most amazing gym. I can’t wait to be able to afford the membership fees.