Mary first joined our programs as a "Running Mama" in the fall of 2010, and built her way up from walking to jogging and completed her first 5k, the Turkey Trot, that November with the support of her teammates and her family cheering her on. She then joined Stroller Strides and has been an integral part of our "Stroller Strides family" ever since, be-friending all of our awesome mommies, while her daughter Taylor be-friended all of their kids! She's participated in 3 seasons now of Running Mamas (including one season and race while pregnant with daughter Kenzie!) and also just completed our inaugural 8-week "Body Back" bootcamp program, where she pushed hard, surpassed limits, lost weight and inches, gained muscle, helped cheer her fellow 5:45am mamas on, and made amazing changes in her health, fitness, strength, and body composition! Mary is truly an inspirational mama for all of us, with a lot of determination and hard work, a lot of smiles and laughs, and a great spirit and willingness to help out all of the other moms she meets.
Join us in congratulating Mary, and read on to get to know her better!
Hometown: GAULEY BRIDGE, WEST VIRGINIA
Current part of the Triangle that you live in: RALEIGH
Education: ASSOCIATE DEGREE NURSING
Stroller Strides Member since: SEPT. 2010
Members of your Family: JAY, TAYLOR, KENZIE, DOGS... VEGAS, RENO AND PEACHES
Tell us about your children: TAYLOR IS 3 AND A MINI VERSION OF ME, SHE HAS NEVER MET A STRANGER, IS VERY FUNNY AND SHE LIKES A GOOD PARTY!!! KENZIE IS 7 MONTHS OLD AND SEEMS TO BE VERY SWEET AND EASY GOING
Current/previous Career: PREVIOUSLY I WORKED 10 YEARS AS AN RN IN INPATIENT PSYCHIATRIC CARE, I LOVED MY JOB AND MISS A LOT OF THINGS ABOUT IT BUT WOULD NOT TRADE STAYING AT HOME FOR THE WORLD
What was your childhood ambition? TO BE A TEACHER
What does motherhood mean to you? THESE GIRLS ARE MY WORLD, I HAVE ENJOYED EVERY MINUTE OF THIS WILD ROLLER COASTER KNOWN AS PARENTHOOD. I KEEP REMINDING MYSELF THAT THIS TIME IS PRECIOUS, ENJOY IT, EVEN THOUGH SOME DAYS ARE BETTER THAN OTHERS!!!
What is the furthest you have been from home? ARUBA
What has Stroller Strides done for you?
STROLLER STRIDES HAS GIVEN ME A NETWORK THAT I DID NOT REALIZE I NEEDED TO SURVIVE! I NEVER THOUGHT I WOULD ENJOY THE WORKOUTS OR THE GROUP BUT I AM GLAD I GAVE IT A TRY AND REALIZED EXACTLY HOW POWERFUL OF A NETWORK IT IS. THIS IS MY "FAMILY" HERE IN THE TRIANGLE AND I WOULD NOT TRADE IT FOR ANYTHING!
How was your recent experience with the Body Back program?
BODY BACK WAS HARD BUT ENJOYABLE AT THE SAME TIME. I AM NOT A MORNING PERSON SO THE 545 START TIME WAS A BIT ROUGH SOME DAYS. I AM SHOCKED AT HOW MUCH STRONGER I BECAME IN 8 SHORT WEEKS, I NEVER IMAGINED HOW MUCH YOUR PHYSICAL APPEARANCE CAN CHANGE THAT QUICKLY. I AM LOOKING FORWARD TO THE NEXT ROUND AND SEEING HOW MUCH FITTER I BECOME!
What have you enjoyed most about the Running Mamas program?
I LIKE THE GRADUAL INCREASE IN RUNNING TIMES, I DO NOT ENJOY RUNNING AT ALL BUT I HAVE LIKED THE PROGRAM THE 2 TIMES I COMPLETED IT. IT GAVE ME A SENSE OF ACCOMPLISHMENT TO FINISH THE RACE
What is your favorite exercise? TRICEP DIPS
What is your proudest moment? THE DAY WE BROUGHT KENZIE HOME FROM THE NICU AND UNITED AS A FAMILY OF 4 TO START OUR JOURNEY TOGETHER
What are three of your favorite things (besides your family!)? WEST VIRGINIA FOOTBALL, TAKING VACATIONS AND CHERRY COKE ZERO
Tell us something about yourself that would surprise us or makes you unique. I HAVE ABSOLUTELY NO IDEA HOW TO MAKE A POT OF COFFEE
If we asked your spouse what they think your best qualities are, what would they say? HE SAID HE IS ALWAYS AMAZED AT HOW QUICKLY I CAN MAKE THINGS BETTER WHEN EITHER ONE OF THE GIRLS ARE HAVING THEIR MOMENTS
What advice would you give to moms looking to get back into shape? YOU CAN DO IT, IT MAY NOT BE EASY AND SOME DAYS IT MAY SUCK THE LIFE OUT OF YOU BUT IT CAN BE DONE. WHY WAIT, WHAT DO YOU HAVE TO LOSE!!!
(Mary completing last spring's 5k, 4 months pregnant, and cheering! :) )
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