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Home » Fitness » Running

November 24, 2014 (Updated January 16, 2023)

Weekend Adventures

by Anne Mauney, MPH, RD

19 comments
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On Saturday, I fell in love with running again.

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It’s not that I really fell out of love with it, it’s just that I hadn’t had one of those super awesome, I absolutely love this runs in awhile. Well, Saturday fixed that. 🙂

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Chelsea and I made plans to run on Saturday morning in place of our weekly track workout because we decided sleep won out over the track on Wednesday morning (it was also like 8 degrees outside, no thanks).

She’s currently training for a December half marathon and had 11 miles on the docket. I’m just, you know, training for life, so I told her I’d be up for 6 or 7 most likely, but I’d see how I felt.

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It was super cold (my phone said 28 degrees when we met) but really sunny – my absolute favorite running conditions. We met up at Iwo Jima, ran to Arlington Cemetery, and set out down the Mt. Vernon Trail towards Alexandria, planning to turn around at mile 3 so I could split off when we arrived back near Iwo Jima at 6.

Well, I felt awesome, the weather was great, and I was having such a fun time chatting away with her that I decided, what the hell? I’ll keep her company for the whole thing.

Luckily I had planned ahead in case I wanted to go farther and wore my old friend the Nathan hydration vest. I had also tossed a Kate Bakes bar into my pack for after the run, and ended up eating it slowly from about mile 8 until the end – I shared some with Chelsea, too. This French Toast one is a new flavor – it was probably a little sweet for me for a normal snack (the Banana Cinnamon Oatmeal is my normal everyday fave), but it was AWESOME as running fuel. I will totally bring one of these with me again for a long run! Loved the maple flavor.

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I planned to stop at 10 when we got back to our meeting spot, and Chelsea was going to finish out the last bit on her run home from there, but by the time we got back near my car she was struggling a bit and I didn’t want to ditch her. Let’s do this! No walking in the last mile of a run, nope!

By the time we finished (11 miles in 1:40 – 9:09 pace), I was sufficiently endorphin wasted, as my buddy Theodora would say. I had forgotten how good long runs felt!

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Thanks for the AWESOME run, Chelsea! Definitely would not have randomly run that far without you. 🙂

I think part of why I felt so good was that I got in some serious fueling on Friday night! I received an email from the PR team at Jardenea Restaurant in the Melrose Hotel in Georgetown/Foggy Bottom, inviting me and Matt to a complimentary dinner to experience their new fall menu. They focus on seasonal, local ingredients and sounded right up my alley, so I was happy to oblige.

Matt and I decided that instead of getting what we would normally order when we go out (beet and goat cheese salad and some sort of fish entrée for me, Caesar salad and steak for Matt), we would be adventurous and mix it up. First up: some fall cocktails! We shared the Pumpkin Spiced Martini and the Bacon Old Fashioned.

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The Bacon Old Fashioned won out as the clear favorite. So smoky and unique! Plus, bacon. 🙂

For our starters, we did go for the Caesar salad, but because it sounded really unique! Cool looking, right?

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We also shared the Pheasant Terrine & Aged Gouda Soufflé appetizer. The soufflé was the best part of this – yum. Everything paired really well together, though – I loved the addition of some pear to balance the savory!

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As for our entrees, I had the Braised Rabbit Cassoulet with stewed tomatoes, black lentils and northern white beans. This was SO good. Great flavor and I loved all the beans! Rabbit tastes a lot like chicken, in case you haven’t had it.

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As for Matt, he went for the Cast Iron Seared Duck Breast with orchard apples, parsnip and duck confit stuffed brioche with double smoked bacon and Brussels sprout slaw. That’s a mouthful, literally! He loved it.

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We packed up about half of our entrees to enjoy as leftovers. 🙂

As for dessert, we shared the Cinnamon-infused Profiterole, which was like a cream puff. Amazing! Loved that it wasn’t super sweet and that the portion was small (this is a small plate) – right up my alley.

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Thank you again so much to Jardenea for having us! We’ll definitely be back. 🙂

As for the rest of the weekend, it was really low key! Matt is in grad school (I’m not sure I’ve mentioned that here on the blog yet – he started a year long masters program through UVA in August… they mostly meet in DC but occasionally go to Charlottesville) and still working full time so weekends have been filled with a lot of work for him lately! To make him feel better I got caught up on work, too. 🙂

As for last night, I whipped up my old favorite Sweet Potato Lentil Chili (<—click for recipe) for us to enjoy this week. I’ll probably freeze a lot of it since it makes a ton! I tossed in some black beans just for fun – good addition. Try it!

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Have a wonderful day, friends! I’ll be back tomorrow with a post sharing some tips for how to eat well (and mindfully) during the holidays while still enjoying yourself.

Until then – if you’re in DC, enjoy this randomly warm day we’re having! 🙂

- anne
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19 comments
  • Lauren @ The Bikini Experiment
    November 24, 2014 · 11:09AM:
    Gorgeous run and an awesome dinner does equal a great Saturday. :-)
    Reply
  • Erin @ Her Heartland Soul
    November 24, 2014 · 11:32AM:
    That dessert looks fabulous! I'm glad you had a fun date night!
    Reply
  • Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
    November 24, 2014 · 11:34AM:
    I am totally enjoying this day! Haha I just wish it was sunny!
    Reply
  • Shel@PeachyPalate
    November 24, 2014 · 12:02PM:
    Well done on the run!! The food looks incredible!!! Especially the duck!
    Reply
  • Alex @ get big, go to work
    November 24, 2014 · 12:26PM:
    The weather has been abnormally warm here in Richmond yesterday and today! Definitely soaking it up and enjoying it until it inevitably turns bitter cold soon. I can never get over the gorgeous scenery from your runs! Beautiful! I tend to do road running out of convenience and the views just aren't the same :D
    Reply
  • Betha
    November 24, 2014 · 1:25PM:
    I also ran Saturday morning, and it was spectacular! It was my first long run since my marathon, and it felt so good that knocked out 7 miles in about an hour! I was hoping to get out there this morning, too, but had a case of the Mondays and chose extra sleep instead.
    Reply
    • Anne
      November 24, 2014 · 1:32PM:
      Glad you had a great run, too! :)
      Reply
  • Roadrunner November 24, 2014 · 1:30PM:
    There's nothing like a great, long run on a clear, cold day! Well done!
    Reply
  • Chelsea @ Chelsea Eats Treats
    November 24, 2014 · 1:53PM:
    Ahh so happy about our long run :) Thanks for sticking with me!!
    Reply
    • Anne
      November 24, 2014 · 2:00PM:
      My pleasure! :)
      Reply
  • Chris Anne November 24, 2014 · 3:13PM:
    I felt that way on Sun! So much so that on my walk/run (one day soon it will be all run), I was singing out loud and talking to the animals and ended up walking 6.5 miles instead of 5. I hope I can continue to feel that way! Today is my rest day as I have a dr's appt after work, but I might bike on my trainer when I watch tv tonight. Thank you for being so inspiring! And I love your run tights, where are they from?
    Reply
    • Anne
      November 24, 2014 · 3:16PM:
      So glad to hear you had a good one, too! The tights are Brooks. :)
      Reply
  • Nicole
    November 24, 2014 · 3:13PM:
    New to your blog! I used to live in DC (and now am in NY) loved the DC/VA run. Very impressed with your spur of the moment 11 miles!!
    Reply
  • Jenn November 24, 2014 · 5:48PM:
    I've noticed that you often point out that you didn't eat all of something or brought leftovers home. Is that for context to show how big the restaurant's portions are? I'm not sure I'm getting the point of these comments. It feels like you're trying to show you don't eat much.
    Reply
    • Anne
      November 24, 2014 · 6:16PM:
      It's just for context/to give a better idea of portions given, that's all! I also like to reinforce it's good to listen to your body vs. thinking you always have to clear your plate!
      Reply
  • Carrie (This Fit Chick)
    November 24, 2014 · 7:44PM:
    oo what a fun meal! those cocktails sound incredible! congrats on that long run- so impressive!
    Reply
  • Christina @ The Beautiful Balance
    November 24, 2014 · 9:52PM:
    One day I will get up to 11 miles...until then, you inspire me!
    Reply
  • masala girl
    November 27, 2014 · 7:35PM:
    Wow I had a great run yesterday! 5 miles (new distance record for me), and i only had to walk for a couple seconds when I had a little cough fit/stomach rumble! just blogged about it today too :) its inspiring to hear that you ran those 11 miles kindof spontaneously and had a great itme as I try and up my milage!
    Reply
    • Anne
      November 28, 2014 · 9:35AM:
      That's awesome, good for you! Love hitting new distance records - so exciting. :)
      Reply
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anne mauney fannetastic food
Hi, I’m Anne! I'm a Washington D.C. based Registered Dietitian, mother, runner, and lover of travel, adventure, and the great outdoors. I've been blogging since 2009, sharing a mix of lifestyle content, recipes, and fitness tips. Come for the recipes – stay for the fun!
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anne mauney

I’m Anne, a Registered Dietitian and mother. I've been blogging since 2009 and love showing others that eating nutritious foods and staying active can actually be fun rather than overwhelming!

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