I didn’t run as many times as I’d hoped on my recent trip to the US. Mainly down to my poor organisation but there was a wonderful reason not to run – spending every precious minute with my toddler grandson Harrison and his new baby brother Alfie who was born while I was there.
Descending the aeroplane steps back in Cyprus I was met with a wall of heat so I suspected that I might struggle on my first run…and I did.
All morning a thunderstorm had been crashing around the island so I laid out my running gear on the bed (ever hopeful) and when the blue skies began to peek through again I got changed and set off down to the coast. You’d think the cliffside paths would be slippery and muddy but here in Cyprus everything dries up incredibly quickly. By the time I emerged from my car only 10 minutes later the sun was already beating down. I ran at just above walking speed, my pace in double figures. Ten minutes in and my bra was digging in everywhere, my top was stuck to my back and, being out of the habit of hot weather running, I’d smeared sunscreen over my forehead that morning. (Normally I rely on my the peak of my cap to shade my forehead). The cream was now racing down to attack my eyes. My chest was heaving; I just couldn’t seem to get enough air in.
BUT.
Every cloud has a silver lining they say and as I gave up and sought shade under a lemon tree I spied a perfect, ripe peach on a nearby tree. Is there anything nicer than a sun-warmed peach?
I guzzled half on the spot and saved the rest to make this salad.
It’s packed with any fruit I could find in the fridge-strawberries, cherries, oranges, kiwi all mixed up with rocket and coriander and dressed in fresh lemon juice and olive oil. Topped with mixed nuts and my fave squeaky Cypriot Halloumi cheese. And taking pride of place on the top=juicy slices of that fresh peach. Sigh.
