February Mom of the Month

Our mom of the month program honors moms for their efforts to lead healthy lifestyles, and gives us a chance to get to know them better at the same time!

Our February Mom of the Month is: Lindsey Sohre! Congratulations Lindsey!

Lindsey was also our Holiday Get Fit Challenge winner. She participated in our 10 week Get Fit Challenge that encouraged participants to stay healthy and fit through the holidays. Competitors were assessed on their cardio performance (through a timed mile), strength (through planks and push-ups), and overall body composition, and we also tracked their weight and measurements. Lindsey more than doubled her plank time and her push-ups, increased her mile speed, lost 8% body fat, plus lost over 14 lbs and several inches during the 10 week Challenge! What an awesome accomplishment, and even more impressive during the holiday season.

Lindsey has been with Stroller Strides since November, and she and her daughter Emery have been wonderful to have in class. Lindsey has set a great example for other moms through her dedication and frequent Stroller Strides attendance, as well as really pushing herself during her workouts. Join us in wishing her the best, and check out her answers below to get to know Lindsey a little better!


Hometown: Midlothian, VA (just south of Richmond)

Current part of the Triangle that you live in: Fuquay Varina

Education: BS James Madison University, MBA James Madison University

Stroller Strides Member since: November 2010

Members of your Family: husband- Andreas, daughter- Emery 11 mos, dog- Fritz, horse- Pfinny

Tell us about your child: Emery is an energetic, fun, observant little girl. She loves to dance and throw her hands in the air- we call her a woo girl :). Her favorite pastime is people watching.

Current/previous Career: I started out as a business analyst in Washington, DC. However, when we moved to the Raleigh area for my husband’s job I fell into my dream job. I ran/managed Pepperwood Farm, a 52 stall equestrian boarding, breeding, and sales facility. I could walk to work, bring my dog and work with horses and people who love horses! Since I had Emery I have scaled back my responsibilities at the farm and now just manage the office.

What was your childhood ambition? To have my own horse farm.

What does motherhood mean to you? Extra laughs, smiles, hugs and kisses every day. My mom told me she had never seen me laugh as much as I do with Emery.

What is the furthest you have been from home? Germany (my husband’s parents live in Munich)

What has Stroller Strides done for you? Connected me with other moms and babies in the area. It is nice that Emery gets to see other children and I get to workout at the same time. SS has helped me make and reach some fitness goals, lose weight, and tone my body. I had reached my pre-baby weight before starting with SS. I am now smaller than I was before I had Emery!

What is your favorite exercise? Riding and working on the farm but I am learning to enjoy jogging

What is your proudest moment? Giving birth to Emery.

What are three of your favorite things (besides your family!)? horses/ riding (jumping and dressage), reading, German language and cooking

Tell us something about yourself that would surprise us or makes you unique. I can drive a tractor and a Bob Cat Skid Steer (even while I was pregnant!- although the lap belt was a little snug!)

If we asked your spouse what they think your best qualities are, what would they say? I asked my husband and copied his whole answer because it made me chuckle : ) “Lindsey's best qualities are: She is very caring, loves animals and is very beautiful. She is very dedicated, determined and enduring in things she cares about. She also actively does things rather than talk about them endlessly without action. She has a good sense of humor, and more importantly, appreciates mine!!! She is very eager to learn and open-minded. Notice how I didn't mention patient...”

What advice would you give to other moms who are struggling to get active and back into shape? Get into a routine. Join Stroller Strides! It is nice to have someone else tell you what your workout is for the day and to know that you have to make class at a specific time. Also, pick something to work towards. I find it easier to stay motivated with a goal.

(Get Fit Challenge Award day)

Did you make a New Year's Resolution this year?

Whatever your Resolution is, Stroller Strides has you covered!

7 Resolutions Stroller Strides will help you keep
(adapted from Stroller Strides Chicago)

Resolution: To Get Fit!
Stroller Strides is a total body workout, specially designed to work the areas that moms need the most. Intervals of cardio and strength training as well as targeted core exercises make it an extremely effective workout- you will burn calories and increase your strength and endurance with regular attendance. Stroller Strides classes are taught at various levels for all different levels of fitness- from first time exercisers, to marathon-runners: you will get a great workout. Classes meet 5 days a week, get it on your calendar.

Resolution: Have more ME time!
Stroller Strides is a perfect way to get some ME time in to your day. It's an hour for YOU, but you can sneak it in without having to leave your little one in the gym daycare. You will spend quality time interacting with your little one during class, and get your workout in at the same time. Mommy guilt not allowed here!

Resolution: Have an adult conversation!
Stroller Strides combines the great workout with the social network that so many new moms need. Being a new mom can be very isolating. Maybe your friends don't have babies yet or maybe you are nervous to bundle up your little one and head out of the house. Whatever your hesitation, know that you are not alone. Stroller Strides gives you a great reason to get up and get out of the house. You will meet other moms who feel the exact same way you do!

Resolution: Set a good example for my kids!
Come to Stroller Strides regularly and you will show your children that exercise is fun and a part of your daily life. In an age where childhood obesity is an epidemic, the sooner that your children see the importance of a healthy lifestyle, the better! You are their role model- are you living the lifestyle you want your child to live?

Resolution: Stay Active During My Pregnancy
Did you know that regular activity in a healthy pregnancy can help ease maternal aches and pains, increase energy and may even help speed the labor, delivery and recovery process? We welcome pregnant mommies (with your doctor's ok) to Stroller Strides class-- our instructors are trained in pre- and post-natal fitness, and we offer specific modifications for pregnancy where needed.

Resolution: Be INSPIRED!
At Stroller Strides class you will have the opportunity to be inspired on a daily basis. You will find inspiration from our instructors, other moms in class and the children. We've seen first push-ups for moms and first steps for babies. Will 2011 be the year you are INSPIRED?

Resolution: Have fewer regrets!
You will often regret NOT working out, but you will never regret actually DOING it. Spend 2011 having fewer regrets, come to Stroller Strides today!

Happy New Year! We hope to see you at Stroller Strides soon!

January Mom of the Month

Our mom of the month program honors moms for their efforts to lead healthy lifestyles, and gives us a chance to get to know them better at the same time!



Our January Mom of the Month is: Toby Lish! Congratulations Toby!

Toby has been with us since last summer, and has been one of our most dedicated and frequently-attending moms over many of the past six months. She'd made great progress while working out with Stroller Strides-- I still remember when you proudly announced you could fit into your pre-pregnancy jeans, Toby, thanks to SS! :) Toby also participated in our "Running Mamas" 5k training program, where she led the pack and inspired the rest of the moms with her amazing sub-25 minute times. We are also excited to announce that Toby will be completing Stroller Strides instructor training this month for potential teaching opportunities and running coaching later this year. Join us in wishing her the best, and check out her answers below to get to know Toby a little better.


Hometown: I was an army brat so I grew up all over, literally...I was born in Bryan College Station, TX..but moved to Panama, Brazil, Japan, Africa, Germany, and several states in the US before settling in NC for college and my career.

Current part of the Triangle that you live in: Raleigh

Education: BS in Housing and Interior Design Minor in Fine Art, MS in Project Management, AOES (accredited Office Ergonomics Specialist)

Stroller Strides Member since: August 2010

Members of your Family: Mike (my husband), Ryan (my one year old daughter)

Tell us about your child: Ryan just turned one and I can't believe how the year flew by! It seems every week holds a new achievement...just within the last few days she is taking several steps by herself!

Current/previous Career: Currently I am a SAHM. I was Manager of the Space and Move Department of RTI International. I oversaw the day to day operations of ergonomics in the workplace globally for RTI. Basically, I made sure everyone had an office, moved if they needed to, designed new spaces/offices and made sure that it was code compliant and "ergonomically" setup.

What was your childhood ambition? I wanted to be an artist...still is a passion for me.

What does motherhood mean to you? Everything...I wasn't sure how I would feel about walking away from my career, but I knew after the first few weeks there was nothing that would compare than being home raising Ryan...I have seen and been a part of all of her "firsts" and these have been the most amazing experiences I've ever had.

What is the furthest you have been from home? I guess from the US, the farthest I've been is Southern Chile.

What has Stroller Strides done for you? Stroller Strides has helped me lose the "baby weight" and has given me some great friends!

What is your favorite exercise? Not sure I have a favorite :), but I did really enjoy the running program.

What is your proudest moment? When I could tell Ryan knew who I was.

What are three of your favorite things (besides your family!)? Soccer (although I haven't played since I became prego), diving, and painting.


Tell us something about yourself that would surprise us or makes you unique. I have my PADI Rescue Diver Certification and I love to dive. My husband and I have close to 100 logged dives.

If we asked your spouse what they think your best qualities are, what would they say? I had to ask my hubby on this...he said my patience, caring and devotion to family and friends-wow was I surprised by that :)!

December Mom of the Month

Our mom of the month program honors moms for their efforts to lead healthy lifestyles, and gives us a chance to get to know them better at the same time!

Our December Mom of the Month is Erin Shultz! Congratulations Erin!

Erin has been with us since Stroller Strides opened in March, and has set a great example for all of our members in her commitment to fitness and to Stroller Strides-- she drives all the way from Durham several times a week to our workouts (even while still working part-time as a nurse), and has made exercise a part of her regular routine, with great results. She also recently completed our "Running Mamas" 5k Training Program, running a great time in her first-ever 5k, the Apex Turkey Trot, on Sat Nov 20th! Join us in congratulating Erin, and check out her answers below to get to know her a little better ;).

Hometown: We moved a lot growing up but I mostly lived in Baltimore, MD

Current part of the Triangle that you live in: Durham, a bit of a commute to Stroller Strides but totally worth it :)

Education: Bachelor's in Nursing

Stroller Strides Member since: the beginning :)

Members of your Family: My husband Bret and our 14 month old daughter Olivia

Tell us about your child/children: Olivia is the light of our lives! She is fun, energetic and always on the go!

Current/previous Career: I have been a NICU nurse for 12 years and currently work part-time. It was my first love before Bret and Olivia :)

What was your childhood ambition? To be a mom

What does motherhood mean to you? It means everything to me. I have wanted to be a mom my whole life and it has met and exceeded all of my expectations!

What is the furthest you have been from home? I went to Spain on a high school trip.

What has Stroller Strides done for you? It has kept me motivated to exercise even on days when I don't really feel like it. It is so nice to be able to exercise with Olivia in tow and not have to worry about childcare. It also provided us with a nice structure/routine to our day especially when she was an infant.

What is your favorite exercise? I enjoy the arm toning exercises because that's not something I would do on my own.

What is your proudest moment? The day Olivia was born!

What are three of your favorite things (besides your family!)? The beach, good food, and a nice hot bath! Not all at the same time :)

Tell us something about yourself that would surprise us or makes you unique. I've lived in 9 states. MD, CA, NY, NH, NC, VA, PA, WA, VT

If we asked your spouse what they think your best qualities are, what would they say? I asked him and he said patience and that I'm a good mom.

Stroller Strides comes to Cary Towne Center mall!

We are excited to announce that Stroller Strides workouts are coming to Cary Towne Center mall this winter!

Working out at the mall through the winter will allow local moms to keep up a regular fitness routine no matter what the weather is like, and Stroller Strides offers not only fitness for mom, but also fun for baby (or toddler or preschooler!). Classes include cardio, strength training and toning, and abdominal work, plus songs and fun for stroller-aged kids. And we also offer weekly playgroups and other activites through our Luna Moms Club, which is open to all moms and kids in the area.

Winter schedule at Cary Towne Center:

Starting Dec 1, classes will be offered:

Mon-Thurs & Sat, 9:30-10:30

Meet at Center Court, near Macy's (park/enter through Food Court)

We'll start off the winter season with a Free Class on Wed, Dec 1st! Check out details below, and also feel free to join us for our Specialty "Little Black Dress" workout on Mon Dec 6th!

Free Stroller Strides class

Wed Dec 1st

9:30am

Cary Towne Center mall

RSVP here (you'll just need to register for a free account on our meetup group), or email jen.kedrowski@strollerstrides.net

Please bring a mat or towel for ab work, water, and toys or snacks as desired for the little ones.

After class we'll go for a ride on the carousel! Come out and join us soon to get in shape, meet other moms, and have fun with your little ones.

Stroller Skating returns this winter in Raleigh

Yes that's right...."Stroller Skating"! As in, ice skating, WITH your kiddos in their strollers! What an awesome mommy-and-me activity for the winter.

Raleigh's Winterfest kicks off right in Downtown, at City Plaza, with lots of fun activities on Dec 4. And they recently added a once/week session on the ice rink specifically for Stroller Skating. I did this last year with some others in a moms group and it was a truly unique experience, and a lot of fun. Photo of these awesome skating mommies below!

The cost is $8, including skate rental, and sessions are Thursdays, 10-11am, starting Dec 9. We have a meetup event scheduled for Dec 9th to go as a group and Stroller Skate, should be lots of fun! You can RSVP here if interested, or email jen.kedrowski@strollerstrides.net. And of course, you can go on your own throughout Winterfest, any Thurs with stroller!

November Mom of the Month!

Our Mom of the Month program honors moms for their efforts to lead healthy lifestyles and gives us a chance to get to know them better at the same time!

Our November Mom of the Month is Devon Barker, (Coco's mom)! Congratulations Devon!

Devon is one of our "founding moms" and has been with us since the very first class. She brings a great attitude, friendly smile, and determination to every class, and we are excited to announce that Devon will continue to bring those great qualities to class as an Instructor in 2011! Devon will be attending "Stroller Strides Academy" this January and help us out with some teaching next year when we need it, as well as continue to attend Stroller Strides as an active member with all of you. Join us in wishing her congrats and check out her answers below to get to know Devon a little bit better. ;)

Hometown: Allentown, PA
Currently live in: Cary
Education: I went to Undergrad at the University of Michigan, and later got my master's from Lehigh University.
Stroller Strides member since: The beginning!
Members of your family: Husband, Jason; daughter, Coco; two dogs, Hannah & Eli; one cat, Oscar
Tell us about your child: Coco is my super-funny, high-spirited, incredibly smart daughter. :) She loves to eat, like her Mama, play with Wilhelm her favorite stuffed toy, and explore the yard. She loves to be outside, play with her two big dogs, and take rides in her pink convertible or wagon.
Current/previous career: Most recently I was a fifth grade teacher. I also worked for Americorps after college, an African Safari company after that, and then in special education during grad school.
What was your childhood ambition? To be the next Jane Pauley and to travel around the world for my job.
What does motherhood mean to you? Everything! It has changed my life for the better in so many ways. It means love and joy and tons of fun!
What is the furthest you have been from home? I traveled to Antarctica when I was young.
What has Stroller Strides done for you? It has helped me meet other moms and kids, which we struggled to do before SS. Working out has also helped me feel better about my post-baby body, as well as sleep a bit better.
What is your favorite exercise? At SS I like to run and do squats. Outside of SS I like to hike, swim, take walks, etc.
What is your proudest moment? Working with a mentally retarded man named Ryan during grad school and seeing his amazing progress with everyday tasks.
What are three of your favorite things (besides your family!)? Good food, reading, traveling.
Tell us something about yourself that would surprise us or makes you unique. This is hard. Not very interesting, but I didn't watch TV or most movies as a child, so I always feel left out when people talk about the "classics" because it's likely I never saw them! I am the WORST when it comes to '80's TV and movie trivia.
If we asked your spouse what they think your best qualities are, what would they say? I cheated and asked him because I had no idea what to write. He said that I'm stubborn, but in a good way. I won't give up on something until I get it. I don't strive to be like others. I am on top of things.

And one more congrats to Devon on running the Monster Dash 5k on Halloween, with a great race time, thanks to her Stroller Strides workouts! Can't wait to see what this fit mama has in store for us once she is a trained instructor ;).