July 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!

July's featured Mom of the Month is Marcie Haug! Congrats, Marcie!

Marcie joined Stroller Strides this past fall, and she and her girls immediately made friends, with their smiles and upbeat attitudes.  She's had quite an adventurous past, including living in Malaysia and traveling extensively, and most recently moved back to Raleigh after living in Colorado.  Marcie and her girls are dedicated Stroller Strides women, showing up regularly most days of the week and working (and playing!) hard! Marcie joined our Running Mamas program this spring to see if she could get into running and finished her first 5k, even with an injury!, in under 29 minutes.  She also participated in our Body Back program where she saw great results, and she continues to set an awesome example to all of us with her dedication to health and fitness, her kick-$*! abs ;), her positive attitude and friendly smiles.  Join us in congratulating Marcie on being our featured "Mom of the Month", and read on to get to know her better!

Hometown: Roanoke, Virginia

Current part of the Triangle that you live in: Cary, but we are moving back to Raleigh this month!

    Education: East Carolina University- Elementary Ed. and Child Development

Stroller Strides Member since: September 2011

    Members of your Family: My husband Jeff, 2 daughters SkyeLynn and Josie, and our dog Duce

Tell us about your children: SkyeLynn is 2 1/2. She is such a sweet little girl that loves to give hugs and loves to dance! She is full of energy and has an amazing imagination! Josie is 15 months old and such a funny little girl, yet very strong willed! She is my little peanut and can be as sweet as ever until things don't go quite her way :) She also loves to dance and talk, but wants so much to do everything her big sister does!

Current/previous Career: I was a teacher assistant and nanny before we moved overseas where I couldn't work....that was THE life! Now I have the best job ever of being a SAHM to two fabulous little girls!

What was your childhood ambition? I always wanted to be a teacher and a Mom.

What does motherhood mean to you? It means so many things...happiness, excitement, frustration, exhaustion, unconditional love... It's the most rewarding, yet challenging job ever where we are pushed to our limits almost every day, but wouldn't trade it for the world.

What is the furthest you have been from home? I lived in Malaysia for a year and a half, venturing all around SE Asia.

What has Stroller Strides done for you? Stroller strides has been great for me to get in shape and find a fabulous network of friends for myself and my girls, especially being new to the area! I love that I can get in my workout without having to leave my kids in a stuffy gym nursery because they get to come with me. They love going with me every day and it's so fun to watch them mimic the exercises at home and while playing with their friends! Thanks to SS, I can wear my favorite jeans again!

How was your recent experience with the Body Back program? Body Back was awesome! It was exactly what I needed to drop the last 10 nagging pounds from pregnancy. Not only did I lose the weight, but I gained better eating habits and am in the best shape I think I have ever been in even before having kids! I was amazed when I started to see my ab muscles....something I gave up on happening a long time ago!

What have you enjoyed most about the Running Mamas program? Running :) I was never a runner and never thought I would ever want to be one. I joined Running Mamas to give it a shot and see if, with some coaching, I could run for more than 5 minutes without stopping. I was amazed that not only did I enjoy running, but I ran my first 5K in under 29 minutes!

What is your favorite exercise? Plank and push-ups

What is your proudest moment? Seeing and holding my babies for the first time!

What are three of your favorite things (besides your family!)? Traveling, Thai food, and baking

Tell us something about yourself that would surprise us or makes you unique. I don't have a middle name.
 

If we asked your spouse what they think your best qualities are, what would they say?

I asked him and he responded with... "Patient. Always Supportive. Forward Looking. Funny. Fantastically Fit Momma! You take care of all the kids (including me J)"

What advice would you give to moms looking to get back into shape? Stop making excuses, pack your diaper bag, and get out of the house! It's so easy to tell yourself that you're going to do it tomorrow or you're going to do videos at home, but it's so much healthier for you emotionally to get out and find some other mommies to exercise with! Once you get into a routine it gets so much easier and if you make new friends in the process, it makes a world of difference!