Kristy Maute

Shamrock Spotlight: Kellie Zinchini

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: KELLIE ZINCHINI

Age on Race Day: 24

Current City: Virginia Beach

Training for the Shamrock Half-Marathon

“I’m a mom of boy/girl twins (one and done baby!) and a Navy Diver wife. I love beer, wings, football, and Peyton Manning.”

Why you are running a Shamrock race in 2014? I’m running Shamrock to raise money for the charity, Courage Beyond, in dedication of my late brother, Kyle. Also, in hunt of a PR on the flat course 🙂

When did you start running? I ran a lot when I was younger but stopped after my freshman year of high school. I picked running back up January 2013.

How many races have you done and what’s your favorite? A lot throughout my life but I would say the Dismal Swamp Stomp Half Marathon is my favorite because it was my first ever half marathon last year.

Where do you prefer to run? First Landing State Park

What’s the longest distance you’ve run? 22 miles

What is the one thing you DON’T like about running? I would pass on the ugly feet

Favorite post-run indulgence? Chocolate Milk

Favorite running shoe? Saucony Mirage

Favorite song to run to? I rarely run with music

Favorite website to waste time on? Pinterest pinning projects that I’ll never do

Favorite running moment? When I got 2nd female overall in a 5k while pushing my twins in their Bob. I felt like I could achieve anything.

If you could pick one celebrity to run with, who would it be? My man Peyton Manning

GOOD LUCK KELLIE!

If you’d like to help Kellie raise money for Courage Beyond, you can visit her fundraising page at 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

Soup-er Snow Day: Creamy Chipotle Chicken Tortellini

With the threat of snow, I rushed out to the grocery store (along with everyone else in this town) and filled my cart with ingredients for soup (plus eggs, apples, and bananas) yesterday. If the town is going to shut down for the day, I wanted soup cooking in my slow cooker. The town didn’t shut down, but I wasn’t going to venture out on snow/ice-covered streets today. I’m glad I fought the crowds at the store.

Today’s snow day soup is brought to you by the Picky Palate:

Creamy Chipotle Chicken Tortellini

(also known as comfort food in our house)

Ingredients

1 cup reduced sodium chicken broth
3 medium chicken breasts
32 ounces reduced sodium chicken broth
8 ounces low-fat cream cheese, softened
1 pound tortellini, dry or fresh
8 cups broccoli florets
4 tablespoons chipotle sauce (If the can has whole chipotle peppers, use the sauce from it)
2 teaspoons ground cumin
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

Directions

Heat crock pot to high setting. Place 1 cup chicken broth into crock pot over chicken breasts. Cook for 3-4 hours until easy to shred with a fork. Discard broth and shred chicken into bite size pieces.
Pour 32 ounces of chicken broth into crock pot. Place cream cheese, broccoli, tortellini, shredded chicken, chipotle sauce, cumin, salt and pepper into crock pot. Close lid and cook on high for 2 hours. Stir gently to combine cream cheese. Serve in bowl. Top with pepper.

Makes 8-10 Servings

I followed the directions exactly as stated. I was skeptical at first about the amount of ingredients and the four cups of broth. It didn’t seem like an equal ratio, but it turned out great. I would recommend adding another cup if you want your soup to more of a soup and less of a stew.

As our family came in from its third session of playing in the snow this evening, the soup was ready for us to eat! It was another family favorite!

School’s closed tomorrow again. I am supposed to be to work at 5:30am, but I’m contemplating another vacation day. While I think, I’ll enjoy the perfect snow day dessert.

#megsmiles

I won’t attempt to duplicate what others have already said so well on Facebook, on blogs, on instagram, on the great big world wide web. While others have been talking about this runner who so tragically died on her morning run last Monday, I have stayed quiet. I’ve been quiet not because the story didn’t touch me, not because my heart didn’t ache for her family, not because I didn’t realize it could be me, but because I just couldn’t go there. Last Monday, I was already grieving. I was grieving for my aunt who also died too soon. I was already grieving for a husband who lost his wife. I was already grieving for three children who will grow up without their mother.

My heart could not go there.

I don’t know why it’s taken a year for all of this to catch up to me. I don’t know why the anniversary of my aunt’s death and the approaching anniversary of my father-in-law’s death has left me feeling fragile, vulnerable, and scattered. I’m having a hard time lately. The fog of last year is finally lifting. I’m finally becoming aware of the loss my family has experienced. Since Christmas, I’ve felt myself unravelling. The magnitude of losing two people I treasured so closely to one another is finally feeling real.

On Sunday I ran along the Potomac River. I thought about my aunt. I thought about my father-in-law. I thought about Meg. It was a heavy run. I didn’t feel empowered or inspired. I just felt sad.

The running world came together over the weekend the same way the running world always comes together when life takes a tragic turn. We run together. We support each other. We lift each other up. In so many ways, running has saved me this year. It’s given me purpose and drive. It’s provided motivation to keep moving. It’s given me success. It’s left me feeling accomplished. It’s made me smile when so much of my world has felt sad.

After a year of living in a fog of sadness, a realization has set in. Maybe that’s why all of this is feeling so raw and new lately. My aunt, my father-in-law, and Meg, they could all be us. What happened to them could be our life story.

This realization also brings with it hope. It brings with it purpose and drive. It brings with it motivation to keep moving. I will keep doing what I always do. I will keep running.

Shamrock Spotlight: Michelle Domholdt

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: MICHELLE DOMHOLDT

Age on Race Day: 34

Current City: Virginia Beach

Training for the Shamrock 8k

“I decided this past August that enough was enough, I was ready to lose the weight and be happy again. I started following Weight Watchers again and this time I told myself that failure was not an option. I started walking daily and eventually running felt much better. I have lost 47 pounds now and I am looking forward to losing more. I have never felt better and it is a great feeling to get dressed and realize your clothes are too big!”

Why you are running a Shamrock race in 2014? I am running the Shamrock because I have never run more than a 5k and I am ready to push myself further.

When did you start running? I have only been running for about 4 months

How many races have you done and what’s your favorite? I have walked in a few 5k’s but this will be my first real race!

Where do you prefer to run? I love to run around my neighborhood for now, I am looking forward to some warmer weather to try out running at the ocean front.

What’s the longest distance you’ve run? So far the longest I have run is 3 miles, I am looking forward to pushing my limits by increasing my distance.

What is the one thing you DON’T like about running? I think the only thing I don’t like is the pain of discovering new muscle groups that seem to never stop hurting, but so far the pain has all paid off!

Favorite post-run indulgence? My favorite thing after a long morning run is really yummy coffee!!!

Favorite running shoe? New Balance

Favorite song to run to? Eminem’s “Berzerk” and usually all my music I can’t listen to around my kids! Anything with a good beat that I can get lost in!

Favorite website to waste time on? Facebook and Pinterest

Favorite running moment? I decided I would wake up early one morning and get my run in, (I am a scaredy cat when it comes to being outside in the dark) I thought I planned the run so the sun would come up while I was running. I was about 30 minutes early for sunrise, so I put a flashlight in my sports bra and went for it! I was able to take 1 minutes of my time per mile and I felt awesome and it was the first time I realized I was a real runner!

If you could pick one celebrity to run with, who would it be? It sounds silly but I want to run with Tinkerbell at the Disney Princess 1/2 Marathon someday! Not sure when but it will happen!

GOOD LUCK HOLLY!

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

Firefly.

Friday morning I put my suitcase in my car, and I headed north. I had a weekend planned with my Aunt Beth. Rhett Miller from the Old 97s was singing at The Hamilton in Washington, D.C.

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Over the years my Aunt Amy’s friendship with Rhett Miller evolved. He invited her on stage to sing with him when their locations over lapped. Through chemo and full brain radiation and days spent at hospitals, she kept going. She sang.

Three Months before she passed away.

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We sat backstage with Rhett before he went on stage. We laughed and shared stories of Amy. Half way through his set, he sang for her. The entire room raised their glass and honored my Aunt Amy.

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Never say
You’ll never leave
Cuz you’ll never know til you try
In a jar
fireflies
Only last for one night
Only last for one night

I must have had a reason for leavin’
– Not one I could see
I must have had a reason for leavin’
– Must have been me
– Must have been me…

You… looked just like my mother
Did when she was 19
Not afraid to die

For the last time… I’m not your mother
And I was only 19
I’m still a firefly

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This weekend as I wandered around the National Gallery of Art staring at Van Gogh and Degas, as I sat on a bar stool in my Aunt Beth’s kitchen sharing tacos with her and her kids, as I ran on the Mt. Vernon Trail along the Potomac River, my heart felt full. I felt full of love. I felt free. I felt my light shining.

My Aunt Amy was a firefly. She shined, and there was nothing that could contain her spirit.

This weekend I was reminded that we all have the light inside of us. We can’t place ourselves in a jar. We can’t limit ourselves. We have to live. We have to shine.