This past week has mostly revolved around changing my lifestyle to fit in more running. I knew I’d never manage to find the time in the daytime or the evenings, so most of my runs have had to take place first thing in the morning. So much to Bubbles’ delight, I’ve been up just after 6 am every morning and off out for a run. Whilst I’m not yet up to the sort of distances that I intend to get to, I’ve already run 25 miles since Sunday. Today and tomorrow I’ll be cycling and swimming instead of running, I think it’s sensible to take a couple of days off, particularly as I haven’t yet invested in trainers that I’m happy with.

Using my TomTom watch to work out how far I’ve been running has actually been quite an eye opener. I never would have bothered to stop and add it up before, but I’m actually running quite a long way in a week. On Saturday morning I intend to run for 2 1/2 hours, so I should do at least 10  miles, taking me up to 35 miles in 7 days. I’m quite happy with that number and it makes me feel a bit more confident that I’ll be able to make the distance of the ultra, although I know there will be a significant amount of walking involved.

This has been our first week of summer holidays with both Libby and Lia off nursery, and we’ve quickly settled into a happy lack of routine. We’ve had some lovely days out, including a brilliant day at Croome National Trust for their Big Friendly Read book day. The girls loved the interactive theatre workshop, and the stage performance that took place around Croome Court. Better still, it was all free for anybody who uses the local libraries. And of course, the girls loved the beautiful open space at Croome as much as ever.  We also spent a pleasant few hours earlier in the week at Clive’s Fruit Farm, another local attraction that is free to attend, although it is literally impossible not to buy their amazing produce while you’re there. We always buy some duck eggs if they’re available, as well as local vegetables, cheese, chutneys and chicken eggs. At this time of year, you can pick your own fruit in their fields too. And we enjoyed a fabulous lunch in their newly refurbished café.

As always, the highlight of visiting Clive’s Fruit Farm for the girls was seeing the animals and playing in the park. Our Thursday Photo #116 was taken at the little park, with them both squeezed onto the little tractor. Shortly afterwards, Lia got off the tractor because somebody else wanted to have a go, which I thought was particularly insightful for such a little girl. I love this photo of the two of them enjoying driving their tractor together.

Our Thursday Photo #116