Back home briefly!

Well we're back from France, and for a short time the whole family is under one roof! We had lots of fun in Disneyland and the weather was kind to us. I do wonder about people in queues - surely if you are repeatedly stepping on the heels of the person in front of you then you will get the idea that you are standing too close to them? I like a bit of personal space, so sometimes find the queues a bit much!

I ran out of time for a run yesterday as I was ferrying children around, visiting a poorly friend and going to the cinema (Knight and Day was 2 very silly, but very enjoyable hours of movie madness). Today I had more ferrying of children to do, as they had a Kata course in Fleet. The only way I could fit a long run in was to run while they were at the course.

Had a lovely that included a circuit of Fleet Pond, somewhere I haven't visited since I was a little girl staying with my godmother in Fleet. I covered 9.25 miles in 1hr 23 mins - so a little on the slow side, but I did have to avoid the walkers around the pond. I tend to scuff my foot against the floor as I approach people so that they are sure to hear me - but they seem oblivious to just about everything! Today I had to cross a bridge that was about 1.5 people wide - there was no other route - so I got pretty cross when a couple stood at the top of the bridge chatting to each other as I waited for them to make room for me to pass!

I love my chiro!

Saw my amazing chiropracter last night about my dodgy hip. It has been painful, to different degrees, since the beginning of May. Every time my left foot hit the ground it hurt, and though it was tempting to hop on my right foot I did think I might get a few funny looks in Sainsburys if I adopted this strategy. My IT band is all out of kilter due to my over pronation. Stuart (aforementioned lovely chiro guy) bent me back into shape last night and has referred me to 'the foot man' who will sort me out with some orthotics to help keep me in shape.

I came home last night feeling better than when I set off to see him, and I woke up this morning with no pain in my hip at all! It was such an odd sensation. I have spent the whole day feeling almost as though something was missing, taking care with my leg and being amazed not to feel any pain. I was so used to the pain that it not being there was somewhat disconcerting!

Stuart said that I should be able to run more efficiently once I sorted out the biomechanical problems, and I took 30 secs per mile off my time this evening without really making a concerted effort to run faster - and it didn't hurt!

I am a little concerned about what Mike (the foot guy) will say about my choice of footwear! I can see how I will get orthotics into my trainers, but all my other shoes are backless, strappy, high heeled or a combination of the above!

In other news.... Freddy went riding for the first time today and loved it! We are exceedingly lucky to have a friend who has a pony in need of riding. I'm holding off on buying him jodphurs and his own hat until he has had a few more lessons, he has boots that he has inherited. He looked so relaxed and happy on Poppy's back.

Off to France after swimming tomorrow to pick up Kitty! She's been gone a week and I miss her. Won't have time to run in beautiful Maisons Laffitte as this is an overnight trip and the children have been promised Disneyland on Friday. We'll be leaving at sparrow fart to get to Disneyland before it opens!

The ideal pre run food?

I think I may have discovered my ideal pre run food. I had, lurking in the fridge, some left over cream cheese icing and, in desperation for something to eat before an early morning run a while back, I scarfed down a small(ish) spoonful. Strikes me that it isn't too bad a food to eat before a run, it has sugar for an instant energy boost, fat to release energy more slowly and protein in the cheese. It is amazing how I can convince myself that standing in the glow of the fridge's internal light, guiltily scooping cream cheese icing into my mouth is a good thing!

Yesterday's long run was a good one. 8.25 miles, slow but steady. Ran with Stephen - it is the furthest he has run in a long time - he prefers to run shorter distances but at a faster pace than I like. We are a long way off the pace we want to be at for Paris to Versailles, but hopefully we'll get there. I ran 3.25 miles this evening at what could be called a 'recovery pace' but was what I think was more a case of 'the fastest pace I could manage given that I was knackered!'

In other news.... Kitty appears to be having a lovely time in France, she's been up the Eiffel Tower in a thunderstorm, and is probably developing webbed feet from all the swimming she has been doing.

I'm reading a book about a serial rapist with a shoe fetish. I dreamt about shoes last night. Most specifically a lovely pair of Stuart Weitzman shoes (and matching bag) that I spied in Russell & Bromley....