Dusty is the epitome of motivation. Have a brief conversation with her, and you’ll be ready to climb mountains (or join a spin class). Encouraging others to reach their potential is Dusty’s gift to Stroller Warriors® and to the world.
Dusty has been married to her Marine since 2007 and has two beautiful daughters. She became a Stroller Warrior early in 2012 in Okinawa, Japan. However, she wasn’t highly active due to her work schedule. She had just a sampling of SW at the time, and when she moved to Monterey, CA and heard there was an SW chapter, she jumped right in. “It was in Monterey where I flourished with SW. I quickly felt like I had found my fitness peeps! And it continued to grow. I found a group of women who weren't intimidated by my passion and intensity for fitness, which can be a bit much. I attended every meet-up religiously. I participated in everything I could.” Shortly after joining, Dusty became a workout leader and was a co-captain for two Ragnar teams. “While we were in Monterey, my world revolved around SWM. I mean, where else can you go to spread your passion, workout with your kids, and be supported in every possible way?”
Dusty has been married to her Marine since 2007 and has two beautiful daughters. She became a Stroller Warrior early in 2012 in Okinawa, Japan. However, she wasn’t highly active due to her work schedule. She had just a sampling of SW at the time, and when she moved to Monterey, CA and heard there was an SW chapter, she jumped right in. “It was in Monterey where I flourished with SW. I quickly felt like I had found my fitness peeps! And it continued to grow. I found a group of women who weren't intimidated by my passion and intensity for fitness, which can be a bit much. I attended every meet-up religiously. I participated in everything I could.” Shortly after joining, Dusty became a workout leader and was a co-captain for two Ragnar teams. “While we were in Monterey, my world revolved around SWM. I mean, where else can you go to spread your passion, workout with your kids, and be supported in every possible way?”
Interestingly, Dusty wasn’t much for any sports growing up. She dabbled in a bit of soccer, but otherwise, tried to avoid any running, especially with having exercise-induced asthma. “I was a busy kid, but not in sports or anything fitness related. Which is funny to me because I have run three marathons, two half marathons, several 10K's and countless 5K's and all the training runs in-between, mostly in humid DC and Okinawa weather. Take that asthma!” Dusty started running after she met her husband. They were both working a water station at the 2005 Marine Corps Marathon. After realizing that many of the runners were older, they both decided to start training! This began a passion for Dusty, who went on to get her degree in Health and Physical Education from George Mason University. After graduating, “I taught in the public school system for one year and QUICKLY realized teaching little children was not for me. But I was good at teaching adults. I had been teaching bootcamp classes at 0500 in DC while I was going to school. So, I decided to dedicate myself to educating and teaching health and fitness to adults.” Dusty has since worked with MCCS teaching spin, taught Nine Corps Briefs for the active duty community, and now works with a bootcamp company in Alexandria, Virginia as personal training manager, fitness instructor, and spin instructor. “I have been lucky enough to find my calling in life and I couldn't be happier!”
Dusty knows all to well how much a Stroller Warrior family can impact your life. While in Monterey, she dealt with two surgeries and the birth of her second daughter…all in a short 18-month span! “My friends from SWM made all that bearable. Being away from family, I was supported by my SW family. They helped with meals, car rides, shuttling my kiddo to preschool, but even more than that they helped keep my spirits high when I was restricted from working out for eight weeks post-op, the absolute worst part of recovery for me. Nothing can replace my SW Sisters!”
Dusty knows all to well how much a Stroller Warrior family can impact your life. While in Monterey, she dealt with two surgeries and the birth of her second daughter…all in a short 18-month span! “My friends from SWM made all that bearable. Being away from family, I was supported by my SW family. They helped with meals, car rides, shuttling my kiddo to preschool, but even more than that they helped keep my spirits high when I was restricted from working out for eight weeks post-op, the absolute worst part of recovery for me. Nothing can replace my SW Sisters!”
A new baby and two surgeries can't stop this mother runner!
What would you consider your greatest running accomplishment?
My greatest running accomplishment is running 250 RTW miles after having a baby, and two surgeries in less than a year. I didn't start running until March 2015 post baby girl number two. Then I had surgery on my leg in June and six weeks later I had major pelvic surgery that kept me from running or working out for eight weeks. But with all that I was still able to complete 250 miles before Thanksgiving 2015. They may not have been many miles, but they were miles I struggled for every single step of the way. And I am darn proud of my 250 mile RTW shirt!
(Psst…you can earn a RTW shirt, too. Check it out here.)
What is your favorite experience or memory with SW so far?
Hands down my favorite SW experience was co-captaining SW Ragnar Napa! You ladies ROCK!!!!
What is one piece of advice you would give to a new military spouse?
One piece of advise I would give to a new mil spouse is to do what you like in your military community. If you like sewing, find a military sewing club, or military spouses book club. It is so vital to our survival in this lifestyle to have friends who support us in our own likes as well as the lifestyle we live. Don't expect it to come to you, go out and find it, then ROCK IT!
(If running is your thing, check out this link to find a Stroller Warriors chapter near you.)
My greatest running accomplishment is running 250 RTW miles after having a baby, and two surgeries in less than a year. I didn't start running until March 2015 post baby girl number two. Then I had surgery on my leg in June and six weeks later I had major pelvic surgery that kept me from running or working out for eight weeks. But with all that I was still able to complete 250 miles before Thanksgiving 2015. They may not have been many miles, but they were miles I struggled for every single step of the way. And I am darn proud of my 250 mile RTW shirt!
(Psst…you can earn a RTW shirt, too. Check it out here.)
What is your favorite experience or memory with SW so far?
Hands down my favorite SW experience was co-captaining SW Ragnar Napa! You ladies ROCK!!!!
What is one piece of advice you would give to a new military spouse?
One piece of advise I would give to a new mil spouse is to do what you like in your military community. If you like sewing, find a military sewing club, or military spouses book club. It is so vital to our survival in this lifestyle to have friends who support us in our own likes as well as the lifestyle we live. Don't expect it to come to you, go out and find it, then ROCK IT!
(If running is your thing, check out this link to find a Stroller Warriors chapter near you.)
Ragnar Napa!
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