Overseas Training

Jane here:
We have just had 10 days in the South of France. When we went I was not sure whether I would run or not but packed kit, just in case. I had a bit of a niggle in my right hip before we left so thought a week off might be a good idea and also our gite was on a mountain side so it was definately going to be "mountain running " if not altitude training! After about 3 days my legs were getting restless so off I set for a 5 mile run. Ian set off before me giving me some very vague instructions i.e. turn left at the third tree, look out for the yellow postbox etc. I started well and after about a mile was feeling strong and really enjoying running in warm weather and thought I would probably extend the run to about an hour or so. Then, bang, I was on the tarmac, blood everywhere! Resisting the very strong urge to cry I looked at the damage. My right knee was bleeding and visibly swelling and my thumb was blackening as i looked at it and already almost twice its normal size and very painful. I got up and gingerly put weight on my sore leg and although painful was not obviously damaged. Looking around so see what had made me hit the deck in such spectacular fashion I saw a pipe sticking out of the wall at the side of the road at about mid calf height - well that would do it!!!. I hobbled home up the mountain road which made the hills of Dunbar look flat. Obviously when I got home Ian was still out running so I mopped myself up - no ice available or any other first aid kit! so propped my leg up and sat in the sun feeling very sorry for myself. So that was the end of that weeks training - new I should have stayed on the sunbed with a glass of wine!
After we got delayed by the nice volcano we got moved to a hotel in Nice just behind the Promanade des Anglais and by Monday felt I could try another run, although still bruised and battered had obviously not done any real damage. Did two days of 6 mile morning runs and 3 mile evening runs and 3 miles on the last day. Flat easy running, great, sea on one side - fabulous. And probably good practice for the marathon in Palma in October. Learnt a few things - I find running in heat hard - will definately need to wear a hat and a race belt with various bottles of water, energy drinks etc to hand and wear lots of suncream and do lots of running in the middle of the day during the summer to get used to the mediteranean heat.