Today, we’d like turn the spotlight on one of our members, Katie. We’ll let Katie tell her moving story in her own words.
 
 
In September of 2016, I was diagnosed with Thyroid Cancer.  It was the ultimate low in my life.  My daughter was two and my son was just six months old when I was diagnosed.  I was very out of shape.  I figured something had to give.  So after my four week post operation appointment, still with a healing incision, I decided to show up to my first workout with Stroller Warriors® Parris Island.  I was nearly 100 pounds overweight. I have a permanently paralyzed vocal cord, which makes breathing in the humidity very difficult *if you've ever been to Beaufort, SC you know it's humid 99.9% of the time! Ha.*  So why not join a run club right?!  To this day it is the best decision I've made in my time here in Beaufort.

We went around the circle for new member intros, in my still whispery voice I introduced myself, showed my neck wound and said I'd do what I could, but I didn’t know how much that would be.  Both of my kids were with me in a double stroller and we set out.  I couldn't run more than 90 seconds at a time, and even that was a struggle.  Dayle, one of the PI members stayed with me.  She pushed me to go further. She didn’t let me give up.  I will never forget that.  I joined the Couch to 5K group which was more than halfway done. I was able to graduate with them just a few months post total thyroidectomy. And I never looked back.  I bridged to 10K then ran my first half marathon.  There were many setbacks along the way, but I knew I always had a tribe of great women behind me, supporting me every step of the way.

My success within Stroller Warriors® is about so much more than running. It has always been about community for me.  I was a stranger to these women, when I showed up to a workout and told them I had cancer.  Never once did they bat an eye.  They were, and still are, my tribe.  After graduating from Couch to 5K I had to take a break from running and do Radioactive Iodine Therapy.  It came with a week of isolation away from my small children and husband.  The group rallied behind me. They fed my family dinner every night, offered to watch my kids, dropped off snacks when the kids were running low, brought me all kinds of amazing comfort gifts when I got home, and stuck with me every step of the way! 

Then, two months after my treatment, my husband left for his fourth tour overseas.  I was not ready, but they never left me.  They pulled me through the hard days.  We ran, worked out, ate and laughed.  Members took turns pushing my double stroller during runs so I could just focus on one foot in front of the other.  It was a testament to what this group truly is.

Once I was back on my feet, full force, I joined the leadership team.  I assisted on Couch to 5K; picking up C25K workouts whenever they needed.  Watching those women accomplish their goal was so satisfying.  Then, I took over Welcoming Committee duties for our chapter.  I still have people stop me out in town and ask me how they know me.  Most of the time it's because of the Stroller Warriors page.  As we transitioned to new Coordinators I started helping the club in any way I could.  I have hosted a handful of Mini Warrior Events, including pumpkin painting, park dates and most recently a firehouse visit!  During our transition I have also jumped in to lead workouts.  For the most part my workouts are strength.  It has been really fun to dust the cobwebs off my Exercise Science degree from college and push the Warriors to do something that isn't normally in their comfort zone!  I have done a little bit of everything in my time here in hopes of giving back to a club that has done so much for me.

Cancer gave me a perspective that I wish I could share with others.  Not to take yourself so seriously.  To always been kinder than you feel. That your best is ALWAYS good enough.  For me, this club has been about so much more than the miles *even though I ran 500+ of them last year.* It has been about the family.  The love. The support. Taking back my health.  Feeling strong and confident in my body when I felt like it was failing me.  I hope I am leaving this chapter better than I found it.  I hope I have given more than I have taken. Our next adventure will take us to Camp Pendleton, but Stroller Warriors® Parris Island will always hold a very special place in my heart. My hope is anyone who needs a tribe will look to Stroller Warriors.  That everyone who reads my story will see the heart and soul of this club. 
 
Katie, thank you so much for sharing your story with us! We wish you continued health and happiness and an easy PCS!

Usually, for most military spouses, when you’re 6 months-out from a PCS your motivation to make new friends fades a little bit. I consider it a form of self-preservation. Your sub-conscious is trying to protect yourself from emotional pain, so you start to distance yourself a little bit from others, and stop working to build new relationships. I want to challenge this way of thinking, though, because many years ago I had a friend challenge and change mine.
 
Many years ago a new girl PCSd to Okinawa when I only had 6 months left on the island. Her name was Sarah and we had an awful lot in common. We both ran, we both enjoyed triathlons, we both had 3 children, and we both had graduated from the same college  (though neither of us knew the other in college). Sarah upon meeting me decided we would be friends. I was and always have been friendly to new people. I never want anyone to leave a Stroller Warrior workout without having connected with another adult! However, I wasn’t so sure I needed new friends at this stage in my life. But she was really nice and I really enjoyed hanging out with her. She kept coming to Stroller Warriors workouts and we kept hanging out and running together. Then, even though be both knew I only had 6 months left at this duty station, our friendship progressed to training for a half together and countless miles shared and memories made. 

One time we met in the middle of our houses for a nighttime run. At this point in my life I knew nothing about running after dinner. I had eaten a very full meal and upon jostling my stomach for a few miles, I promptly threw up on the side of the road. There had been no warning, I wasn’t sick, it was just like a when a baby eats too much and spits up some of it. I was so embarrassed! The only times I had ever heard of someone throwing up during running or after running was from over-exertion like during a race or a track workout. This was neither of those times. Lessons learned for sure! To eat smaller portions or eat a regular portion but give your stomach time to digest before heading out to run.
 
Another night after getting back to the car, we hung around to stretch and chat. While sitting on the ground stretching we hear noises in the bushes that sounded like an animal or animals of some sort. Sarah got up quickly and started screaming, “Coyotes! Coyotes!” and jumped into her car. I stood outside staring at her and she opened the door slightly to scream, “Get in the car!!” I could hear the noise getting louder and closer. Sarah being so nervous made me nervous, so I jumped into the car too. Only I was getting into the side where Sarah already was! She awkwardly scrambled from the passenger side to the drivers side and we both finally fit in the car and were able to shut the door. We peered nervously out and watched as a pack of dogs (not coyotes!) jumped out of the bushes and ran lazily around the parking lot. We sure had a good laugh over that one! I remember telling her, “I’m pretty sure they don’t even have coyotes on the island!” (They don’t). 

While Sarah and I only ended up having 6 months on the island together we have a million memories. She truly made my time at that duty station richer. Had I said no to a friendship with her, I am the one who would have missed out. My life would have been less fun, less funny, less rich. I am more blessed because of our friendship.
 
While I physically had to leave Sarah, our friendship is something that I didn’t have to leave behind. To this day we still talk on the phone and share our lives. We don’t have a set schedule to talk but when we do talk, we just pick up right where we left off. Five years later the stars are aligning and we are rotating at the same time. Will we meet at the next duty station? I can only hope! 

​I do know, however, that because I fought against my instincts to start shutting down prior to a PCS, I have a stronger support network and a really great friend. I challenge you, don’t let yourself turn off prior to a PCS or move! You never know who you are going to meet and how much richer your life could become. Go to the Stroller Warriors workouts anyway, make new friends anyway, life is short, try your best to live it to its fullest!
 
Happy Running!
Kelly