Me with some of my Camp Lejeune Stroller Warriors 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.
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.
Nora and I are geared up and ready for our first workout! 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.
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.
The very first Stroller Warriors Okinawa workout! 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.
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.
The original Stroller Warriors Okinawa crew 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.
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.
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