I ran into someone else I know today. I had decided to go to another run group. I have signed up for the Toulouse Half Marathon and realize I need to train more to do well in the race. Run in Toulouse and a couple of other run groups have created a somewhat training group for the race. It meets on Wednesday night and so I decided to join it. I was not sure I would see anyone I know but figured it was just a run.

While I was standing around by myself, I saw someone who looked familiar but was not sure it was who I thought it was. After a couple of minutes of casually looking at each other she approached me. As I thought it was Mireia, Marc’s sister, who I met and spent time with in Andorra and then have chatted with all summer. It was nice to see a familiar face. She, also, translated some of the rapid (at least to me) French with instructions.

The group was huge, I am guessing there were 150 people who showed up. They broke the group up into thirds by paces for the actual run. Unlike Run In Toulouse, we basically followed the same route so to start out there was this very long line and group of runners running down narrow streets and sidewalks. I am always amused as people walking, sitting in cafes, riding motorbikes and walking clap and cheer as these large groups run by.

I ran with Mireia and her friend, Salome, in the slower group. I wanted to catch up with Mireia and I enjoy running with someone rather than just by myself. Salome is studying physics and will be doing a semester in Virginia this spring.

In the morning, I headed out to Marché Cristal as I needed a vegetable for dinner. I, also, wanted some more fruit as I was going to run out before Sunday and it is much cheaper to buy it at the Marché Cristal than even St. Aubin’s

The walk over to the market goes near one of the schools that has been at the center of the protests in Toulouse. As I approached the area I could see a large contingent of police. I did not have to walk directly by the school which was good. When I got to the market, I saw a whole line of police vehicles parked along the Boulevard de Strasbourg. While shopping I saw a large contingent of riot police. Luckily, there did not seem to be any unrest of disturbances.

It is somewhat baffling to know there are the protests but life just goes on as normal in most of Toulouse. I do seem some news reports of protests but they seem farther away from me. Also, Mireia said that her university is blocked so they are not having classes. For some reason, they are not allowed to do remote learning.

For dinner, I made salmon glazed in honey and mustard, The good French mustard with the seeds in it. I did sautéed spinach which I love as a side. Of course, there was a salad. I tried to do simple as I knew I would be late eating as I was going to the run. I usually do larger lunch on run days but did not want to go out three lunches in a row.