About Me

Family life.

Married for 10.5 years to my gorgeous husband Matt. We have three beautiful children together -- Dylan, age 12; Ryan, age 9; and Sienna, age 7 -- and two apricot labradoodles Dublin and Sierra (I know, I know -- Sienna and Sierra. We were drunk when we named the dog! : )

How I would describe myself.
I participated in a Myers Briggs test. In the overall results summary, the first line read, "You see the world differently than 99 percent of the people around you." That one sentence pretty much sums me up.

Favorite book.

The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald. "Gatsby turned out all right at the end; it is what preyed on Gatsby, what foul dust floated in the wake of his dreams that temporarily closed out my interest in the abortive sorrows and short-winded elations of men."

Favorite movie.

So many movies (Matt and I are movie buffs) but pressed to choose just one ... The Godfather.

Favorite television show.
Right now, Breaking Bad is tied with Mad Men. Homeland is in the No. 2 spot.

Favorite hobbies.

Whole-food, plant-based cooking, long runs with my husband and hiking with my family. I also love, love, love to play Scrabble and Words with Friends.

What's on my iPod.

For the Runner's World "hat trick," I accredited Springsteen, Eminem, Ludacris, Vedder and the Rocky theme song Flying High Now for pulling me through each race. I also quite enjoy Dylan, Chris Cornell, Cracker, Pearl Jam, The Rolling Stones, Tom Petty -- I am all over the place, really. Songs from the HBO series Californication are off the hook too ... season after season ... and I've downloaded many of them to my iPod.

Best advice I've received.
My favorite advice and quotes have always been about perspective and gratitude. Thomas Hardy's "And yet to every bad, there is a worse" immediately comes to mind.

I also love Gloria Steinem's, "The first problem for all of us, men and women, is not to learn, but to unlearn."

Persons who most inspire me.
Those who challenge the status quo -- Rosa Parks, Martin Luther King Jr., Oprah Winfrey, Gloria Steinem, Caldwell Esselstyn, T. Colin Campbell, et al.

If I could choose another profession ...
Hands-down a storm chaser.

Greatest personal accomplishment.
First and foremost, our three children Dylan, Ryan & Sienna. They are wonderfully creative, spirited, curious, funny, bright and respectful. They bring just the right amount of CrAzY and tons of fun to our lives. They also remind Matt and me everyday to enjoy and appreciate the simple pleasures in life. We absolutely love watching the world through their eyes.

Second is running a half marathon. I'm the girl from school who was always picked last for a team in gym. I never thought I would accomplish anything remotely athletic. My 40s have shown a more spirited, competitive and athletic Kellie. I like her!

What people would be most surprised to learn about me ...

My husband and I gave up meat, fish, dairy and eggs in favor of a whole-food, plant-based diet. Also, I'm an introvert.

My perfect day.
A long run on a fresh, crisp fall day with my husband. Return home, shower and head out for a deliciously healthful breakfast at Lovin' Oven in Frenchtown, NJ. Afterwards, the kids, Matt, our dogs and I spend the day at Jacobsburg Park, hiking and getting lost in the sights, sounds and smells of fall. Finish it off with a wonderfully home-cooked meal, followed by a glass of Pinot Noir by the fireplace and a family movie.

Purpose of Breaking Four blog.
To share my journey as I train to run my first full marathon ... in under four hours! I'll share my experiences as it relates to training, as well as my lessons learned about whole-food, plant-based nutrition, health and wellness. I look forward to reading your experiences and learning from you. Together we can inspire each other as we work to become our healthiest selves.