By Amy A.

To explain how Stroller Warriors® Eielson was founded, I have to go back to before I knew anything about this running club. I was living in Ohio and still new to distance running when I ran a 10K race. I ran it by myself and struggled every step past 1 mile. I remember feeling accomplished that I finished, but frustrated that it was so HARD. The very next weekend, I went to run with a friend of mine and a group of ladies who called themselves Marathon Moms. We chatted, shared our struggles and before I knew it, I had ran the exact same distance that was so hard for me the weekend prior. That is when I first saw the value of community and support when it comes to distance running. Just a couple weeks later, I went on to run 8 miles “just because” with someone from the same group. Through that winter, I learned to love running in all types of weather and circumstances. I did several runs, and a couple races, in the snow; thus jump starting my love of winter running. With good company by my side, running was an adventure and so much fun.

We moved to Alaska the following spring and I dove into racing in our new home. It wasn’t the same. I went to several local races alone, and while they were fun, I missed my people. Talking with my friend from Ohio, she mentioned starting a group of my own in Alaska. I laughed. Who was I to start a running group? I was still pretty new to distance running.

That winter I was reading my new Runner’s World magazine and I came across an article about this running club, Stroller Warriors. I remember reading Stephanie’s words and mentally agreeing with and seconding everything she said. The article mentioned that you could find a complete list of active chapters on their website. Of course I immediately went to see if Eielson was on there. It wasn’t. There was an e-mail listed with instructions to inquire about starting a chapter in your location. I don’t really know what I thought the result of my e-mail would be, but I assure you it was not what I got. They wanted ME to start the chapter. Me.

After talking it over with my husband, who has always been the biggest supporter of my endeavors, I decided to apply. I figured they wouldn’t hire me but at least I could say I tried.  Imagine my surprise when I opened the e-mail informing me that they did, in fact, want me to start a chapter at Eielson. The next few months were overwhelming as I prepared to launch this new chapter of Stroller Warriors. It felt a little foreign because I had not actually been to a workout at a chapter, so I was building this based on my mentor, Kelly’s, guidance.

The day before I was set to launch the Facebook page for Stroller Warriors Eielson, I had a health scare. I was 11 weeks pregnant and ended up spending the day in the ER with a threatened miscarriage. Over the next weeks and months I had a rough pregnancy and woke up every morning wondering if I would still be pregnant that day. The doctors couldn’t tell me anything definitively. After talking with Kelly and Stephanie, we decided to postpone the launch until my pregnancy was over and I had time to heal. After a scary arrival, and a week in the NICU, Addison was born and the both of us were on the path to healing.

It took me a long time to understand the benefits of waiting to launch SW Eielson. For a while I was angry and frustrated, but then I saw the value in getting an entire year to fall in love with this running club that I was about to be leading. I needed that time to learn more about Stroller Warriors so that I could adequately support its mission and be the best leader possible for our chapter. I also needed to learn about the struggles of Alaska and how to better encourage people through them. It was during this time I fell in love with everything about our location and gained the desire to help others love it as well.

I was raised by a mother who always finds the good in every situation. She always says that you can do anything for X amount of time. I moved to Alaska with the mindset of, “I can do anything for 3 years.” By the time we left, I could not believe I had to leave behind a place I grew to love so much. I believe all things happen for a reason, and while the circumstances of my pregnancy were not the best, in the end everything turned out the way it needed to. This is not to say that my circumstances happened BECAUSE of what I needed to learn, but instead I chose to learn from my situation.

When the day came for SW Eielson’s inaugural workout, on May 4, 2016, I was better prepared because of the time I had to prepare. I was able to lead our amazing Warriors for a year and watch them thrive in a place that could easily suck all motivation from you. I have never met a stronger, more motivating group of people than the Warriors at SW Eielson.

There were days when I canceled workouts because the temps were below -30, but they showed up to the gym anyway and drug me with them. People may not realize it, but for about 8 months of the year, Eielson Warriors run on a small indoor track. It takes a lot of mental strength and flexibility to stay motivated in such circumstances. 50 laps to get in a 10K may seem daunting, but with Warriors by your side, it’s not bad at all!

My story with Stroller Warriors varies a lot from most chapter founders. Most fall in love with SW, and upon PCSing decide to start a chapter in their new location. I will be forever grateful that SW took a chance on me, someone completely new, and allowed me the privilege of founding and leading a chapter in Eielson, Alaska. It warms my heart to see the chapter still thriving, 2.5 years later. My life has been forever changed because of the people and my experiences with this club. It really is so much more than a running club.

Amy may have sinced moved from Eielson, Alaska, but her dedication to Stroller Warriors has continued and we are incredibly grateful! Amy is  an important member of our Stroller Warriors Headquarters Team where she serves as a Regional Mentor and our Gear Guru, as well as weighs in on all Headquarters topics.  As a Regional Mentor she helps found chapters and interviews potential candidates, as well as mentors them throughout their tenure as a Coordinator. As our Gear Guru she has helped create the SW heart "We run free, because of the Brave!", Runopoly and Marine Corps Marathon logos you find in our Spreadshirt store - HERE! She also updates the Spreadshirt site with various options and sizes, as well as adds seasonal gear; Christmas, Valentines, etc. 

Amy has inspired us all this summer with her marathon comeback during the Marine Corps Marathon. Her Air Force Marathon in September had been cut short by race directors due to unsafe course conditions. Undeterred, even in spite of a nagging injury, Amy signed up for and ran the Marine Corps Marathon alongside numerous fellow Stroller Warriors.

Amy, we are so proud of all you have accomplished as a runner, and as a Stroller Warrior. You are truly leaving the world a better place than you have found it. We will forever be thankful that you chose to dedicated your time and talents to our running club! 

If you’re a Chapter Founder and would like your story featured please email me at Paige.swglobal@gmail.com! If you’re interested in founding a chapter and bringing Stroller Warriors to your location, please follow these instructions.

Today we have for you the founding story of Stroller Warriors Fort Riley!
 
Stroller Warriors Fort Riley was founded by Christie L. and we are so grateful that she did!  After only 6 months of running with the Stroller Warriors in Monterrey, CA her husband received unexpected orders to Kansas!

We will let her share her story in her own words...

By: Christie L.
 
    I first heard about Stroller Warriors® when my soldier was stationed at the Language School in Monterey, CA. At that point in my life, I had only been running for about a year. I had started running to help encourage my husband in his running as he was preparing to leave for basic training. So not only was I new to running, I was also new to the military life. I was 32 with 3 kids and 13 years of marriage behind me.
    Leaving our home in South Carolina after 13 years is one of the hardest things I have ever had to do. California might as well have been a foreign country. I was lonely, missing home, family, friends, and all things familiar. Finding Stroller Warriors® Monterey was a life saver for me! I never realized that running could be a “team” sport and was intrigued by their mission and loved that it was for military spouses, i.e. people like me!

     My first workout was not the shining moment I hoped it would be! I am not by nature an outgoing person, so just showing up was very hard for me. At this point, I hadn’t run more than a handful of times in the months leading up to our move and arriving in Monterey. There were HILLS (I’m from FLAT Coastal Carolina), I did not have a stroller, I got lost on the trail (totally my fault), started having knee pain, and didn’t stay for the post run workout. To say I was discouraged was an understatement. But I made myself go back. I don’t remember my second workout, but it must have been better because I kept going! I met some wonderful ladies, bought a jogging stroller, joined C25k, and ran my first ever 5k race with the C25k group. I was hooked!
  We unexpectedly got orders to Fort Riley, KS after only 6 months in Monterey. The first thing I checked was whether they had a chapter there. The second thing I did was talk to Virginia Martinez and Kelly Mulder how to go about starting a chapter! They pointed me to the global page and encouraged me to get settled then fill out an application.
    We PCS’d to Fort Riley in Oct-Nov of 2015 and arrived just in time for a rude awakening to Kansas winter: below freezing temps, ice, snow, and WIND! Needless to say, I did NOT run at all during our first winter here! I knew I wanted to start a chapter here and I strongly believed in the SW mission and wanted to help and encourage military spouses like I had been in Monterey. I also knew that I was going to have to brave the cold weather, get out there and get running before I did!! I started the C25k app for the second time and with the encouragement of a friend, signed up for my first ever paid race! I felt like I was ready to get moving on starting a chapter here.

  When I reached out to Kelly again, I found out that HQ was on break from starting any new chapters but would pick up again in the fall. During the late spring and summer of 2016, with the company of a couple runner friends, I kept up with my running and trained for my first 10k. I worked on my application for Stroller Warriors® and also started preparing for my husband’s 1st deployment to Korea.
  It was a very busy and emotionally crazy time for us, but I knew I wanted to see this through and bring Stroller Warriors® to Fort Riley. I submitted my application, waited on pins and needles for the Skype interview and to hear whether or not this was going to become a reality. All of us coordinators know how much work on our end and HQ’s end goes into starting a new chapter. It’s hard, overwhelming, and scary all at the same time. But Stephanie and the staff have it down to a science on launching new chapters and even though it was nerve wracking, I felt prepared to start this venture.

  We said “see ya later” to my husband on October 15 and our inaugural workout was October 18, 2016. We had 14 in attendance and beautiful weather. I left feeling happy and encouraged that once again, Stroller Warriors was there for me during a significant upheaval in my life. I was able to make it through our first deployment, found amazing new running friends, and discovered a whole new level of love for running!

  Being a coordinator for this club has grown me in ways I never imagined. I thought I knew a lot about running and fitness when we started, but I have learned so much more since then and know there is so much that I could still learn! Most of all, I am just so thankful for the opportunity to help other military spouses in the same way that I was helped. To not just survive the military life but thrive!

  Thank you so much Christie for sharing your founding story with us!

  If you’re a Chapter Founder and would like your story featured please email me at paige.swglobal@gmail.com! We would love to have this for ALL of our chapters!
If you’re interested in founding a chapter and bringing Stroller Warriors to your location, please follow these instructions.

Today we have for you the founding story of Stroller Warriors Fort Meade!
 
Stroller Warriors Fort Meade was founded by Rachel S. I had the privilege of meeting Rachel first hand this year. We Captained a Ragnar team together for the 2017 Ragnar DC. Rachel is funny, caring, and a great team player. Sit back and enjoy the founding story of SW Fort Meade!
 
Rachel says she first heard about Stroller Warriors when she lived in Monterey, CA. “There was an active chapter when I was in Monterey, CA but I never joined because I was doing my own thing and thought I didn't need a running group.” Little did Rachel know she was about to learn how wrong she was about not needing a running group!

​Rachel’s interest in Stroller Warriors Running Club was peaked by social media. “A friend of mine moved away from Monterey to Pensacola and she founded the Stroller Warriors Pensacola chapter. Every other post she made on Facebook was about how awesome it was to have a group of runners who supported each other.”

This got Rachel thinking about how awesome it would be to have like-minded individuals in her life to support and encourage one another. Once her son was born and she was back into running she felt the need for a community of runners in her area.

​“We seemed to have a strong community of runners for the post Run Series but there wasn't a specific group. I suddenly wanted a group here in Maryland. I was nervous to start the Stroller Warriors chapter and initially teamed up with a friend. I almost let her take it over while I sat back. I was afraid that I wasn't the right person to lead a Stroller Warrior chapter because I had never been in one. That friend ended up stepping back and allowed me to become the founder of Stroller Warriors Fort Meade.”
 
Rachel says she now has a new motto in life. Her motto is, "Jump in with both eyes closed!"
 
Jumping in with both eyes closed has taught Rachel valuable lessons about herself. “From launching a Stroller Warriors chapter without ever having been involved in one I have learned that I am more outgoing than I give myself credit for. This has allowed me to take on things I didn't think I'd ever do because I was timid and afraid. This chapter was possible all because a team (SWHQ) took a chance on me.”

​Being a Coordinator has not only enabled Rachel to give back to her local community, it has also helped Rachel to grow and develop as a person. “I have grown a lot as a person in the year I've lead the Fort Meade chapter and I know a lot of that goes back to the awesome members we have. These members have become great friends and a vital source of encouragement in my life. I'd never be where I am today without the chapter and it's members. Some people might think that as members they have lots to gain from their leader, but it goes both ways. As a leader, I have gained lots from my members.”
 
Thank you Rachel for sharing your story. We know Stroller Warriors Fort Meade will continue to grow and flourish under your guidance! 

​If you’re a Chapter Founder and would like your story featured please email me at Kelly.swglobal@gmail.com! If you’re interested in founding a chapter and bringing Stroller Warriors to your location, please follow these instructions.
 
Thank You and Happy Running!
Kelly

by Kelly M.
 
When I found out my family would be PCSing to Okinawa, Japan I was both excited and scared. I had always wanted to live outside of the United States. I also loved my life in North Carolina and didn’t feel motivated to leave. I had a great house on base, great neighbors, an amazing running club and great friends. I wanted to move, but I didn't want to move. The perfect option would have been to take my whole community to Japan with me but I didn't see that happening any time soon.
 
One run while pondering my life and what it would become I realized three important things: 1. I am a military wife (and a proud one at that!) 2. I cannot change the fact that my husband needs to move (but I can change my attitude about it) and 3. While I couldn’t take my friends with me I could potentially take the things that made my life so full. At the time the things most important to me were the friends I had made through Stroller Warriors and the neighborhood Coffee group.

​​So, I approached Stephanie Geraghty at a workout and asked about the possibility of taking Stroller Warriors to Okinawa, Japan.  Stephanie was enthusiastic about the idea. 

At the time I was pregnant with my second child and first son, Asher. We packed up everything and sent it off to storage or to Japan and then moved to Virginia Beach for three and a half months. My husband, my daughter and I lived in a hotel while my husband went to school. When I was 34 weeks pregnant we PCSd to Okinawa, Japan.

​When I arrived I knew without a doubt that I wanted to start Stroller Warriors and a Coffee group. I talked regularly with Stephanie about it and she always told me I needed to give birth and get settled first which I completely agreed with.

After what felt like forever I finally gave birth and started to build back up to running. I wanted to wait to start Stroller Warriors until I could run. It didn’t feel right to found a chapter when I could not even run yet. After I built up to running 3 miles, I contacted Stephanie again about starting Stroller Warriors in Japan.
 
She sent me an email with all of the files I needed and we talked on the phone and over Skype so she could mentor me and help me. With Stephanie’s guidance and files I created business cards, flyers and built the Facebook page to be in line with the other two Stroller Warrior chapters already in existence.

​Finally the first day of the workout was here and I was so excited but also nervous. There were 16 RSVPs and I felt that I was really going to make new friends and build new runners. The morning of the first workout it started to rain, and it kept raining. Frantic, I called my friend Katie who had been living on Okinawa for years. I talked with her and asked, would she run in this weather? What should I do? Cancel? Hold it? Katie said she would run in it if it was just her and her boys. I frantically messaged Stephanie as well and she made time to skype with me and discuss what I should do. We didn’t want me to look like a flake and cancel my first workout so we held it anyway. Of the 16 original RSVPs only 5 brave souls showed up. We ran and did a post workout amidst a sprinkle of rain and had some clear skies towards the end.
 
I was so pumped. The energy you get from a group of spouses all running together is always amazing. Over the years of Coordinating Stroller Warriors Okinawa I met so many amazing people, learned so many amazing things and have become a better and stronger version of me because of them. It’s so great to have a positive environment where we all motivate and encourage one another. I love my Stroller Warriors life and wouldn’t change it for the world! I am so thankful to Stephanie for allowing me to take her dream and make it a reality at another base. Stroller Warriors Okinawa really did help me to make the most of my tour in Japan. 

One of my favorite things about being a Stroller Warrior Coordinator is that I get to see the ripple effect first hand that this club starts. It begins with spouses joining together for fitness and friends but it becomes so much more. Families become fitter as a result of Stroller Warriors, new goals are reached, confidence develops, and so much more. It starts with one person but then moves to their immediate family, their extended family and also their friends. The way of life we live both in fitness and in taking care of one another like a village impacts the lives of others in a deeper way than I can describe. So if you've ever considered becoming a Stroller Warriors Coordinator, know that the work can be hard, but the rewards are immeasurable!

If you’re a Chapter Founder and would like your story featured please email me at Kelly.swglobal@gmail.com! If you’re interested in founding a chapter and bringing Stroller Warriors to your location, please follow these instructions.

by Colleen M.

 I first learned about Stroller Warriors® in the January 2015 issue of Runners World magazine.  I was two months postpartum and itching to lace up my running shoes again.  When I read that article, it was like kismet!!!!  I got goosebumps reading it and I knew that I just HAD to bring Stroller Warriors to Camp Zama, Japan.  Our base was very small, 800 assigned Active Duty Soldiers and very limited resources for mommy fitness; in fact, there was nothing on base to support mommy fitness.  I researched the website and reached out to HQ to request approval to start a chapter. Starting the chapter was a bit more work than I thought it would be, and that’s awesome because it just proves how well thought out the club is. SW Headquarters  has literally thought of EVERYTHING!!!  I have even taken some of the SW concepts and applied them to other aspects of my volunteer work, like the welcome message on the FB page, I started applying that to my husband’s FRG FB page and people loved being identified and welcomed in such a great way.   

​What I got back from SWZ is way more than I ever put in.  Founding SWZ is one of the greatest things I have ever accomplished in my life!  Acquaintances became friends, and women found self-confidence that they had lacked beforehand!  Seeing women who could barely run for 60 seconds on the first day of C25K training work through the program and then run 3 miles without stopping on graduation day, well that was enough to bring tears of joy to anyone’s eyes.  Endless amounts of pride and joy, that’s what SWZ brought me.  We accomplished so much more than I thought we would, given the size of our chapter.  The community learned about us quickly and everyone was proud to be a part of our chapter or to join forces with us to work towards a common goal.

​Founding the chapter was a new and different leadership experience for me.  It pushed me to really research workouts and, though I’ve been running for a decade now, I didn’t know that much about gear and techniques to tie your shoes and gait.  So I would get on the Internet and just look things up and read articles and scour the Runners World FB page to learn and absorb as much information about all things running that my brain would hold on to.  These women looked to me to lead them, and that became a huge responsibility that I was so happy and so proud to carry!!!

Thank you so much Colleen for sharing your story with us. You have brought so much light and life into the lives of others through your work with Stroller Warriors Zama! 

If you’re a Chapter Founder and would like your story featured please email me at Kelly.swglobal@gmail.com! If you’re interested in founding a chapter and bringing Stroller Warriors to your location, please follow these instructions.
 
Thank You and Happy Running!
Kelly