Sunday Blog 249 – 6th September 2026
Hidden in last week’s Sunday Blog where I dramatised my Kitty’s Gorge walk was another kernel of a blog that I started but didn’t finish. It was about my own long Road to Damascus style conversion to becoming someone who not only does exercise, but enjoys it.
I’m lucky enough to still be connected with people I went to school with, all the way from year one to twelve. Friends who cheered me on as I came last in running races on sports day. (See picture on right).
I was still wearing my school shoes rather than trainers as it wasn’t worth the effort of changing them. In high school, I survived sports lessons with Mrs Maggius as we shivered in our tunics and bloomers and hung our head in shame as she warned us that having a period did not exempt us from participating in sports. These friends can understand the scale and height of my Damascan road and why it has taken me six decades to arrive.
I’ve been a health advocate for nearly three decades, and have argued for a kinder, safer health system. That fight needs to continue, and its urgency if anything is heightened by the advent of digital health and AI. But what about the sad truth that staying well isn’t what our current health system is designed to do. There is no connection between our health and food systems, for example, even though what we eat is absolutely key to how well we are. Choosing to eat healthily can be an act of resistance.
One thing that helps to even out the rocky ground of taking control of our own health, just a little, is the use of smart watches and apps. The light didn’t properly turn on for me until I was sitting on a committee about health prevention apps, doing my consumer rep thang.
“Why don’t I have a smart watch? Why aren’t I creating my own personal dashboard of health and wellbeing?” I thought.
So after the meeting ended, I rushed off hatless and ordered a reconditioned smart watch (from Reebelo in case you’re interested). I downloaded an app to track what I eat and linked it up with my health app which tracks my activity. Yes, I am aware the tech overlords are milking all my data for their own evil multi-trillionaire gains, but I may as well use the tech to my advantage.
As well as my smart watch and new food journal, I’ve found the right online functional weights program for me and I just have to press the button and follow along.
I’m not sure if you needed to hear this today, but sometimes the three-year-old roaring in the cold beach water (top left image) can grow up and mature into an unlikely outdoor type. If that is the message you needed today, consider it delivered.