34th Annual Frank Keyser Invitational

My first cross-country meet was fantastic! It was great to watch the girls at the start, mid-way, and the finish line--so exciting! The event was in Boonsboro, MD, a cute little town near the border of West Virginia.

Go!

Jules coming to the finish line

Hello, White House

The White House ~ 6:30 am...not much going on, but there it is.

GymPact Update...Made Less $

No official e-mail from GymPact; however, the app updated to show my total earnings of $7.60. Last week was only worth $3.19. Bummer!

Georgetown Cupcakes

Since 2008, Georgetown Cupcake has been a tasty treat for the neighborhood. Below are some 6 a.m. shots of the bakery; it was pretty dark (had to use the flash) with only a few visible people inside. Not only do they have their own television show--shamelessly promoted on the window--but also they have written The Cupcake Diaries and another book available October 9, Sweet Celebrations. The two sisters, Katherine and Sophie, have expanded the business to Bethesda, New York, Boston, and Los Angeles.

Become a Facebook fan; each day they post a secret, not-on-the-menu flavor. Request it by name, and you receive it free. 

 

 

Julia's sweet 16 cupcake tower

 

Gone Girl to The Lion is In

Book update... thoroughly enjoyed Gone Girl, by Gillian Flynn. Onto the next, recommended by my sister, The Lion is In, by Delia Ephron.

Who is at the W Hotel?

The picture below, taken around 6:15 a.m., is looking down F Street. It was blocked off between 15th and 14th. No idea who might be getting the special treatment this morning. 

W Hotel, 515 15th Street NW

iPhone Frenzy or Fizzle?

The iPhone 5 is here! These photos were taken ~ 8:45 a.m. There was one cop car, a couple of news crews, and a line that didn't quite reach M Street.

Looking south, Apple Store on left.

Looking north, the line.

Across the street.

Seaweed...good for the thyroid, but not a fan

The wasabi masked some of the sea flavoring, but not quite enough for me. The texture didn't bother me (thin, crispy). I managed to eat one serving (bag provides two) by stacking four sheets at a time--this gives a good punch of the wasabi.

Why seaweed? It is a good source of iodine and selenium, helpful for thyroid functioning as long as not eaten in excess (http://www.livestrong.com/article/146168-why-is-seaweed-good-for-the-thyroid/).

 

 

Earned $4.41 with GymPact!

Worth it! See, "Getting Paid to Run" post for more info.

Way to beat the odds, Julia!

According to a recent study (http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/250329.php), an only child has a 50% greater chance of being obese or overweight than children who have siblings.

I'm thinking that her 7 1/2 minute mile running pace may have something to do with her athletic physique.

Finally finished Madame Bovary

I thoroughly enjoyed, The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks (Rebecca Skloot). I read the majority of it while in Corolla, NC. It was fascinating and I enjoyed discussing it with Jules--it was part of her summer reading requirement.

Then I was inspired--thanks to Audible's buy one classic, get one classic free--to listen to A Tree Grows in Brooklyn (Betty Smith) and Madame Bovary (Gustave Flaubert). Smith's coming of age story was interesting and I would recommend it. Madame Bovary, on the other hand, dragged on and on. I did not like the main character, Emma, at all. Not to spoil it for anyone who may run out and read it, but the book ends with suicide (Emma), heartbreak and death (Charles), and abandonment (child). Anyway, I finally finished it on my run home today. 

I am sure this is why the half marathon felt like it was taking forever, because I was not entertained by the book at all.  

Next up.... Gone Girl, by Gillian Flynn.   

Navy-Air Force Half Marathon: 3rd!!

Great race! 1:37:58--got me third place for my old age division. Best part was hanging out with my bro post-race. He achieved a PR, yay!

15 minutes before the start of the race

Challenge coin

Run, bike, walk

Last day for the GymPact, just one more workout to log. Run on treadmill at home didn't count. I didn't bring my iPhone biking through Rock Creek Park, so that didn't count either. Thus, I resorted to a 30-minute walk with Whisper, our Italian Greyhound. Another gorgeous day; should have run outside in the first place.

Muffin in a Minute Recipes





This is the easiest snack you'll ever make in the microwave, Muffin in a Minute (MIM). The recipe is all over the Internet and there are a ton of variations. I deviate slightly and recommend you find your own favorites.

MIM Savory Mustard



Mustard MIM
2 eggs
2 Tbsp flaxseed meal
1 Tbsp mustard

Mix in a small bowl or large mug. Microwave for one minute and 40 seconds. Top with additional mustard or salsa.

Sweet MIM
2 eggs
2 Tbsp flaxseed meal
1 packet Stevia or Truvia

Mix and microwave for one minute and 40 seconds.

I know not everyone is a fan of the texture... but for those of us that cannot have bread, this is a great alternative.

Dark at GT Waterfront

6 a.m. and it is dark! I switched up my route and didn't see too many runners. I would not recommend running along the Potomac pre-dawn unless you have some sort of light source. The morning temp was a crisp 60 degrees--loving it!

Georgetown Waterfront Fountain

Getting Paid to Run

Over the weekend, I downloaded two iPhone apps: RunKeeper and GymPact. I will be tracking my outdoor runs via RunKeeper and then syncing them to GymPact. On this app, I made a "pact" to workout 7 days a week. If I succeed in keeping my pact for the week, I will get some sort of windfall from those that failed. I agreed to pay $5 per day I fall short, charged to my credit card. On GymPact, you can also check-in at your gym for workouts, all verified by GPS. Home/office gyms do not count; workout must be at least 30 minutes.

Steven also signed up. It may only be pennies a day; I'll update next week when I find out. Why not get $omething for what I'm already doing?

Happy Monday! It was barely 60 degrees and glorious running weather!

Reflecting Pool Open!

Yay! It makes running around the memorials so much more pleasant.

See story.