Foot care

Last Sunday I ran out of legs. They still haven't recovered. Good job I'm tapering this week.

To cheer my feet up, I took them for half an hour of vigorous reflexology at Step In on Rupert Court. As ever, it was a triumph. My lower limbs are now much revived and ready to go.

Having a massage at lunchtime still feels indulgent. For the first seven years of my working life, I was based in a mansion in the middle of nowhere. Wonderful location but the opportunities for lunchtime massages were remote/non-existent. Then I moved to London and suddenly you have virtually everything in the world at the end of the road - all the time. What a novelty! And it still hasn't worn off. Might have another massage tomorrow.

It is an offence to remove your trousers

Went for a massage at the weekend. It was in Chinatown and the place was rather 'spit and sawdust'. A world away from spas like the Sanctuary, but all the better for it. After half an hour of vigorous pummelling you emerge feeling ten feet tall. I've been going on and off for a couple of years so I know what to expect. But I still wasn't prepared for the lady to climb completely on my back and ride me round the massage room. Then she pulled my arms so far backwards over my head, she lifted me off the table. Given I was half-naked and facing out of the open booth, this provided an interesting view for my fellow massagees. Afterwards, she made me do some stretches. It was while semi-naked stretching that I noticed a small sign on the inside of the booth declaring it was an offence to remove your trousers during the massage. I was somewhat perplexed as to how this would be achieved. Particularly if you have a confidently-built masseuse tap dancing on your back. Anyway, I have to say that two days on and I am still feeling the benefits. I feel lighter and taller and when I went for a run this morning, it was relatively easy. I will certainly be booking in with her again soon. And when I do see her next, I can return the thumb she's left in my spine.

(Stats (re this morning's run, not the massage): 8.1 miles; 1 hour 24 minutes; 10.22 minute/mile.)