Kristy Maute

Shamrock Spotlight: Jen Keith

We are so excited to be bringing you the “Shamrock Spotlight Series” on our blogs! The Yuengling Shamrock Marathon, 1/2 Marathon, 8k Races bring thousands of runners, of all ages, abilities and locations, to the Virginia Beach oceanfront every year! As J&A Racing Live Love Run Ambassadors, we decided we wanted to celebrate these races, J&A Racing, and our community by doing a series that highlights participants, both local and out of town, on their journey to this years’ races.

We were incredibly fortunate to get the response we did when asking for volunteers to be spotlighted, and are grateful for the opportunity to share their stories with you!

Kristy and Lesleyanne

SHAMROCK SPOTLIGHT SERIES: JEN KEITH

Name: Jen Keith
Age: 34
Current City: Virginia Beach, Virginia

Training for the Shamrock Half Marathon

“As a young widow and only parent to 2 wonderful and very busy little boys (ages 4 and 2), I have to take care of myself. I lost my husband, TR Keith, to melanoma in April 2012. He was always participating in races and was a LIVESTRONG supporter years before his own cancer diagnosis. Running has been my main form of exercise for a while, but I finally started liking it about a year ago. I’ve found that running keeps my mood a little lighter and I want to be an example for my boys that exercise is important. I don’t get many breaks so running is time for me to get lost in my thoughts, take in my surroundings, rock out to some music, enjoy a little peace and quiet or catch up with some fellow runner friends!”

Why you are running a Shamrock race in 2014? I usually only do a couple of races a year because of time, money and childcare… and I’m not a morning person! I prefer to run 3-5 miles, but it’s great to have a bigger challenge and goal to work towards. I ran the Shamrock half-marathon in 2013 and thought it was a great race… very organized and a fun course. I knew I wanted to do an event with Team LIVESTRONG again so this year I created a “LIVESTRONG for TR” team and signed up for the half!

When did you start running? I started running during college to stay in shape… although I took some time off with both kids.

How many races have you done and what’s your favorite? This will be my 4th half-marathon, I’ve done a couple 10k’s, and a couple 5k’s. My favorite is probably my 1st half marathon… Country Music 1/2 marathon in April of 2007. TR decided to host a fundraiser dinner for LIVESTRONG the night before the race so I signed up and didn’t really train all that well. It wasn’t my best race, but I teared up at the start seeing all the people running and cheering, I loved all the music and bands along the course, and then I couldn’t believe I actually completed it… 30 minutes after TR.

Where do you prefer to run? I tend to run around my neighborhood because it’s convenient and I can get to a full 13 miles pretty easily without much repetition. I’ve started to enjoy running with others as well and a friend introduced me to this great group called “Mom’s Run This Town” (MRTT) so I’ll meet people anywhere! It’s also pretty fun to run around lakes when I visit my family in MN!

What’s the longest distance you’ve run? 13.1 miles… and I don’t really have a desire to run anything longer!

What is the one thing you DON’T like about running? I’m kind of a slow runner and sometimes it feels like it takes forever to get from point A to point B… and I swear on windy days it feels like I’m always running into the wind!

Favorite post-run indulgence? My diet often resembles that of a fraternity guy… too much pizza, pasta, sweets and beer so I indulge a little extra after a good run… especially ice cream!

Favorite running shoe? One that fits… since models seem to change every year, I’ve also changed. I’ve been happy with Asics, Saucony, Nike and New Balance.

Favorite song to run to? Lately it’s been Calvin Harris featuring Ne-Yo, “Let’s Go”… I prefer anything with a fast beat to keep me going though.

Favorite website to waste time on? Probably Eonline or People.com… definitely a “waste” of time!

Favorite running moment? My first and only race I ran side by side with TR was back in 2005, the Cooper River Bridge Run in Charleston, SC. It was a 10k over this old bridge before they tore it down. We paused for a pic as we started over the bridge and I just kind of looked around… I couldn’t believe the sea of people in front and behind us (I think like 42,000 had signed up)… it was pretty cool to be a part of that historic race.

If you could pick one celebrity to run with, who would it be? Reese Witherspoon… although I probably couldn’t keep up since I always see pics of her running.

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA — Jen and TR Keith

GOOD LUCK JEN!

If you’d like to help Jen raise money for Livestrong, you can visit her fundraising page here.

If you are participating in one of the Yuengling Shamrock Marathon, 1/2 Marathon, 8k Races this year and are interested in being spotlighted, please email breathofsunshineblog@gmail.com

The Little Red Sled

The little red sled, it has been with me most of my life. My Grandma and Grandpa Buss gave my sister and I these matching sleds when we were young. The year was 1984. We were living with my Grandparents that winter because my dad was in Hong Kong with the Navy. My mom would pick me up at my preschool with the little red sled. We made the journey back to my grandparent’s house together: my mom pulling me on the little red sled.

In the years that followed, my family lived north of Chicago. My grandparents still lived just further north in Wisconsin outside of Milwaukee. The little red sled is in pictures of my sister and I sledding down the hill that led to my Grandma and Grandpa Werden’s house. The hill was lined with birch trees. I remember peeling away the bark (and getting in trouble). I remember believing that the smurfs lived in those birch tree woods. I remember sitting on the sled, flying down the hill as laughter spilled out of me. It was a mixture of pure happiness and nerves. The adrenaline rush was addictive, but I was also timid. Butterflies filled my stomach as I slid down that hill. I still remember the feeling.

The little red sled was packed into a moving truck in 1988. It moved from Illinois to Virginia. My family traded in the midwest living for beach living. Snow was no longer common in our winters. I’m sure the sled came out of the attic on the rare snowstorms in Virginia Beach history. I just don’t remember. After the memories of sledding down the hills at my Grandma’s house, my next memory of the little red sled was in 1996.

The blizzard of 1996 dumped snow on oceanfront. At nearly 16 years of age, I wanted to be with my friends during the snowstorm. I spent the night with my friend. The night the snow started falling her mom took us and the little red sled to a historic hotel at the oceanfront, the Cavalier Hotel. Up and down the hill we went that night until it was time to head home. The following day more snow had fallen. We returned to the Cavalier Hotel. Up and down the hill we went until the little red sled hit a bump and made an unexpected right turn. The little red sled crashed into a hand railing beside the steps that led to the top of the hill. The little red sled survived the crash. My legs did not. I broke my left tibia and my right femur in the crash. I don’t know how the little red sled got off the hill that day, but I left in an ambulance.

The sled was then retired to my parents’ attic. I healed. I moved on. I graduated from high school and college. I moved to Alabama and then to Tennessee before returning back to Virginia. A few years ago, the little red sled reemerged from retirement. It made its way to my garage. As the snow fell last night, my husband brought the little red sled inside the house. This morning as we headed out to play in the snow, the sled came with us.

“Baby’s sled. Baby’s. Baby’s sled. Ride.”

Chet has claimed the sled to be his own. Cole has slide up and down our front stairs. He’s carried it to the neighbor’s house. The little red sled has won its way back into the heart of our family. Watching the laughter spill out of my children as they sat on the red sled has reminded me of why I loved this sled when is was four years old. It has reminded me of how much I loved those walks home with my mom. It has reminded me of the laughter and the nerves I felt around the birch trees. It has reminded me of the freedom I felt as I rode that sled down the hill on the day I broke my legs. This little red sled is filled with so many memories, some that I remember and some that I don’t. It holds memories for my grandparents who gifted it to us. It holds memories for my parents who watch us grow up always returning to the sled no matter our age when snow started to fall. It has memories for my sister and maybe even my brother.

The little red sled now holds memories for me as a mother and for my own children. I think Chet has named it best: Baby’s sled. There is something about snow and sledding that makes you feel like a child all over again. The little red sled will always belong to us babies.

Shamrock Spotlight: Sue Tate

We were incredibly fortunate to get the response we did when asking for volunteers to be spotlighted, and are grateful for the opportunity to share their stories with you!

Kristy and Lesleyanne

SHAMROCK SPOTLIGHT SERIES: SUE TATE

Name Sue Tate
Age. 38
Current City. Alexandria, VA

Blog: This Mama Runs for Cupcakes

I am a 37 year old mama to two beautiful boys, a Pediatric ICU nurse and Air Force veteran. My passion is running and trying to be a good role model to teach my boys the importance of healthy living!

Why you are running a Shamrock race in 2014? I’ll be honest,I’m running because it was my backup race for not getting in the NYC 1/2 lottery. I had to choose between Rock N Roll USA and Shamrock. I live close to DC and have run so many races there I wanted a change of scenery and I have never been to Virginia Beach!! This sounded like a great excuse to go down there!

When did you start running? I started running in college as a way to stay in shape and avoid gaining the Freshman 15!

How many races have you done and what’s your favorite? I have done about 20 races but probably more. Before I became passionate about running I didn’t really keep track and know I ran a bunch of 5K’s. My favorite by far was the Marine Corp Marathon!

Where do you prefer to run? I prefer to run outside on a trail!

What’s the longest distance you’ve run? 26.2 miles!

What is the one thing you DON’T like about running? Honestly, there is NOTHING I don’t like about running, unless maybe the foam rolling afterwards

Favorite post-run indulgence? I love a great omelet immediately after a run, but a real indulgence would be a cupcake or ice-cream. I have a bit of a sweet tooth.

Favorite running shoe? Right now it’s my Saucony Cortana 3′s

Favorite song to run to? Pretender by the Foo Fighters

Favorite website to waste time on? Facebook

Favorite running moment? Crossing the finish line of my very first marathon. I was in so much pain but I couldn’t feel it because of the emotions of finally accomplishing my goal!

If you could pick one celebrity to run with, who would it be? Ryan Reynolds

Want to continue to follow Sue on her road to Shamrock 2014? You can follow her on Facebook
www.facebook.com/thismamarunsforcupcakes, Twitter www.twitter.com/suzy399, Pinterest www.pinterest.com/suzy399 and Bloglovin
www.bloglovin.com/suzy399

GOOD LUCK SUE!

If you are participating in one of the Yuengling Shamrock Marathon, 1/2 Marathon, 8k Races this year and are interested in being spotlighted, please email breathofsunshineblog@gmail.com

Breathing Room (by Room)

With my life changing to a new chapter, I knew the priority of this chapter had to be about space. It had to be about finding my breath again. I had to create breathing room in my life. After tackling our garage project a few weekends ago, I knew the rest of the house had to be the number one priority on my list. Over the next few months, our house is getting a long over due make over. I’m using this space on my blog to keep myself accountable, to keep this thought process on the front of my brain, and to keep forward progress.

I’m decluttering.

I’m redecorating.

I’m bring life back to our space.

Our house has always felt like home to me. The moment we walked in the front door, I knew it was our home. I instantly saw my children running up and down the stairs. I heard the sounds of their feet as the ran from their room to the family room. I saw myself cooking in the kitchen. The backyard was filled with future cookouts and cornhole. Our house was built in 1960. We bought from the original owners. It feels loved. While our house has always felt like home, I’m not sure it reflects our family personality. We’ve moved furniture in. We filled the closets. My hope with this project is to strip away the layers of clutter, to throw away/donate/sell what we don’t need. I want a clean slate to showcase what we love. I want a clean slate before we layer back in the textures, the colors, and the memories of the things we love.

I hope to update my blog once a month to check things off the list and to add them when needed. This is my space to document how I’m finding my room to breathe room by room.

Family Room:

Move John’s Childhood dresser to room, sand and paint
Use John’s dresser as photo and office storage
Update family picture wall
Clean out built-in closet
Downsize Toy basket collection

Kitchen:

Pantry Doors
Paint
Tackle wainscoting (paint or remove)

Play Room:

Downsize toy collection

Master Bedroom:

Paint
Downsize clothing collection

Cole’s Room:

Grow up the Space (ditch little boy stuff)
Box up toys that Chet will want in the future
Down size toy collection
Rearrange furniture
Switch bookcases with Chet
Remove John’s Childhood Dresser
Take old dresser out of closet
Paint old dresser

Chet’s Room:

Sell changing table
Sell/donate baby stuff
Switch bookcase with Cole
Move dresser from Laundry to bedroom
Make closet toy storage
Downsize toys

Upstairs Bathroom:

Hang art work

Downstairs Bathroom:

Yikes! It needs help!

Garage:

Organize
Take stuff to goodwill

Misc:

Paint Front Door

This list should get us back on track! A happy home makes a happy life, right! Once this list is tackled, I’ll be ready to tackle the outside of our house.

The day we moved in (before new door and new roof)

(my other goal is to do this spending the least amount of money possible. Fortunately I have my Aunt Beth on speed dial – she’s amazing at this – and plenty of friends to help me brainstorm.)

Soup-er Sunday: Black Bean & Quinoa Chili

Although the sun was shining today and temperatures creeped out of the 20s, this weeks freezing temperatures left me wanting chili. I don’t like ground meat (it’s a texture thing) so chili can be challenging in our house. I made my version of chili tonight, but Christian argues that it isn’t really chili.

Today’s recipe was posted on SammyW:

Black Bean & Quinoa Chili

1 cup quinoa, rinsed
2 cups water
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 onion, chopped
4 cloves garlic, minced
1 jalapeno pepper, minced
1 T chili powder
1 T cumin
1 28 ounce can crushed tomatoes
2 19 ounce cans black beans, drained and rinsed
1 green bell pepper, chopped
1 red bell pepper, chopped
1 zucchini, chopped
1 t dried oregano
salt and pepper to taste
1 cup corn, frozen
1 handful cilantro, chopped

Simmer quinoa in water until absorbed, about 20 minutes.
Heat the oil in a pan. Add the onions and saute until tender, about 3-5 minutes. Add garlic, chili powder and cumin. Next add the tomatoes, beans, peppers, zucchini, oregano, salt and pepper and simmer for 20 minutes. Add in cooked quinoa and corn, stir until heated through. Top with cheddar cheese, sour cream and a bunch of fresh cilantro.

Another successful soup on a Sunday night! When we make it again, I will saute the vegetables before adding the tomatoes and the beans. They were still a little crisp when we ate dinner. I also added avocado and left off the sour cream.

Tomorrow night we will be using this recipe to make nachos: tortilla chips, chili and cheese. This recipe made a lot!

You can find all my soup recipes on my soup-er sunday page.