January 2013 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!

January's featured Mom of the Month is Sara Hawkins! Congrats, Sara!

Sara has been a Stroller Strides member for over a year and a half; she joined us when darling Alex, almost 2, was just a few months old.... and now is excited to announce the upcoming arrival of baby girl # 2 in May!!  She is a hard working mom in fitness, at Stroller Strides, and at full-time her job as an engineer at Caterpillar, and has participated in our Raleigh Running Mamas program in the past as well.  She brings determination, a great attitude, lots of smiles and great friendship to our Stroller Strides workouts and to her fellow moms  ;)  Join us in congratulating Sara (on Mom of the Month and more importantly on her expanding family!) and read on to get to know her a little better! 

Hometown:  Peoria, IL

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

Education:  BS in Industrial Engineering from Purdue University (West Lafayette, IN) and MBA from University of North Carolina (Chapel Hill)

Stroller Strides Member since: May 2011

Members of your Family: 3 (with baby girl #2 on the way in May 2013)

Tell us about your children:  Alex is the joy of my life.  All through my 20s, I honestly thought I didn't want to have kids.  I was very focused on my career.  We got pregnant with Alex, and I realized I had no idea what I was missing in life!  I love doing things with Alex, showing her the world, and watching her learn new things.  Alex's loves are Minnie Mouse, shoes, and anything outside....especially with Daddy.
 
Current/previous Career:   I've worked as an engineer in supply chain, manufacturing, and marketing at Caterpillar, Inc for 10 years.  My current position is a Supply Chain Manager.  I'm following in the footsteps of my parents, as my dad worked as a Cat engineering manager for 40 years and my mom as a quality and reliability engineer for 35 years, who was also one of the first female engineers at Cat.  Also my husband and 2 younger brothers are engineers at Cat, runs in the family. :)

What was your childhood ambition?  To be successful.....as what I have no idea. :)

What does motherhood mean to you?  Gives me purpose in life, gives me something more important than myself to focus on.

What is the furthest you have been from home?  The furthest I've been from home is Tahiti / Bora Bora in French Polynesia for our Honeymoon.

What has Stroller Strides done for you ?  SS helped me lose the last 15 excess baby pounds.  It's the skinniest, and best I've felt in a long time.  The friendships moms/kids, activities, and routine excesize helped me become more confident as a mom and a better mother for it.

What is your favorite exercise? Running, which I'm really missing right now.

What is your proudest moment?  The moment when Alex was born.

What are three of your favorite things (besides your family!)?  Traveling, reading, and shopping.

Tell us something about yourself that would surprise us or makes you unique.  My husband and I are restoring an 1840's farm house, as we live in it with a 1 year old!

If we asked your spouse what they think your best qualities are, what would they say?  Positive personality and outlook and looks for the best in people

What advice would you give to moms looking to get back into shape?  Find something fun and doesn't feel like work 

What advice would you give to working moms trying to find balance in motherhood and life and also fit in fitness for their health?  You can't do it all, and it's ok.  Don't beat yourself up about it.....it's a waste of precious time.  Determine what your priorities in life are, make sure you schedule those priorities, and the other things in life will fit in or not, but at the end of the day your priorities will be clear.

December 2012 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!

December's featured Mom of the Month is Jamie Hammermann! Congrats, Jamie!

 

 

Jamie and her adorable daughter Daniella have been rocking it at Stroller Strides for over a year now, and we love both of their easy-going natures and smiles.  Jamie's dedication and ability to get her own awesome workouts in frequently, mother a 2-year-old, and work on her graduate degree including TA work has all been inspiring, and she keeps us laughing and smiling throughout it all.  Jamie manages to be one of the most frequent Stroller Strides attendees even with all that she has going on, and she is also an alumnus of both our Raleigh Running Mamas and our Body Back programs.  Join us in congratulating Jamie and read on to get to know her a little better!

   Hometown: Bridgeport, WV

Current part of the Triangle that you live in: West Raleigh

Education: BA in Geography from WVU. Currently Pursuing Masters in GIS at NC State

Stroller Strides Member since: September 2011

Members of your Family: Dave and Daniella

Tell us about your children: Daniella is a sweet and easy-going 2-year-old (most of the time). She loves to sing and read books.

Current/previous Career: Currently a stay-at-home-mom, graduate student, and Teaching Assistant at NC State

What was your childhood ambition? I wanted to be a doctor and open a free clinic for the disadvantaged.

What does motherhood mean to you? In spite of the pitfalls and challenges, it is such an amazing adventure. I recommend it highly.

What is the furthest you have been from home? Prague, CZ or Maui, HI

What has Stroller Strides meant to you? I love the great community of moms and kiddos. It's also great to have a workout option every day. What is your favorite exercise? Burpees! Strength, cardio, and core all in one!

What is your proudest moment? Early on, I had a hard time adjusting to the whole motherhood role - did not have much confidence in my ability and second-guessed myself all the time. When Daniella was about 7 months old, it just dawned on me one day that I was doing a good job, and that I could actually succeed at this mommy thing!

What are three of your favorite things (besides your family!)? I love a full night's sleep, music, and a good laugh.

Tell us something about yourself that would surprise us or makes you unique. I learned to water ski when I was 4 years old.

If we asked your spouse what they think your best qualities are, what would they say? According to Dave: Fun spirit, kind nature, and attention to detail.
What advice would you give to moms looking to get back into shape? Baby steps!

 

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!

November's featured Mom of the Month is our newest Instructor,  

Valerie Liberto! 

Valerie has been participating in our programs since this past spring when she completed our 8-week Body Back program for moms with fabulous results.  This summer and fall she joined our Running Mamas 5k Training program and just completed her 5k race this past weekend, congrats!  She and her adorable son Kai have recently joined us at Stroller Strides as well, and we are excited to welcome her on board as our newest Stroller Strides instructor, active this week.  Her background and degree in exercise science and work in physical therapy will serve her (and our moms!) well as she begins teaching our fitness classes. 

Join us in welcoming Valerie and read on to get to know her a little better! 

Hometown: I claim Raleigh as my home but I did live in Orlando for about 10 years before moving to Raleigh in 1997.

Current part of the Triangle that you live in: On the Raleigh side of Jones Franklin Road by Crossroads Shopping Center in Cary

Education: BS in Exercise Science with minors in Psychology and Biology from Appalachian State and an Associates Degree in Physical Therapy Assistant from Nash Community College

Stroller Strides Member since: BodyBack (July 2012), Running Mamas (Sept 2012) and Stroller Strides (Oct 2012)

Members of your Family: My hubby John, son Kai and our dog Riley

Tell us about your child: Kai was born on June 10, 2011 at Rex Hospital. He is all boy! Has lots of energy, always running or climbing, likes to make sounds that he hears and only has 2 back molars to go before having all his teeth ;)

Current/previous Career: I used to be a full time Physical Therapy Assistant at a skilled nursing facility prior to having Kai. I went back to work after my maternity leave but just found myself loving motherhood too much to give that up full time. Now I'm a SAHM to Kai, work on Sundays as a PRN Therapy Assistant, and starting as a new Stroller Strides Instructor

What was your childhood ambition? I always wanted to help others and when I was little I wanted to be a nurse just like my grandmother

What does motherhood mean to you? I thought that being a PTA was the most rewarding experience I would ever have but motherhood has far exceeded that. I feel so fortunate to be able to spend all my time with my son and to watch him grow every day

What is the furthest you have been from home? Europe. My dad lived in Amsterdam for a few years with work and I was able to travel there to see him some. My dad also took me to London one year, which I loved! And on December 30, 2006 my dad took my hubby and I to Paris for New Years where my hubby proposed

What has Stroller Strides done for you (or meant to you)? I've been able to get my weight loss and workout program back on track! Its hard to do everything on your own. With the help and support of everyone I've become stronger, more confident and met great friends that I can always count on.

What is your favorite exercise?  Forward lunges with upper body rotations. Love to hit different major muscle groups at one time.

What is your proudest moment? Besides the birth of my son, graduating with my Physical Therapy Assistant Degree. I spent 2 years (5 days a week) commuting from Raleigh to Nash to complete the degree while maintaining 2 jobs.

What are three of your favorite things (besides your family!)? Ipad, camera, Pinterest

Tell us something about yourself that would surprise us or makes you unique: I was a pitcher on a fast pitch traveling team when I lived in Orlando. That summer before moving to Raleigh, we played in the National Championship Series and placed in the top 10 teams. I continued to pitch for my school and another travel team in NC until I tore my rotator cuff and had surgery on it in 2001.

If we asked your spouse what they think your best qualities are, what would they say? My hubby is always telling me that I'm great at organizing, multitasking and taking care of others.

What advice would you give to moms looking to get back into shape? Losing weight and getting back into shape takes time, sometime its more time then what you were hoping for. But if you hang in there, give it 110% percent and have a great support system then you will be reaching your goals in no time. And don't beat yourself up, we all have those bad days. Just remember, tomorrow is a new day!!

October 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!

September's featured Mom of the Month is Rebecca Dunhem! 

Congrats, Rebecca!

Rebecca joined us at Stroller Strides two years ago while on maternity leave after her second adorable boy was born.  She then went back to work until earlier this year when she transitioned to life as a stay-at-home-mom and has been a Stroller Strides member ever since, and is now counting the days until baby boy #3 arrives!!  Rebecca brings a great upbeat spirit and energy to our workouts and meetups, and has inspired us all with her awesome running progress beginning with our Running Mamas program last fall and continuing through the present... even running 2 miles at over 8 months pregnant recently, wow!!  ;)  Join us in congratulating Rebecca and read on to get to know her a little better.  

Hometown: Roanoke, VA

Current part of the Triangle that you live in: Cary

Education: Bachelors of Science in Sociology and Psychology as well as a Masters of Criminal justice. I've never actually used my Masters degree except to write it on my resume and to prolong entering the real world of work.

Stroller Strides Member since: I originally began participating in SS while on maternity leave Oct 2010 and participated during the summer when school was out. I became a regular member in Jan. 2012 when I decided to become a SAHM.

Members of your Family: Dan (my fantastic hubby of 12 years), Jonathan (7 yrs. old), Brayden (2 yrs. old), Kippy my cat (14 yrs. old), and soon to join us Landon.

Tell us about your children: As I respond to this survey, I have two boys who could not be more different from each other! I very lovingly call Jonathan "my little nerd". He loves science and reading (particularly non-fiction) and is curious about everything! He likes to take things apart just so he can figure out how they work and he also likes to build stuff. He is a 2nd grader at Penny Rd. Elem. School and a very active member of his cub scout pack. Brayden is two with A LOT of energy. He is very loving and playful. On one hand, I think he is the messiest kid ever, but on the other, he likes to help clean up. Any day now, we plan to welcome baby Landon into our family, and I can't wait to find out what he is going to be like!

Current/previous Career: I was an adolescent addictions counselor for 5 years. Then, I decided to go back to school to earn my license to teach. I taught middle school special ed. for a total of 5 years in Wake Co. before deciding to stay home with my boys for awhile.

What was your childhood ambition? I wanted to be a journalist and travel the world. I still want to travel the world!

What does motherhood mean to you? I love being a mom! I like to be challenged and motherhood has provided the ultimate challenge to me. I wonder everyday how my boys will turn out as teens and adults, and yet I look at them in amazement of who they are now.

What is the furthest you have been from home? I'm not sure which is further away, but it would be either Hawaii or Sweden.

What has Stroller Strides done for you? Before joining Stroller Strides, I wanted to get back into shape for a very long time, but struggled to figure out how to manage this. Stroller Strides has provided me with much needed structure and support to get back into shape. Also, after a "15 year sabbatical", the Running Mamas has reintroduced me to running, and I'm loving it!

What is your favorite exercise? Running with the mamas and squats.

What is your proudest moment? I have two - becoming a mom the first time and 5 years later delivering a 9.5 pound baby without meds.

What are three of your favorite things (besides your family!)? traveling, food, and having fun!

Tell us something about yourself that would surprise us or makes you unique. I can't think of anything surprising about me, but what makes me unique is that I have an identical twin sister who lives in California.

If we asked your spouse what they think your best qualities are, what would they say? I asked him, and he said I'm good at keeping the house going/ organized, encouraging and supportive of him and the kids, and loving.

What advice would you give to moms looking to get back into shape? Keep at it and stay positive! You don't get out of shape over night and you don't get back into shape over night (I hope I remember this in the coming months!)

September 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!

September's featured Mom of the Month is Jennifer Lewis! 

Congrats, Jenn!

Jenn has been a Stroller Strides member for almost a year now, and has made great strides in health and fitness this year, all while juggling a career as a cardiology PA, her two adorable boys, and most recently, a move to a brand new home!  She has been one of our most dedicated moms this summer, attending 3 workouts a week without fail, often bringing hubby and the boys ;), and also just completed our summer 'Body Back' bootcamp-style program at where she gained strength and increased fitness, after which she says she is 'probably in the best physical shape I've ever been in'.  Join us in congratulating Jenn, and read on to get to know her better!   

(PS-- did you know she was in the Peace Corp in Africa??!! So awesome.  ;) )

Hometown:  Englewood, Colorado

Current part of the Triangle that you live in:  Morrisville (as of September 1!)
 

Education:  University of Colorado at Boulder- undergrad psych, Duke for grad school, PA program

Stroller Strides Member since:  November 2011
 

Members of your Family:  Noah 4, Bowie 2, Brandon (husband), and kitty Edgrrr
 

Tell us about your children:  I call Bowie Sir Cling-a-lot- he is a very loving Momma's boy who makes me laugh.  Noah is a sweet boy who always loves his IPad and usually loves his brother.  He's a smart whipper-snapper.
 

Current/previous Career:  Currently a cardiology PA, I have worked in internal medicine and psychiatry too
 

What was your childhood ambition?  Either to be a vet or the President
 

What does motherhood mean to you?  Recognizing that I will never be June Cleaver- the house will never be without clutter, the boys may watch too much tv and play too much IPad, and I won't be perfectly made up with heels, but I must accept I am doing the best I can and my boys love me and I adore them.
 

What is the furthest you have been from home?  Peace Corps in Cameroon, Central Africa.  We also honeymooned in Egypt and Tanzania.
 

What has Stroller Strides done for you?  It has strengthened both my body and spirit.  This is such a wonderful group of women, and I love their support and friendship.

How was your recent experience with the Body Back program?  Awesome... I love that I am getting stronger and leaner- probably in the best physical shape I have ever been even though I am not the skinniest I have ever been.

What is your favorite exercise?  Burpees!  Psych!  Just kidding.  My favorites are lunges, squats, and reverse crunches.

What is your proudest moment?  I guess just getting through some difficult dark times and finding the light at the end of the tunnel.

What are three of your favorite things (besides your family!)?    Africa, cooking/food, getting a bargain!

Tell us something about yourself that would surprise us or makes you unique.  I'm hoping it will surprise people that I just turned forty ;)  I made my own wedding favors- an aromatherapy room spray. 

If we asked your spouse what they think your best qualities are, what would they say? Brandon says, "calm, patient, and great butt from Body Back"

What advice would you give to moms looking to get back into shape?   You can find a way to have the time... In fact, you are doing yourself and your kids a favor if you set the example of fitness and good health.

Why join Running Mamas Race Training vs. run on your own??

Our seasonal “Raleigh Running Mamas” 5k/10k training program is kicking off in just a few short weeks!

This program designed specifically for moms will help beginners (or those who haven’t run in a while) build up to running a full 5k, OR our experienced running coaches can also help current runners to focus on their speed and beat their goal race day times, either for a 5k or 10k. Moms of all ages and fitness levels are welcome-- strollers optional.

You may be wondering, is it worth joining a group like this, or should I just train for a 5k (or 10k) on my own?

Here are just a few reasons why a group training program can make a difference in your fall running plans…

Make a commitment as part of a group of moms working towards the same goal!

Every season, moms of all ages and fitness levels start off the program together and are immensely supportive of one another. There is a great sense of camaraderie—we’re all in this together! It is so much more fun to run with supportive friends on a regular basis, and we all cheer for one another, each week and on race day!

You won’t have to make up a training plan for yourself!

Sure you can find various training plans online, but how do you decide among all of the options? What if you find certain training assignments to be too tough or too easy? Should you blend some of them or just stick with one? Our Running Mamas training plans have helped moms for several seasons attain their running goals.Beginners have gone from barely being able to jog 2 minutes at a time, to running the full 5k goal race. Experienced runners were able to surpass their timing goals by race day with our personalized coaching and training run assignments.

Our plans are a blend of national Stroller Strides 5k/10k training and the well-known “Couch to 5k” plans, and there are 3 different tracks based upon what your starting jogging level is (Beginner—for those not able to jog much at all at the start; Intermediate—for those able to jog 1-2 miles at start of program; and Advanced—for those already able to jog 3 miles at a time, who’d like to focus on speed training.) Training plans focus on time initially, then distance, and include speed training, hill intervals, timed mile and two-mile runs, tapering at the end, and more.

We’ll help you MAKE IT HAPPEN!!

How easy is it to plan to run, only to get caught up with everything else at home and in motherhood, and never get out the door?? If you’re trying to make yourself train on your own, it can be that much tougher to get regular training runs in. Sign up for a group training plan and you’ll be more likely to make your runs happen, especially with your coach and fellow mamas looking out for you.

Get your questions answered

What should I be eating on days when I run? How many days per week is best to train? Should I do any other exercise on my non-running days? Should I focus on speed or distance? How do I know if I’m hydrated? What should my goal be this week? How do I increase my race day speed? These are the types of questions your trained running coach can answer. Throughout our 8 week program, you’ll receive tips on all of the above topics and more, at the coached sessions, in your weekly emails, and through our private facebook group. Plus—get extra training sessions such as Core Workouts for Runners, Nutrition & Hydration tips, sneaker discounts, family race day photos, and more!

Get personalized training advice

Between the three levels of overall training, the advice of your running coach, the personal guidance surveys and feedback offered, you’ll get continuous feedback on your progress and what your next steps should be….much more helpful to your training than trying to figure it all out on your own.

We’re all moms and we’ve all been through what you’re going through!

Challenges getting out the door, little ones exhausting you and making you question your plan to run on a given day, coordinating naps and feeding and carpools, lack of sleep, and lack of time for anything for yourself! Train for a goal that will help you feel great about yourself with the support of other moms. You’ll be amazed at what you CAN accomplish, and feeling better physically, mentally, and emotionally will help you be a better mom!

But don’t just take our word for it….check out all of the amazing things moms from our past seasons have had to say about the program! Click here to hear from past Running Mamas members

The season starts Aug 24th, with weekday and weekend options available, in Southwest Raleigh and Apex. Register now for the Fall Running Mamas Training Program and cross that finish line with us in April!

August 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!

August's featured Mom of the Month is Maureen Walawender! 

Congrats, Maureen!

 

 

 

Maureen has been a hard-working Stroller Strides mama for the past 18 months.  She and her daughter Samantha bring great energy and smiles to their daily workouts.  Maureen's determination and dedication to health and fitness have brought her great results and a positive outlook, and you know she's a strong and fierce mama when she says our Cardio Killers are her favorite exercise; she clocks tons of miles as a runner as well; and we've seen her really work it when running our 'suicides', aka 'line drills' on the basketball courts! Maureen is one of our most-frequent Stroller Strides attendees, joining our workouts in multiple locations several times per week, always with a smile.  Join us in congratulating Maureen, and read on to get to know her better!

 

Hometown: North Wales, PA

Current part of the Triangle that you live in: Cary, NC 

 

Education: B.S. in Chemistry/Business from the University of Scranton and Masters of Accounting from NCSU 

 

Stroller Strides Member since: February 2011 

 

Members of your Family: My husband Kyle and daughter Samantha 

 

Tell us about your child: Samantha is a 22 month old fearless ball of energy. She loves trying new activities, exploring new places, reading, dancing, and pushing stroller. She is very outgoing and loves playing with other kids. 

 

Current/previous Career: I am a full-time SAHM. Before Samantha I was a financial analyst at Duke and I have my CPA license.  

 

What was your childhood ambition? I wanted to be an astronaut 

 

What does motherhood mean to you? It is the hardest and most rewarding job ever.  

 

What is the furthest you have been from home? Europe and Hawaii 

 

What has Stroller Strides meant to you? I love Stroller Strides it gives us a daily routine that allows Samantha and I to exercise and play with our friends 6 days a week. It is a great workout and Samantha and I have made wonderful friends being a part of this group. Plus we get to participate in tons of fun playgroup activities after class.
 

What is your favorite exercise? Cardio Killers but Samantha prefers pushups and fast feet. 

 

What is your proudest moment? The birth of Samantha 

 

What are three of your favorite things (besides your family!)? Traveling, sleeping, and exercising 

 

Tell us something about yourself that would surprise us or makes you unique. I have 4 brothers 

 

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

What advice would you give to moms looking to get back into shape?  Come check Stroller Strides out it is  a great workout and so much fun- you and your kids will love it. For those of you who think your child won't sit in a stroller for an hour try it out they might surprise you.