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.

By Kim B.

​Military life means experiencing different climates due to while living all over the world.  Continuing to stay active in the summer is difficult and requires additional strategies, especially immediately after a PCS. Allow yourself plenty of grace and keep active. It will take time to climatize but you can do this.  
 
When we first moved from North Carolina to Central Florida, I vowed to give up running and become a gym rat.  However my true runner couldn’t handle the indoors and soon enough I was sweating and crying through the miles. One day I saw a neighbor with a racing shirt on. The inner Stroller Warrior in me walked up to her and asked if she was a runner. Wouldn’t you know my luck she was and she had also just moved to Tampa from Reno! We struggled through the summer months together. After almost four years later, she is my sole sister and best friend. We have run 2 half marathons, 2 marathons, 2 ultra-marathons and our first ever sprint triathlon together. 
 
Below are some helpful hints to help you run through those summer months and achieve your goals. Feel free to comment below with other hints that have helped you or questions you have. We always love to hear from you!
 
Be a Camel: Being hydrated is always important, but it is critical in the summer months. TMI, but your urine should be a very light yellow or clear if you are getting enough fluids (Sorry but it needs to be said). Also remember you NEED to be carrying and drinking at least 20 oz. per 5 miles that you run. Including some sort of electrolytes will also be beneficial. These include sports drinks, electrolyte pills, and tablets. Everyone is different, so much like your nutrition strategy, you will want to do some trial and error to find what works well for you. Replacing your salt and electrolytes will prevent you from getting hyponatremia. Hyponatremia is a low level of sodium in the blood. Symptoms can be mild to severe. Every runner should know what hyponatremia is and should be taking steps to prevent it.

​Change of Pace: Humidity is nothing to ignore. Know that it will change your pace. Summer months can slow you down, up to 90 seconds per mile. Don’t fret because your continued commitment to your running will show in the winter with PR gains. Run according to effort and not your watch pace. Turn your watch upside down or turn it off completely if you find yourself overly focused on pace.

Listen to Your Mom: If your mom was like mine, you got held down poolside while she covered you in thick white sunscreen. You looked like a ghost and your friends probably laughed but skin cancer is no laughing matter.  Trust me!  I have already had my first basal cell carcinoma removed from my chest at the young age of 38 years old.  This is not an elderly disease.  Please cover yourself with at least 30 SPF sunscreen.  I know it seems like you will only be out for 30-60 minutes but those minutes add up and over the entire course of the summer that is a lot of exposure.  So leave that sunscreen in your car or by your running shoes and lather up on your way out. ​

​Light Up Your Life: Running early in the morning or later in the evening become popular in the summer. With the sun absent it helps tremendously with the temps but you want to make sure you can be seen. Invest in a headlamp and/or reflective gear. Running on base? You are required to wear a reflective belt before and after colors. Invite a friend to join you to increase your safety for an early morning or late night run.
 
Summer running can take an extra toll on your body but don't give up! You are doing great! Keep up the hard work and you will see results when it starts to cool down. Continuing to run in extreme temperatures takes some extra guts. Be proud of yourself for getting out there! and know that I’m so proud of you too!

Happy Running! 
​Kim