Fatties and Frenchies

Been a bit uninspired to put an update on the blog over the past month since we haven't been on any road trips, but that is not to say that we haven't done some cool things.
- We ran our guts out at a 14K associated with The Great Ocean Road Marathon on May 19th. There was no real surprise in that a Kenyan took the top prize. We must gloat just a bit, however, and tell you that Mark ran the race in 69:22 minutes with Julie following behind at 69:56 minutes - probably one of our better showings.
Appropriately enough the race started on The Great Ocean Road in Apollo Bay and gave us a great excuse to take a drive along the famous trail - absolutely beautiful. So beautiful that Julie now has her first Aussie speeding ticket (only 5 kms over the speed limit, mom) and is only allowed 2 more before the license is gone and Mark finds himself walking to work every morning. The placements of the speed cameras are quite tricksy!
- Julie continues to hone her culinary genius with nightly dinners (Moroccan lamb soup, osso buco, cod with roasted leeks last week!) and occasional cooking courses, the most recent being Handmade Pastas. You will all have to come "round for dinner” when we get back.
- So that Julie can read and pronounce some of the fancy recipes, she has been taking a French course at the Alliance Francaise de Melbourne once a week.
- To balance the increased caloric intake, Julie has decided to take the NSCA Personal Training certification test in late July. The study materials are expansive, but Mark has agreed to be the first subject and is a great sport about trying out new exercises that make him look silly.