Make RFS Your First 5K
Train for your first 5K with Fleet Feet Sports' No Boundaries Program. Let their expert coaching team take you to the next level.
Read MoreBest. Egg Hunt. Ever.
Or so we hear. Between the egg hunt and the other kids' activities, your family will be ready for a long afternoon nap.
Read MoreReal People, Changing Lives
James and Athena Pond are ordinary people who decided to do something extraordinary: save the lives of girls half-way across the world.
Read More
Our featured Participant of the Week is, for a second year in a row, going to help with master of ceremony duties at the Run for Shelter 5k and carnival. He is a man of many talents, and we’re so pumped that he’s agreed to be a part of the event again this year!
For being a good sport and answering all of our goofy questions, Mike will receive two yogahOMe passes – one for him and one for a friend!
What songs are on your playlist? “Turn Around” (Matt Mahr), “Remind Me Who I Am” (Jason Gray), “Walk” (Foo Fighters), “NY2LA” (Press Play), “You Lead” (Jamie Grace)
What’s the most seriously fun thing you’ve ever done? Backpacking in the Smokey Mountains with my friends (canoeing, hiking, fishing, swimming, debauchery and making “bear calls” in the woods)
Why did you get involved with Run for Shelter? It gives me an opportunity to do something I’m good at, do something I enjoy and sync up with God’s flow – being part of Kingdom-building activities.
You starred in a Run for Shelter video last year where you got to wear, among other things, Batman underwear. Do people ever ask for your autograph because of it? No but people certainly enjoyed my outfit (especially the old ladies, in my neighborhood, walking their dogs while we filmed the clips!).
We hear that one of your other talents is singing. What is your favorite song to sing at karaoke night? Ahhh, one of my “God-given gifts” that I enjoy sharing anytime I have the opportunity!!!! Only one?? How about my Top 5: “ If I Had a Million Dollars” (Barenaked Ladies), “Suspicious Minds” (Elvis), “Music of The Night” (Phantom of the Opera), “Summer Lovin’” (Grease) and Blue Eyed Blond (Brown Eyed Girl – Van Morrison)
Who is your celebrity doppelganger? Khazoontite! Huh??
What is your favorite sports movie? Too difficult, here are my tops by sport - Rocky IV (boxing), The Natural (baseball),Hoosiers (basketball) and Remember the Titans (football)
Our latest Participant of the Week is running her first 5K after a knee injury, and we’re so glad she picked Run for Shelter to be that first race! For being such a good sport and answering our odd-ball questions, Emily gets two yogahOMe passes – one for her and one for a friend!
Name: Emily Kassem
Runner or Walker? Runner
Why do you run? For the sanity of those who have to deal with me
Longest race you’ve run: 10K
Celebrity doppelganger: I wish they said I looked like Megan Fox or a Victoria’s Secret Model (Editor’s note: Don’t we all wish that?!?)
Favorite sports movie: Love & Basketball
Favorite Cincinnati 5K: This one, of course!
What’s on your running playlist right now? I have Pandora, so my radio station is set to Beyonce and Shakira. It ensures I get a little sass with a Latin flair!
If you were an animal, what would you be? I would be a giraffe. I’m pretty tall and enjoy being able to see over a crowd.
Advice you’d give to someone running their first 5K: Pace yourself, that last mile seems like forever especially if it is uphill. Keep going, and don’t walk. You can do it!
Why are you going to participate in Run for Shelter 2012? I appreciate the purpose. It provides benefits to women and girls who have been victims of sex trafficking.
Run for Shelter is all about having serious fun for a serious cause. What is the most “seriously fun” thing you’ve ever done? Hiking on Machu Picchu in Peru. I was literally walking in the clouds and the village looked untouched. I could almost imagine what the culture was like.
Our latest Participant of the Week is not new to Cincinnati races, but she is new to Run for Shelter. She’ll be running our 5K this year, and we’re so excited! Plus, she’s super-funny (and has more nicknames than anybody we’ve ever met!), which we absolutely love.
For being such a good sport, Sarah gets two free passes to yogahOMe – one for her and one for a friend!
Name: Sarah Buelterman
Nickname: Walter, B, Beatrice, and Toes. I feel like I should explain a couple of these…
Runner or walker? When it comes to training and races, I run, but for general fitness I love walking, too.
Longest race you’ve run: Cincinnati Flying Pig Half Marathon/Cincinnati Half Marathon
Celebrity doppelganger: I don’t get doppelgangered too often, but I have been told I look like Channel 5’s Alison Montoya.
Favorite sports movie: Rudy. Fun fact: I listened to the Rudy soundtrack on repeat whenever I studied for exams during college. I occasionally pop it in at work when I really need to buckle down and concentrate.
What’s on your running playlist right now? “We Found Love” – Rihanna, “King of Anything” – Sara Bareilles, “Tearin’ Up My Heart” – NSYNC, and Dynamite – Taio Cruz. Oh, and lots of Jason Derulo with a little Taylor Swift mixed in. Basically, I’m a 14-year-old trapped in a 23-year-old’s body.
The funniest thing (almost) nobody knows about you: Back in my younger days, I was infamous for running off from my parents. Festivals, department stores, amusement parks…you name it, I probably ran off. When I was two years old, I took off on one of my aimless excursions in Thriftway while my parents were grocery shopping. Luckily, my dad found me, but oddly enough it wasn’t in the candy aisle. I had made myself a cup of coffee with creamer, sugar and a mixing straw. In disbelief, my dad accused an innocent bystander of making his toddler a cup of java. She reassured him this wasn’t the case. Needless to say, I’m shocked I never ended up on a leash.
Advice you’d give to someone running their first 5K: First off, give yourself a pat on the back for signing up for your first 5K! My suggestion for first-timers is to do a little prep work during the several weeks leading up to the race. If you’ve never run before, go out a few days a week and trying the walk-run method for 30 to 45 minutes. Alternate between running and walking a quarter mile or so, but each week try to run a little more than you walk, until you can (almost) run the entire time.
When it comes to race day, I’d suggest running at a comfortable pace — maybe even so comfortable that you can carry a conversation. Most importantly, have fun and enjoy the atmosphere!
Run for Shelter is all about having serious fun for a serious cause. What is the most “seriously fun” thing you’ve ever done? During college, I travelled down to New Orleans for Mardi Gras with some friends. It was a blast and totally worth spending nearly as much time in the car as we spent in the state of Louisiana.
Why are you going to participate in Run for Shelter 2012? It’s a fun, unique event that supports a great cause. Oh, and I never turn down a free t-shirt!
Having fun is a top priority in our household. Instead of living room furniture, we have a bounce house. Each summer, I take my girls on the Gypsy Tour, a 2-3 week car trip where the destination is, well, wherever we end up. I let my kids play in the mud. Every Friday afternoon, our home is host to mommy and kid happy hour. For birthdays, we do whipped cream shots at the bus stop. The list goes on and on.
Why all the fun? It’s because our family firmly believes in the healing power of laughter and seeking out enjoyment in each other and our circumstances, no matter what they are. Intentionally finding something to smile about has helped our family cope with some heavy stuff and challenges surrounding our circumstances that may never change.
Look around. You’ll see this lesson of laughter and fun making life more doable all around. Even in your kid’s movies. Do you think Finding Nemo’s Dori and Marlin would have made it through all the jellyfish if they didn’t make a game out of it?
This mindset of laughter and fun is the driving force behind Run for Shelter. Our tagline is “Serious Fun for a Serious Cause.” That is exactly what Run for Shelter stands for. Transitions Global, the organization that we donate 100% of the proceeds of Run for Shelter to, is tackling some really heavy and serious stuff. Stuff that would make your hearts bleed wide open. The Run for Shelter team knows that we can’t be in the trenches with them, but we can do something. We can host an incredibly fun 5K and carnival to raise money for Transitions Global. That enables the amazing folks at Transitions Global to help more girls. Fun truly can bring healing and hope.
I love looking at pictures from 2011 Run for Shelter. The planning team was having so much fun. We probably should have been stressed a bit more than we were,considering it was our first go at this. Not to mention the windstorm that began to blow all of the expo booths over, the rain storm that muddied the fields where the field games and egg hunt were to be, or the shoulder surgery that brought one of the team members down to one arm. None of it phased us a bit. We were having Serious Fun for a Serious Cause. I absolutely cannot wait to do it again in 10 weeks. I cannot wait to hear the witty comments from our MC. I cannot wait to watch our Easter Bunny’s antics. How lucky are we that we can do something for such a Serious Cause and do it with such Serious Fun? I’ll see you March 31st. I’ll be the gal with the walkie talkie launching eggs at a bunch of 8 year olds.
Name: Jim Tagtmeyer
Nickname: Taggie
Age: 66
Runner or Walker? Fast walker that occasionally breaks into a trot and sweat.
Longest race you’ve run: The first and only one was the 2011 Run For Shelter 5K
What inspired you to run your first 5K? It was on my bucket list and I wanted to do something after my heart attack
How did you train? I started walking 12 weeks out. By the end I was able to run about 60% of the distance
Did you look good doing it? Heck ya. What 66 year old guy doesn’t look good in blue jeans, a sweat shirt, cotton socks, and 12 year old sneakers.
Yikes! Is that what you wore race day? No, my daughter took me to Fleet Feet for moisture wicking socks and a shoe fitting. But I still wore the blue jeans.
If you marked it off your bucket list, why are you registered for 2012? Because my shoes are broken in so I think I can trot up the final hill with out scaring the paramedics.
Speaking scaring the paramedics. You ran in 2011 after recovering from a heart attack. Did picking up running change your health? Yes. My last check up showed I was in fantastic health and the Doc said I could beat my 40:00 time this year!
You are signed up on the Run For Shelter crowdrise page. What is the name of your team and who should join it? The Old Golden Bucket. It’s for people working on their bucket list or for anyone in their Golden Years that wants to support their fellow retirees.
Check out the hysterical photo on Jim’s Crowdrise page or join his team by clicking here.
I like nice people. I like the nice neighbor that shovels sidewalks that don’t belong to their yard. I like the nice driver that moves over a lane for merging traffic. I like the nice grocery cashier that chats up my kid.
Nice people are everywhere. The largest concentration has to be at the Wal-Mart in my South Carolina hometown where my mother cannot walk two aisles without engaging in a conversation with someone (because she is nice). As I write this, I realize that maybe I’m not nearly as nice since I have laughed on more than one occasion while looking at photos from peopleofwalmart.com. I don’t think a nice person would enjoy that website nearly as much as I do.
All of this makes me wonder, what makes a person nice? The common thread appears to be that nice people have an interest in others and not just in themselves. They will take the time to exit their world and look you in the eye to enter yours, even if it’s just for one second while they say hello. They will have a conversation that is focused on you and not them. Yes, I really do like nice people.
A lot of nice people have become involved with Run for Shelter over the years. People that have stressful jobs, young children, and very busy lives with very real reasons they could stay focused on just their own lives. Instead, individuals have taken the time to learn about Transitions, the beneficiary of Run for Shelter. People like Dan Brill.
For the second year in a row, Dan Brill of Brill Creative has been nice. He has hooked us up with this sweet website, complimentary printing of our materials, TEDx conferences, etc. He is even the top fundraiser on our “Home Team” fundraising page which benefits Transitions. Isn’t that nice?
If you’re a nice person, we would love to have you around. Run for Shelter requires 75-100 volunteers the day of the event and also a few more in February to help us hang posters and distribute materials throughout Cincinnati. If you want to join us contact Karen. Her email is karen@runforsheltercincy.org You’ll like her. She’s nice.
(Calories in > Calories out) x 62 = +2 Pant Sizes
Take me to a cocktail party, give me a few glasses of wine and I’ll show you my Spanx in the ladies room. You will marvel at the wonder of it all, clip a Macy’s coupon in the Sunday paper for 15% off intimate apparel and begin your collection by the end of the day that any celebrity would be proud of.
I am completely obnoxious from the end of November until the end of December. If this time of year stresses you out or if you roll your eyes at families that do that whole Elf on a Shelf nonsense, you would want to shoot my eye out within one afternoon. Drop by my house at any hour and it is guaranteed that the Holiday music will be on and you will be offered some type of drink with peppermint. Lovers of the season usually take the coffee and haters of the season take the schnapps (a necessity to deal w/ me singing badly to Bing Crosby while I pour their drink).
This love of the season has been passed on to my 6 year old. At night we sleep next to the tree. She will randomly start belting out the Little Drummer Boy tune. The mall Santa knows us by name because we head over there every few days just to say hello and bring him a cookie. I am proud to say that she jokingly asked him for “a red rider bb gun with a compass in the stock and this thing that tells time.” I have never been more proud of her. I love that when she sees him she quotes Buddy the Elf and laughingly says, “Santa! Santa! I KNOW him!”
We have watched at least one holiday movie a day since the day after Thanksgiving. We have each joined the Run For Shelter Home Team and placed multiple votes for our favorite Christmas movie. I’m not real sure why the Grinch is leading and has been for so long. Does that mean that the schnapps drinkers outnumber the peppermint coffee drinkers? Please tell me it isn’t so!!!
My holiday cheer compels me to plea for the peppermint coffee drinkers to join the Home Team and knock the Grinch down to his rightful spot. I mean, seriously, he’s beating Buddy the Elf? What??? I think you’ll find that joining the Home Team will make your heart grow three sizes today. The Home Team is for a group of fun people that want to have Serious fun for a Serious cause. Members will vote/raise funds/start teams for the girls of Transitions in a variety of wacky ways over the next 3 months. Both elves and grinches are welcome and, yes, there are prizes involved that have nothing to do with peppermint.
Happy Holidays!
It’s time to start looking forward to the 2012 Run For Shelter 5K with road races and another outlandish egg hunt. The organizers have decided that Run For Shelter will always be held two Saturdays before Easter because the rumor is that our best chance of an Easter Bunny sighting. For 2012, that means Run For Shelter will be March 31. You can expect all the fun of last year with extra elements of wackiness. Kind of like we ate too much chocolate and jelly beans out of the TEN THOUSAND (yes, literally 10k!) eggs from the 2011 Run For Shelter and are still on the sugar high.
Get yourself in the loop and be sure to follow us on Facebook and Twitter @run4shltercincy where we will keep you updated on everything from featured runners, ongoing contests that YOU can be a part of, Holiday shopping opportunities from our sponsors, updates from our beneficiary which will again be Transitions, and lots of other cool stuff worth knowing.
So jump on Twitter and Facebook then dig around on this new website which was created by the folks of Brill Creative. Brill Creative is doing a ton of work for us and not charging a dime because they are nice like that. Check ‘em out while you are still in the checking things out mode. Brill Creative.com / Facebook / Twitter
See ya March 31, 2012!
