July Jump Rope Challenge Done!

It's done...finally. It was more effort to post the jump rope snippets to Instagram than it was to jump rope every day. Check out the highlight in my profile to see ALL 31 days. Special thanks to the volunteers who were featured--Julia, Kathryn, Ethan, Mom, Chad, Miriam. Even the cats were involved! @SimpsonNutrition

July Jump Rope Challenge

Are you jumping in July? Follow me on Instagram--@SimpsonNutrition--and check out the 31-day July Jump Rope Challenge highlight in my profile. Social media is a labor of love/hate. Seriously. I started with a daily jumping post, but I got sick of seeing it every day...so I switched to posting to my story and saving it as a highlight. For me, it isn't hard to remember to jump rope each day. What is difficult is remembering to ask someone to record me jumping--or for me to record a volunteer jumping. Anyway, special thanks to Julia for the Instagram tutorials, volunteering, and recording for several of the days.

Running with Julia

Julia and I ran to the Ronald Reagan Building for her global entry interview. We paused for a quick minute to pose in front of the White House. She's a great running partner--good, even pace and street smart! Julia has been consistently running, adding in the Watergate Steps (to nowhere) behind the Lincoln Memorial and "The Exorcist" stairs. She's hard core. Kudos, Jules!

ED#31 Hives and Radishes

I have a couple of hives on my upper thigh. I am not sure what it is from, given I had chicken last night. Even so, I am forging ahead introducing radishes. I thinly sliced them, coated with avocado oil, and roasted them to perfection. Is it a delayed reaction to the sardines? Brussels sprouts? I will have to wait and see.

Running for My Birthday

Another year of running around DC and thoroughly enjoying my city. Here are some of my favorite things...

  

Tongues Panting Courtesy of High Heat

It has been really hot and humid the last couple of days...supposedly a break is coming by mid-week. Running in the morning is hot but bearable. In the afternoon, it is a slow walk/jog home. I can't bring myself to use the "running" setting on RunKeeper; instead, I set it to walk and always feel better when the app congratulates me on my "fast" pace.

National Park Police in front of the White House

Whisper and Quiet heating up on Julia's bed

President Obama at the Georgetown Waterfront

Kudos to the PR people for choosing Key Bridge as a backdrop for President Obama's speech regarding fixing the nation's bridges. He spoke from Georgetown's Waterfront Park yesterday at 2:20 p.m. Although I couldn't make the trek in the middle of the day, my fantastic daughter--in the name of this blog--went down in the unbearable heat and humidity to snap a few pictures. Unfortunately, security was extremely tight and the area was closed off to the public; Julia tried every which way to get through with no luck. Thank you, Julia!

Use at Your Own Risk: Someone Stole the Ski Jacket

Really, it is true. Since it has been so cold, I had been wearing Julia's ski jacket, which has two wonderfully warm layers. At some point between my run to and from work, the outer layer jacket was taken out of a locker at my work gym. They left my workout clothes and the inner layer jacket (thank God).

#1 bummer--this was Julia's jacket. :(

#2 bummer--extra cold run home with just one layer.

Julia wasn't upset (she's a gem), but she will have to get a new ski jacket. I wore several layers this morning, but I definitely noticed a difference in not having that wind-breaker layer.

There are signs around the gym stating that if you don't use a lock, you use the lockers at your own risk. Got it. Understood.

I am still using the locker room. I put Julia's name in big black letters on the inner layer. I did look feverishly this morning around the locker room to see if anyone had "returned" the jacket, but no such luck.

Feels Like -12!

 

 

 

 

It was only six degrees on my run into work--yikes! As they say in Chicago, there is no such thing as bad weather, just bad clothes. I was prepared.

Thank you, Julia, for allowing me to borrow several items: Holton-Arms sweatpants, ski pants, ski jacket, and ugly (warm) hat. I had three layers of pants/shirts and two layers of socks, gloves, and scarfs. The wind was at my back and the hood helped as well. The news said that your heart has to work harder when you exercise in the cold weather; however, I think my heart was working harder due to the 10 extra pounds of clothing!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Halloween Decorations!

Halloween is Thursday and I captured some spooktacular decor on my afternoon run home.

Pumpkin carvings by Chris & Julia. The squirrels especially liked Julia's.

First Holton XC Race

Go! Go! I wanted to jump right in along side her! This makes me want to sign up for a race!

Yay, Julia!

Rooftop View of Georgetown

A special visitor came to see me after work today! We are on the roof of my building; behind us is Washington Circle and Georgetown. We have had unseasonably nice, mild weather here--perfect for running, of course.

Me and Julia

Washington Circle, Washington, DC

Check out the sky!

RPI Drop-off

Smart Light Engineering Program at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute...our last stop for the holiday campus tours. We'll be back in a week to pick Julia up.

Lehigh University!

Not a fan of the town, but the campus is beautiful. Home to Runner's World HQ...very hilly.

Who makes being a mother easy??

My daughter, Julia, makes my job as a mother the most rewarding and hassle free. Really, she is the best.

Me & Julia

Wall of the Warehouse Restaurant

Beautiful day

National Christmas Tree & Cookies!

High of 64 degrees today--great opportunity for a long run and to see the new, national Christmas tree. Also below, pictures from Julia's annual cookie decorating party.

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

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

 

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.

Running along the canal

Julia and xc team went north from caderock and I ran south toward DC. Although a city girl at heart, it was a treat to run on a path with lots of shade and very few people. Loved it!