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July 11, 2014

Worth Waking Up For

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Hello, my friends! It’s Friday – who else is pumped? I’m especially pumped because on Sunday morning, Matt and I leave for the beach for a week long vacation with family! I have been looking forward to this week alllllll year long. 🙂 OBX or bust!

I kicked off my Friday morning on the right foot – with a run date, of course! Anyone else?

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My blogger buddy Chelsea and I met up for a jaunt on my favorite – the Mt. Vernon Trail.

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So beautiful out there! I feel so lucky to be able to run on this all the time. 🙂

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Now that I’m not training for half marathons/races anymore, I’ve been enjoying sleeping in a little bit more on weekdays (and by “sleeping in” I mean til like 7:30 a.m….), but getting in my workout first thing always puts me in such a good mood for the day, so I decided it was time to get back into it. With the exception of yoga, which I love at night, I’m just not a huge evening workout person – if I don’t have anyone to meet or a specific class to go to, it’s really easy to find a lot of excuses why I should relax on our couch instead.

Determined to get back into a good morning workout routine, I went to 6 a.m. Crossfit on Thursday (after a failed attempt to make it to Wednesday a.m.’s class, not gonna lie…), and I emailed Chelsea to set up this morning’s run date. The best way I know to make a workout fun (and to make sure I’ll actually do it in the morning) is to have someone to meet!

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Chelsea has flex Fridays for work and I didn’t have any super early morning AnneTheRD clients, so we decided to meet up at a rather civilized 7:30 a.m. Not bad at all, but it was still good to have someone waiting on me so I got out of bed. 😉

We set out with the aim to do around 5 miles and chatted away nonstop the whole time. That always makes runs fly by!

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These views helped, too, as always. 🙂

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By the time Chelsea and I made it back to Rosslyn, we were both super thirsty, so we decided instead of running up the huge hill back to our places that we would finish out with a sprint… and then buy some nice cold water and walk up the hill. 🙂 Perrrrfect. Summer running = tough!

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Great run. 🙂

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Chelsea and I decided that once we’re both done with crazy summer travel, we’re going to do a standing weekly run date! I really love my set run date with Sokphal on Tuesday mornings since it takes the guesswork out of scheduling, and gets me in a good routine. Chelsea and I are thinking Thursday mornings at the track, to work on our speed! Speedwork is always better with a buddy. 🙂 I want to get into a good routine with morning CrossFit classes too – need to make it a habit again!

As for breakfast, I decided it was a good day for my Perfect Microwave Banana Oatmeal, mixed with some cottage cheese (obsessed – so good with the banana sweetness), blueberries, and some pecans for healthy fat. Plus a shot of espresso with a little milk, obviously. 🙂

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And now, to finish out work and to start thinking about packing for the beach! I’ll be blogging next week (although timing may be slightly sporadic), so stay tuned for some fun beach photos. 🙂

Any good easy/quick beach read recommendations? I’ve been reading a lot of books for work lately (e.g. nutrition/emotional eating type stuff for my clients), but don’t have any great “just for fun” books lined up right now!

Have a great weekend everyone! See you in a few days from North Carolina!

- anne
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44 comments
  • Farah
    July 11, 2014 · 2:01PM:
    I like Jennifer Weiner's books for "fun", easy reading by the pool or beach. She has written Good in Bed, In Her Shoes and several others... Currently reading Goodnight Nobody. All are such easy reads! Have fun at the beach!
    Reply
  • Lauren @ Foodie on the Run
    July 11, 2014 · 2:09PM:
    Have a great vacation, Anne! I just read "Where'd you go, Bernadette" during my Ocean City getaway last weekend and loved it. Great, fun and quick beach read!
    Reply
  • Lea J. July 11, 2014 · 2:11PM:
    Can you believe I trained in DC for the MCM last year and never made it to the Mt. Vernon trail?! I stuck mainly to the mall and Rock Creek Park (C&O a little bit too). Finally last weeked I did Mt. Vernon and a couple laps of Roosevelt Island and feel like such a dummy for waiting so long. Gorgeous! I finished the Aviator's Wife a couple weeks ago and would recommend it. It's not necessarily a "beach" read, but it was a really interesting look into the Lindberg family.
    Reply
  • Catherine @ Chocolate & Vegetables
    July 11, 2014 · 2:13PM:
    I love early morning workouts! I wish I could fit them in more often during the week...one of these days :) I love historical fiction novels--recently picked up The Kommandant's Girl from the library and enjoyed it a lot. I'm not sure it is exactly "fun" reading (spoiler: characters die) but it is not heavy/academic either. For complete fluff, I like Sophie Kinsella/Madeleine Wickham books. Right now I am reading Night Film (Marisha Pessl) and it's really gripping (though I haven't finished it yet so....who knows if I'll ultimately like it or not!). Okay, too much about my reading--just take a stack of books with you!
    Reply
  • Libby July 11, 2014 · 2:15PM:
    Love your new sidebar pic! Hottie!!
    Reply
    • Anne
      July 11, 2014 · 2:44PM:
      Lol thanks my dear!
      Reply
  • Stephanie July 11, 2014 · 2:19PM:
    We Were Liars. Short easy fun read.
    Reply
  • mary @ minutes per mile
    July 11, 2014 · 2:26PM:
    so random, i wrote about books on my blog today! where'd you go bernadette was a great light/fun read. right now i'm tearing through the good luck of right now and am also finding it pretty good (and sort of weird).
    Reply
    • Anne
      July 13, 2014 · 1:35PM:
      Great minds think alike! I just added Where'd You Go Bernadette to my read next list!
      Reply
  • Rebecca July 11, 2014 · 2:28PM:
    Where'd you go Bernadette is next on my list for a fun summer read. It has been highly recommended to me by several people! I just read The Goldfinch and wouldn't really recommend it. I'm enjoying The Interestings right now and have also enjoyed The Perfume Collector this summer.
    Reply
  • Alexis @ Run Crush
    July 11, 2014 · 2:37PM:
    Love morning run dates! I went to November Project in Boston this morning, and it was a great start to my day. If you like teen lit books, anything by Gayle Forman has been amazing recently. If I Stay is going to be a movie later this summer! Although it's kind of a tearjerker, so maybe not great for the beach. Someday, Someday Maybe by Lauren Graham was really cute!
    Reply
  • Laura
    July 11, 2014 · 2:44PM:
    I agree, getting a workout in first thing always puts me in a great mood! I tell ya, those endorphins do amazing things! Plus, I don't really enjoy nighttime workouts (besides the occasional evening run if it's cooled down). Speed work on the track is a great idea - especially with a buddy. Track workouts fly by and really help us gain the speed we need. Even just ending a casual run with a few 400's or some striders on the grass can help a lot too! Have an amazing OBX vacation - I love it there!
    Reply
  • Bethany
    July 11, 2014 · 2:51PM:
    After reading a Fault in Our Stars (just in time for the movie!) by John Green, I’ve been reading a lot of his other work. An Abundance of Katherines was hysterical and Paper Towns was both a funny and intense read.
    Reply
  • Tia @ Tina and Tia
    July 11, 2014 · 2:57PM:
    I'm planning on starting "The Vacationers" by Emma Straub this weekend. I've heard it's great!
    Reply
  • jen July 11, 2014 · 2:57PM:
    It's not necessarily quick but I love the Outlander series. And I recently read all of Tana French's novels. Both have that can't-put-it-down factor that I like for beach reading.
    Reply
    • Anne
      July 13, 2014 · 1:29PM:
      Ooo I love the sound of the Outlander series - just looked it up. Bought book #1! :)
      Reply
  • Tara | Treble in the Kitchen
    July 11, 2014 · 3:03PM:
    Have so much fun on vacation! I have really been enjoying the Divergent Series as my "fun" read :)
    Reply
    • Anne
      July 11, 2014 · 5:26PM:
      I'm obsessed with that series!
      Reply
  • Laura @ She Eats Well
    July 11, 2014 · 3:31PM:
    Gorgeous pictures with the morning light! Anything by Emily Giffin is good and easy to read. I also love the book Girls in Trucks (forget the author), and anything written by Jennifer Weiner. Have a great vacay!
    Reply
  • Shel@PeachyPalate
    July 11, 2014 · 3:48PM:
    Pecans..possibly the best nut ever! I'm not an evening workout person at all myself! I just don't feel as motivated!
    Reply
  • Erin @ Girl Gone Veggie
    July 11, 2014 · 4:10PM:
    Beautiful Ruins is a wonderful summer read. Have a great time on vacation!
    Reply
    • Anne
      July 13, 2014 · 1:27PM:
      I read that recently - loved it!
      Reply
  • Julie
    July 11, 2014 · 4:13PM:
    I am a HUGE morning workout person! I love getting it done and I honestly feel once you get in the rountine - it is not hard at all! Question - do you think crossfit meshes well with running? I am a huge runner, and I have been intrigued by crossfit - I am just not sure it would be beneficially to my running?
    Reply
    • Anne
      July 11, 2014 · 5:26PM:
      It meshes well in the way I do it, only going a couple times a week. Good for building more power in your legs!
      Reply
      • Dana July 12, 2014 · 8:00AM:
        I'm a marathoner and started crossfit this summer - LOVE it! Anne, when you do a crossfit class, is that your workout for the day or do you still run? It's hard for me to run after but I'm used to running for at least an hour or doing some kind of workout for an hour. If our WOD lasts 9 minutes (albeit a very hard 9 minutes) I feel like I still need to do something for at least another half hour. of course we do strength work, etc. before the wod.
        Reply
        • Anne
          July 12, 2014 · 8:08AM:
          That's my workout for the day - I don't run too. Like you said, it is an hour (warm up + strength + wod) and even though it's not all cardio it still counts! It's good to mix it up with strength - and to not overly tax your body on the cardio front.
          Reply
  • Caitlin @ Happy 'n' Hungry
    July 11, 2014 · 4:18PM:
    I love getting my workout in first thing. When I first open my eyes at 5 a.m. I second guess myself, but once I'm out there running, I know I made the right choice. :) When I was on vacation a couple weeks ago (sigh, take me back), I started "The Cuckoo's Calling" by Robert Galbraith (aka J.K. Rowling). I finished it up on the Fourth and absolutely loved it. It's a crime novel -- not your typical beach read. It was released last year, and Rowling put out its followup, "The Silkworm," in June. Have a great vacay!
    Reply
  • Bre & Ree
    July 11, 2014 · 4:55PM:
    I'm visiting my parents in August for the month and the Mt Vernon trail looks amazing. I will definitely have to give that a try since it's not far from their house! And I agree, I absolutely love working out in the morning. I feel fantastic throughout the entire day! It's a great way to start the day. Hope you have a wonderful weekend and a fabulous vacation. ~Bre
    Reply
  • Kirtley Freckleton @ The Gist of Fit
    July 11, 2014 · 5:46PM:
    Ah! I miss those trails SO much! I don't miss the humidity haha. My hub and I were in the mood for a super fun/childish book series. We got ADDICTED to Fablehaven. Kinda fun. We then read Cane and Abel. Very very deep. Have you read The Kite Runner? Amazing. Cry. I'm just finishing The Alchemist--a classic must-read. I 'm with you though, I am mostly into nutritional books right now. If you get this, let me know what nutritional/emotional eating books you recommend? I'm doing Intuitive Eating right now. Take care!
    Reply
    • Anne
      July 11, 2014 · 8:11PM:
      I have read The Kite Runner, it's amazing! I like Intuitive Eating and also recommend a book called Eat Q.
      Reply
  • Haley @ TheSnacksofLife
    July 11, 2014 · 8:08PM:
    I'm currently reading This is Where I Leave You, it's pretty funny and an easy read so far! I also LOVED Gone Girl and I can't recommend it enough! I'm about to start Paper Towns by John Green and I've heard nothing but rave reviews! Have a great trip!
    Reply
    • Anne
      July 13, 2014 · 1:23PM:
      Just bought Paper Towns! Thanks!
      Reply
  • sam
    July 11, 2014 · 9:32PM:
    I love the OBX :) I'd recommend Nicholas Sparks books for an easy beach read. If you liked The Kite Runner then A Thousand Splendid Suns is also a good one. Have a nice vacation!
    Reply
  • Julie @ RDelicious Kitchen
    July 12, 2014 · 6:11PM:
    Hope you have an amazing time in OBX! Enjoy :)
    Reply
  • Stephanie July 12, 2014 · 7:32PM:
    If you have not read Gone Girl yet, it is fantastic and you will not want to put it down. The movie is also coming out in fall. An old favorite is And Then There Were None (also called Ten Little Indians) by Agatha Christie. Those are a couple I can think of right now. Have fun!
    Reply
    • Anne
      July 13, 2014 · 1:18PM:
      Gone Girl is a favorite of mine, too - SO good! Just purchased And Then There Were None. Thanks for the recommendation! :)
      Reply
  • Roadrunner July 12, 2014 · 8:50PM:
    Routine run dates sure help, don't they? Great concept, esp when it is cold/dark or hot/humid! Well done -- and enjoy the beach!
    Reply
  • Meghan July 13, 2014 · 11:08AM:
    Hi Anne- I'm also a dietitian and wondering which books you've been reading about emotional eating. It's a subject I've been delving deeper into for my patients as well and wondering what good resources you've found!
    Reply
    • Anne
      July 13, 2014 · 11:37AM:
      Intuitive Eating is a good one, as is Eat Q!
      Reply
  • Sarah July 13, 2014 · 1:45PM:
    Emily giffin! Start with something borrowed if you haven't already read it. Have a great time!
    Reply
  • Runner Girl Eats
    July 14, 2014 · 6:37AM:
    I love the OBX! have so much fun :) Lately morning runs are the only runs that happen...by 7am it's already 80degrees!
    Reply
  • Cassie
    July 14, 2014 · 7:07AM:
    This run is gorgeous!! A fantastic book IS NOWHERE BUT HOME BY LIZA PALMER. It even incorporates food! It's such a great novel. I'll be rereading on labor day :))
    Reply
  • Dietitian Jess
    July 14, 2014 · 11:25AM:
    If you liked Gone Girl (fyi: the movie is coming out Oct 3rd) her other two books: Sharp Objects and Dark places are equally amazing. Also any Jodi Picoult book! Have fun in the Outerbanks, I love vacationing there :)
    Reply
  • Victoria Ross
    July 14, 2014 · 5:07PM:
    I am the same way with workouts in the evening. More often than not I find some stupid excuse as to why I should just watch the latest episode of Orange is the New Black on Netflix instead. I think I might give this whole "workout in the morning" thing a try and see where it takes me. Thanks for the idea:) Victoria
    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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