Stroller Warriors® considers community outreach to be a valuable piece of the Stroller Warriors mission.  Along with running and fitness goals, Stroller Warrior chapters strive to support the local military and civilian communities through charitable events, donation drives, community clean ups, and philanthropic opportunities.
 
This week we share the story of our warrior friends from SW Yokosuka and their collaboration with the Yokosuka Council on Asia-Pacific Studies (YCAPS) —a local nonprofit organization with a focus on building connections and developing people in the Yokosuka community and elsewhere.  Specifically, one element of YCAPS, called the Mongolia Connect program, focusses exclusively on those in need living in Mongolia.  The Mongolia Connect program “creates opportunities for Americans, Japanese, and Mongolians to establish international friendships, develop intercultural leadership skills, and learn about issues impacting the greater international community.” 
 
Over the last few months, Mongolia suffered from devastating floods – sadly, many individuals and families were displaced from their homes.  Stroller Warriors Yokosuka organized their first community outreach project with YCAPS, specifically contributing to the Mongolia Connect program.  The Stroller Warriors leadership organized two drop-off sites over a two-week period and collected items such as shoes, outdoor and cold weather gear, and blankets.  Within just the first few days, the SW team gathered enough goods to fill an entire box!  In total, SW Yokosuka collected, loaded, and shipped 5 boxes of items supplying direct support to YCAPS’ Mongolia Connect program.  The contents of these boxes supported a “Girl’s Story” Homeless Shelter in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia.
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Thank you, Stroller Warriors Yokosuka, for organizing a wonderful community outreach event!  If you are a military family near SW Yokosuka and would like to come run with us, request to join Stroller Warriors® Yokosuka at https://www.facebook.com/groups/SWYokosuka

​I met Stroller Warriors® Global Staff Team member, Rose, while we were stationed at Malmstrom AFB around 2011. We were both early in growing our families we had our own little community of moms that were having babies, recovering from having babies, trying to have babies, and holding on through long days and longer nights. Our friend circles crossed when one of my functional fitness friends said, “You should meet Rose! She’s into functional fitness too!” Here we are a decade later, still connecting through fitness!
 
When Rose asked me to write a kettlebell piece for the Stroller Warriors community, I was insanely grateful for this opportunity to contribute! But, my immediate thought was, “Where do I start?!?” I am known as a kettlebell coach, but I am also a runner. Running is my fitness first true love. It has always been my escape. If I have something tough to tackle in life, I hit the pavement. I do not run for time. I do not run for medals (but that can be exciting). I do not run with friends (but that is always a nice bonus if it happens too). I have been in love with running for running’s sake since I was introduced to the timed mile-run in sixth grade. 

​Maybe you are this type of runner too: You and I run for the pure feeling of being free. We run because it just plain feels good. Running is freedom for us. It is the ultimate escape from all the bull of “adulting.” The repetitious, rhythmic sound of your feet cycling over the terrain, the cool autumn breeze, sprinkles of rain, the sand as it caves under bare feet on a beach run at sunset…we run for clarity.
 
I still remember the run along my old country dirt road back when I was a kid in Arkansas— how the cows looked in the fields with their head bent down, how the headstones looked as I circled through the cemetery to loop back home. I still remember my runs in college—the rolling hills and long stretches of tall grass blowing alongside those back roads, and those steep hills in the shadows of the University of Arkansas. Running is a memory in motion.
 
I remember my runs at each place my family has been assigned over the past 17 years: Nellis’ desert landscape and jumping over boulders just for fun. Pope and the sound of Jodie’s at 0600 with all the soldiers lined up for their morning PT, helicopters flying and jets taking off. It was a busy place. Running made me feel like I was a part, or had a part in it all.  We were at Malmstrom when the base was demolishing all the old houses and rebuilding. I would run through those ghost streets, and every now and then come across a house with workers. I would stop to nurse my second baby on those runs, with those strangers across the street, while my first baby played in the empty lots. After Montana, we moved back to Nellis. This time I had two big toddlers in tow and I was pushing them up, down, and around all of base housing. We would see roadrunners, ground owls, lizards, quail families, mushrooms, the Joshua trees, and we learned about the star constellations, and even witnessed a Russian rocket transition back into Earth’s stratosphere! Those desert nights are some of my favorite memories…and they happened because I loaded up my babies night after night, day after day, and we just ran for the sake of it.
 
Running is the ultimate blend of those basic human needs for freedom and to dance with Mother Nature. Running can be done anywhere, at any time, alone, or with your people. You do not need special equipment. You do not need fancy shoes, or any shoes at all. The rhythm of running, as an escape into a time of gratitude and mental clarity, is real freedom.
 
My journey with kettlebells started as innocently as my start into running. One little event layered upon another. I simply showed up to fitness every day. My then boyfriend, now husband, brought me a kettlebell back from his kettlebell certification. I started playing around with it. Much like I would do in my runs, I was just having fun with the feeling of doing kettlebells. 

​Running for me is not a way to keep score. Kettlebells are the same way. Running does not require a lot of “bells and whistles.” Kettlebells are the same way. I still have my original set of three bells from 2003 (8kg, 12kg, 16kg), using my 12kg most. If it came down to it, I could get everything I need in training from that one bell. I call her Ashley. She is akin to Tom Hank’s Wilson. We have been through some tough stuff. She is always there to help me out of a funk, get me moving, and cheer me up. She helps me clear my mind with that familiar, repetitive, rhythmic movement. Running is the same way.
 
What are my favorite rhythms to fall into with Ashley? I love a long-cycle snatch ala the Viking Warrior Protocol by Kenneth Jay. I love a good therapeutic set of get-ups paired with swings (in some circles this is known as “The Inferno”). I love chaining the basics together into a nice flow. It might look something like: Swing, clean, squat, press, get-down, get-up, snatch, windmill, and repeat for reps. That same mental clarity from a running turnover is the same feeling I get during a snatch cycle. I can settle into my body, get grounded, and feel connected. 

If you want to pick up a bell, first, start with the basic swing. This is like learning the basic running mechanics of foot placement in the turnover and your cheek-to-cheek drills. Next, add the transitions of the get-up. The therapeutic feel of the flow from ground up in the get-up will benefit your body awareness, shoulder stability, and hip mobility for runs too. After swings and get-ups are well practiced, move into additional movements with cleans & presses, and squats & deadlifts. Once you are solid and confident in the mechanics of the swing and clean & press, top off your sessions with snatches. These are my “foundational five to thrive.” (Swing, Get-up, Clean & Press, Squats & Deadlifts, Snatches.) This is my starting point for every client. There are so many variations of the basics that your programming can take you anywhere with a little imagination and investment in reps.
 
Running and kettlebell swings are actually the first “workout” I ever did with my first bell. Running is what I knew. I just added the novelty of swings to it. This is what it looked like:
 
10 sets of:
-25 two-hand swings
-1/4 mile jog
 
It was so simple. It was so fun. I was still outside. I was still running. I was progressing along my fitness journey. It continues to this day. I still love to swing and snatch for the sake of it…and, I still love to run for the fun and feel of it. 
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​Sara Cheatham M.S., was the first ever female promoted to Senior Russian Kettlebell Certified Instructor in 2007. She has a Master’s in Health Sciences: Community Health Promotion from the University of Arkansas. She is a Z-Health Neuroscience Education Master Practitioner, a 17+ career USAF wife, and veteran homeschooling mom of three. In the mix of all the moves and babies, she’s managed to keep her love for movement and coaching alive through her sheer determination to help other moms realize their strength beyond babydom, wife-ing, and PCSes. 

Please stay tuned over the next few months, as Sara will share her knowledge and expertise about kettlebells with the Stroller Warriors community!

Our mini warriors always watch us.  They watch during those great runs when it seems the wind is at our backs, and they watch us on the days that seem like a constant uphill with strong headwinds.  Most importantly, they see us endure through both situations…deciding to push harder towards a PR when the run feels smooth, and deciding to fiercely press-on when the run feels harder than normal.  In both situations, our mini warriors are seeing us push- persevering by overcoming challenges and accomplishing goals.  Now, the “eyes have shifted” for many Stroller Warriors.  Now, it is the Stroller Warriors often watching their once mini warriors embrace their own fitness endeavors.  Now, it is the Stroller Warrior’s eye who is trained on their athlete…watching the lessons they taught their once mini warrior manifest into kinetic action!   

We recently interviewed a Stroller Warriors mom-daughter team, Ryanne B. and Finley.   Ryanne completed the Couch to 5K program with Stroller Warriors, then continued with the “Have to Half” series with her running partner Analisa J.  Ryanne also volunteered as a Stroller Warriors workout leader. 

​Questions for our Warriors:
Name:  Ryanne Baker
 
Stroller Warriors chapter(s):  Stroller Warriors Camp Lejeune
 
What was your favorite thing about Stroller Warriors?   The amazing community-- it gave me a place where I felt like I belonged, and the group encouraged me to run further than I ever imagined possible. When I joined, I could not run 10 consecutive minutes without stopping.  During my time with Stroller Warriors, I ended up running a half marathon every month for a year and the Marine Corps Marathon. I totally drank the cool-aid! 
 
Did you suspect your mini warrior would have his/her own running career one day?  I did not run until after I had my first 2 kids.  I never ran as a kid-- I never really thought about it [running]. There was an opportunity [for my daughter] to join Cross-Country and I am not going to lie-- we totally made her do it! At first, she was not happy, however we watched her develop, progress, and really grow to enjoy running (even though she will not admit it).  She proudly wears her Cross-Country shirt and gets excited about PRs and new running shoes.  I really think it is going to stick!  Our family is so proud of her for doing hard things!

​Questions for our mini warriors: 
 
Name:  Finley Rose Baker
 
Do you remember your first Stroller Warriors event? How old were you?  I do not remember my first Stroller Warrior event, but I remember playing at the playground ALOT. Every time my mom would go for a run, I got to play with lots of friends.
                                                                                  
What memories do you have of Stroller Warriors? Any favorite SW memories to share?  I remember skinning my knee on the playground and screaming “THERE IS SO MUCH BLOOD!!!”. There were moms everywhere, but I could not find my own. 
 
Are you currently in touch with any mini warriors you have met along the way?  No, we moved to Alabama. Hannah and Jackson J. did visit us once after we moved here. 
 
What team do you run with now? How long have you been running?  I run for the cross-country team at Madison County High School. This is my first season, we started practice in July and I could not run AT ALL.  Running was terrible at first and it is still terrible, but now I can run 4 miles and I do not even cry anymore! 
 
What inspires you to keep running?  MCDONALDS and my coach, aka my Dad, who yells at me if I stop. 
 
Have your parents inspired you? If so, in what way?  My dad runs daily, and my mom works out every day. They told me I could be a runner when I did not believe I could. Turns out they were right. 
 
What lessons did you learn with Stroller Warriors and how have those lessons influenced you today?  At some point running will be fun. They [SW members] all seemed to have a good time. I am not there yet, but it gives me hope. 

​Thank you Ryanne and Finley for sharing a piece of journey as a Stroller Warrior and mini warrior, and what unfolded afterwards! Best wishes on your future endeavors!  If you and your mini warrior(s) are interested in sharing your Stroller Warriors story, please contact us at strollerwarrior@gmail.com.