Author Archives: Cath Rodkoff

The Importance of Sleep

Posted in 2017 by

I’ve known for some years that I don’t sleep especially well and often feel continually tired, but earlier this year I got a bit of a wake up call to how bad it was. Now, I know this isn’t scientific but I’d bought a Fitbit which claimed to monitor your sleep. This is what I found over my first full month.

3 hours 39 minutes. On average. Over a month. I do know – that’s not enough! No wonder I was tired, short-tempered and grumpy, finding it hard to cope with some of life’s little curve balls.

I was already speaking to my doctor about (sorry if this is TMI) being perimenopausal so the first thing was to address this. I already take too many tablets for my blood pressure so it was great to hear you can get patches. They take a little longer to work but can be very effective.

Next I looked at the issues I have with light – my husband likes to watch movies in bed on the iPad and I find the light quite disturbing. I’m also prone to wake as the sun rises which makes sleeping in the summer a particular challenge for me. I remembered somewhere I had an eye mask I’d been given and thought I’d give that a go. It was odd for a couple of nights but really helped me to sleep through to the alarm.

I’ve addressed my night time routine. Aimed to get into bed by about 10. Only use my ebook in bed – no blue light from tablets, phones or computers. Keeping the window open to improve airflow (although that may be more of a challenge for nesh old me in winter).

And most recently, I’ve addressed (again, sorry if TMI) snoring. While I don’t snore all the time, I know sometimes this disturbs my sleep so I figured anything that might help this could be good. I invested in these. VERY weird at first but you quickly get used to it – especially when they’re cut right down for tiny noses!

And I’m having lots of success! Here’s the last month…

Over 5 and a half hours on average! That’s much more respectable!

I’d like to get it over 6, and I’d like to have no nights when I barely get any, but I’m pretty thrilled with that in 6 months.

I’d love to hear anyone else’s tips to get me a few more minutes…

Fail not Fail

Posted in #ThisGirlCan, 2017, Cycling, LEJOG, Nottingham Girls Cycle, Queen Bess by

Today I planned a long bike ride after work and failed. 

I wanted to do a 26 mile loop from work to home but turns out I’m not quite ready for it. Shoulder is fine but my wrists and elbows aren’t. Even my legs don’t feel great. Was feeling a bit despondent, then remembered a conversation I’d had with Kajsa Tylen about how failing and if you accept what is and view it as a learning the mindset is a whole lot more positive.

Unfortunately, I’d forgotten to start my Garmin so at the moment of failure I couldn’t actually see what I had managed. I credited myself with around 12 miles. But fortunately, technology is a wonderful thing.


Here’s what I learned:

  • I actually cycled 17 miles so significantly the furthest since my surgery
  • I probably need to spend a couple of weeks doing more regular, shorter rides, just to get my elbows, wrists (and bum!) back in order
  • I remember how quickly I have improved before and know I can do this again
  • I have a fabulous, beautiful friend in Tricia, who not only volunteered to cycle with me but also rescued me (I knew she was fabulous and beautiful already to be fair)
  • It feels a whole lot better to take this approach than beating myself up about it
  • I should always remember to take photos on a ride, even when it doesn’t go to plan as I regret it when I don’t
  • I wholeheartedly deserve the cherries I’m currently tucking into

An Open Letter

Posted in 2017, Cycling by

To the VERY IMPORTANT cockwomble who followed my black Qashqai in your blue Vauxhall down Bunny Lane from Keyworth towards Bradmore just before 8pm this evening.

I can tell how VERY IMPORTANT you are from your behaviour.

I’m not frightened of you.

Flashing your lights, driving aggressively close, gesticulating and yelling at me won’t work.

Because I’m glad I was in charge of the car in front of you tonight. I’m glad that I was the driver protecting the four guys on bikes in front of me.

I’m not prepared to overtake when I can’t see far enough ahead to know I won’t have to pull in and cut the cyclists up. I could clearly see how poor the road surface was and I am not prepared to force cyclists to the worst section closest to the verge.

You just saw cyclists. In your way as you travelled to your VERY IMPORTANT appointment.

I saw four blokes, out for a ride on a lovely evening. I saw four fathers, husbands, sons, brothers, lovers, uncles, friends.

And most imortantly of all, I am not prepared for any one of them not to make it home tonight because VERY IMPORTANT you were going to be 40 nanoseconds late on a journey you clearly hadn’t left enough time for in the first place.

And yes. I was making the universal sign for ‘wanker’ at you. You deserved it.

Think on, blue Vauxhall. Anyone in your family ever ride a bike?