SWblog

Keeping your dog cool too!

6/23/2022

Keeping cool after a 4-mile trail run!

Running in hotter temperatures means adjustments for all— runners, stroller riders and pets! Many Stroller Warriors, including myself, run with their dogs. Recently, a friend of Stroller Warriors shared some great advice about running with your furry friends— all useful advice as we added a dog to our family last fall. Once we trained our dog to heel, it was an easy and quick adjustment running with the stroller AND the dog— running 4 to 5 miles several times a week and even attending runs with Stroller Warriors. It seemed like I had settled into a smooth routine with the dog…then the late spring/summer-time heat and humidity arrived. Our dog struggled with the rising temperatures, so I had to make several modifications— shorter runs, changing the time of day, including several water breaks, or just skipping a run with the dog. Here are a few considerations to keep in mind when running with a dog in the summer heat:

Touch the ground. Is the pavement too hot for your bare feet or hands? If so, then it’s too hot for your dog. The hot pavement can cause damage to your dog’s paws. What can you do? Which times- try running earlier when the pavement isn’t heated by the sun. Even in the evening, the pavement will still be too hot for a dog to run.
When out on a run, guide your dog towards running in the grass or other cooler surfaces. Dogs will unknowingly burn their paws.
How is your dog’s breathing? Is your dog panting heavily with his tongue sticking out? If so, your dog needs a break. Pause (preferably in the shade), give your dog a sip of water, and a few moments to catch his/her breath.
If possible, plan your run around local water fountains or a dog park with a watering station—this a fun break for both dogs and kids!

Running in the summer is always fun, but we must remember to keep yourself and family members- including pets- safe in the heat!

Happy Running,
Rose

Training for a hills without hills!

6/16/2022

Long weekend workout session with my husband and a friend!

Running on hills— hill repeats, tackling a hill during a training run or race, etc.— has always been my favorite type of running.

I grew up in a hilly Boston neighborhood and fell in love with incline running while home from college during summer break; this meant zigzagging up-and-down steep side streets and finishing with a quarter-mile hilly trek up Bunker Hill Street. Fast forward to life as a military family— most of our assignments have been in areas with hilly running paths…running the hills along the Missouri River in Great Falls, Montana; craggy inclines on the trails in Germany; hill repeats with Stroller Warriors Fort Belvoir on the Lewis Hill at Outdoor Rec— for years it was hard to find a flat running route. Then came my last two assignments in South Carolina— a hill drought. My daily running route is flat and without any options for hills! I know that the treadmill offers options for hill training, but running outdoors with friends is always more appealing and enjoyable!

Living in a location with mostly flat terrain hasn’t stopped me from running long-distance races with steep inclines and rolling hills. I’ve adapted my workout routine to ensure I stay conditioned for hilly running routes:

1). At least once every few weeks I complete a 30-minute incline run on the treadmill.
2). I make it a point to include at least 10-minutes of strength training after my runs— working in weighted step-ups or box jumps are great for hill training.
3). On the weekends, I do a longer running workout mixed with a variation of cardiovascular exercises and strength training. For example:

4 rounds of:

1 mile run
25 box jumps
20 deadlifts
15 burpees
10 double unders

4). I break up my runs into an “Every Minute on the Minute” (EMOM) structure in the middle—completing 1 mile of running, 1 mile with an EMOM of lunges, and ending with another mile.

In the past 2-weeks, I’ve enjoyed several hilly runs in North Carolina and Ohio— feeling strong and ready to tackle more incline running routes in the future!

Happy Running,
Rose

One technique to dry your soggy running shoes!

6/9/2022

I was itching to head out for a run after riding in the car for 5 hours and unpacking after a family vacation. I laced up my sneakers, opened the front door, and noticed an ominous gray sky. I decided to give-it-a-go anyways with the hope of completing at least a 5k before the impending rainstorm. Six-minutes into my run, the rain drops started to fall…at the 10-minute mark it was a torrential downpour (Forrest Gump style sideways rain), BUT no thunder! My rain rule— continue to run in the rain if it is warm and so long as there is no thunder…because with thunder comes lightning- danger zone there!

My run in the liquid sunshine was enjoyable; I hit my 5k goal and decided to extend my run. I wasn’t alone the rain- it was nice to see other runners on the road also enjoying a rainy run! Eventually, I arrived home, shouted for a towel to dry off with, kicked my waterlogged shoes off in the entry way, proceeding through the hallway leaving a trail of wet footprints!

After drying off (well, transitioning from being soaked to damp), I needed to tend to my water-logged sneakers! There was so much standing water inside of my sneakers that it looked as if they had been fished out of a lake! How does one dry a pair of soaking running sneakers? There are many techniques out there (just google it, there are tons of ideas)! I read about runners stuffing their shoes with newspaper, or paper-towels, in an effort to absorb the water. I never tried applying anything made of paper in fears that I’d be peeling little pieces soggy paper from my shoes for days! Some mentioned putting sneakers in the dryer, others recommend using a hair dryer, both of which are definite NOs— heat ruins the glue of the shoes and disforms their shape! Also, overusing a blow dryer could pose a fire hazard! Seeing no appealing approaches to dry my sneakers, I designed my own technique:

Dump any and all standing water out from the sneakers…toes up, let the water run to the heel, then dump.
Loosen the laces and slightly pull the sneakers open.
Pack a towel (I used a dish towel) into the shoes, press down lightly to absorb water.
Place the sneakers upside down on a towel and flip the sneakers sole down before bed.

After my sneakers were dry- the only difference was the brand logo missing from the inside of the left shoe!

After waking the next morning, my sneakers were dry! I even went to the beach the next day for a run and again successfully used this technique to dry my sneakers after running along the surf!
Is there a technique that you use to dry your shoes? Please share!

Happy Running!
Rose

It's getting HOT out there!

6/1/2022

The only place to find shade in my backyard at 11AM is in a grassy area of the yard under an oak tree. I quickly moved from the deck to the grass when the sun felt too much! It made a huge difference!

A few days ago, I chatted with a Stroller Warriors friend currently stationed in Okinawa, Japan— talking about the sizzle of the summer. I thought it was blazing in South Carolina, but my friend mentioned it being 90 degrees at 2AM in Okinawa— that’s beyond blistering heat! Shortly after hanging up the phone, I jumped on my rowing machine with a goal of completing 10 rounds of a rowing/strength workout— 5:30PM and 89 degrees with shade...I’ll be fine. I made it 8 rounds before I had reached my limit. Completely soaked in sweat, I looked and tasted (yes, my lips tasted salty) like I had plunged into the ocean. I set out for a 2-mile run the next morning, but swiftly shifted gears— opting for a 1-mile run to my neighborhood track some some pull-ups and slow running intervals, followed by a walk home. The heat and humidity got to me again.

The weather in our area of South Carolina has been swishy-washy of late—hot humid days; followed by a week of cooler, rainy weather; some pleasant and breezy evenings. It’s been hard for me to adjust with the weather fluctuations; however, summer is definitely here! The past 2 days have been a reminder that I need to adjust my running and exercise routine due to the heat. Whether it’s starting earlier, reducing my load, slowing my pace— I need to make sure I am staying safe in the heat of the summer! Below are a few Stroller Warrior blog posts from years past about running in the heat:

https://www.strollerwarriors.com/blog/hot-hot-hot

https://www.strollerwarriors.com/blog/running-through-the-summer

https://www.strollerwarriors.com/blog/running-in-the-heat

Happy Running!
Rose

Meet Kate!

5/26/2022

My history as an athlete began long before any of my running escapades. Growing up I played lots of team sports: volleyball, basketball, softball, and track. Running was simply how I got from point A to point B with the exception of track and field, but I did my best to remain a field athlete. The 300m hurdles will do that to any sane person. I hated that race with a passion not typically seen in teenagers. Instead, I chose to throw pointy sticks (was pretty good at this) and occasionally a heavy ball (was not that great at this). Ultimately, throwing things opened doors and got me into my top choice university.

It would be hard to overestimate just how much I loved being a part of a team while in college. In retrospect, it does not seem possible, but I ran even less in college than I did in high school and that was mostly because the javelin runway is only 30m long and I no longer had to pretend that I was a hurdler. Javelin was my primary sport, so the weight room became a huge part of my training. We lifted weights as a team, we trained as a team, we ate as a team, sometimes we even studied as a team. Often, we played and partied as a team. Once I graduated, it was incredibly hard to transition from all-encompassing collegiate team sport life to unaffiliated solo workouts with no season to train for and no coach or teammates keeping me honest in my workouts.

And at this point, I shifted directions drastically in my pursuit of fitness. I began taking pole dance classes. And I really did the thing. I was a regular at my classes for years. Sometimes I would train solo running, but only rarely signed up for races or ran with a group. Then I branched into aerial dance, where I trained silks and duo trapeze. Again, a years-long process of starting as a student, eventually working my way to apprentice performer, and ultimately a coach, performer, and show creator with an aerial burlesque company of which I was a founding member. Then the military life took me to new places, where I expanded my aerial and acrobatic practices to include aerial rope performance, teaching pole dance, handstand training, and body weight and gyrokinesis trainings and certification classes. Even though these pursuits were definitely not team sports, the people I trained with and taught were a huge part of why I loved dance and acrobatics. Even if we weren’t a formal team, we trained as a team. Working hard together to attain personal fitness goals, teaching the skills I had learned, and the absolutely wild and immersive creative process of building a theatrical aerial show from the ground up were all projects I undertook during this time. Teamwork makes the dream work! Absolutely none of what I accomplished during this time could have been done solo.

In Monterey, CA, I began running regularly again. I signed up to run a Spartan race and even though burpees suck (you know it and I know it), they are also one of my favorite bodyweight exercises. A couple of friends and I signed up as a team and away we went, running a Spartan Beast at Diablo Grande, CA. It was hot and dry, and because of the California drought we didn’t even have fire to jump. But it was such a fun race. I had raced since I had graduated college; I trained and ran both a half and a full marathon. But it was a bucket list item and while I didn’t hate it, I hadn’t really fallen for running yet. In Monterey, I fell for running. I began running 4 days a week, and putting in long weekend runs around all the other physical training I was also doing instead of working. I was living the dream, truly. I was in the best shape of my life at this time, and also physically the most capable I have ever been. It was at this time that Stroller Warriors came on to my radar, but I never made it to any runs.

However, once we moved back to Hawaii and I had my first child, I immediately joined the Kaneohe Bay Stroller Warriors facebook page and waited for the C25k program to start. By this point, running had become my social event and primary fitness pursuit. We had a fabulous C25k group that round. I made friends, running. I felt better in this new body, running. I had fun, running. I was inspired by these fabulous Warriors, who were so welcoming and giving of their time. When the call for volunteers came, I decided to volunteer as a workout leader. But only for the evening workouts, because the night time is the right time. Anyone who knows me knows I simply cannot get anywhere in the morning on time. I try, yo. I really do. But I am very bad at it. Always have been.

Currently, I volunteer with Kaneohe Bay Stroller Warriors, where I first learned of the joys of stroller running and found so many wonderful people to inspire me. Everything up to this point in my fitness journey has indicated to me just how important it is to have the support of a team. My fitness background is pretty diverse but some of the lessons that apply across all my disciplines include setting goals, using autoregulation, and making it fun! I use these in my own fitness practice, and I hope that I am also able to impart these concepts via coaching, because I strongly feel that they are key elements to a sustainable pursuit of fitness.

Setting the goals is what keeps me coming back, day after day. Even if I don’t feel like it's all coming together. Maybe especially then. This year I had a goal of running a half marathon. Having that goal got me up to running 24 miles in a week, which I hadn’t done in years. It got me out of bed and headed to workouts and even though I was late to most of those workouts, I still went. I pushed that stroller and got the mileage done. When I ran the race, I relied on my training and I accomplished my goal! However, the right goals are important. Too lofty or externally motivated, and I lose interest quickly and then deal with the fallout of feeling unsuccessful. I have found that I need to prioritize one, maybe two goals at a time. No shame in cycling through different goals, but if you prioritize too many goals simultaneously, you really aren’t prioritizing anything. Make them attainable. Make it what you want, not what you think you should want.

Autoregulation is a fabulous concept. It’s nothing new, but I learned to focus on it during my body weight training certification course. Autoregulation is paying attention to how you feel and accommodating your fitness practice to suit that. It is a practice that requires you to be fully present with yourself mentally and physically during all of your workouts. When I am coaching, I always try to find a way to introduce this concept because I don’t know your body or your mind better than you do. In order to get the most out of a workout, your efforts should meet your body where it is. Sometimes, this means that you tone down the intensity of your workout. But it also can mean that sometimes you dial it in and really push! And it is not limited to how you are feeling physically. Mentally, some workouts are tough and if your mental load needs to be shouldered elsewhere, don’t plan an incredibly mentally taxing workout on top of that. It’s a recipe for burnout or injury. We’re supposed to be having fun on some level, right?

Ever since I graduated college, making my workouts fun has been a primary driver in my choice of workout. Fun absolutely does not mean easy. Fun can be anything. Rock climbing, pole dancing, surfing, running with your friends. Fun keeps me coming back, day after day, week after week, etc. Without this component, I don’t see my fitness journey as a sustainable life practice. I won’t keep it on the schedule if I don’t enjoy doing it. And what good is a workout to me, if I don’t do it? Hint: it's not any good. I don’t have the luxury of fun social time, apart from my “intense” fitness time. Right now, I only have time to do them at the same time. Fun is definitely a consideration for the workout, but it also very much includes the social aspect of working out for me as well. What better group of people than the other Stroller Warriors? To be on the Stroller Warriors team is so much more than meeting up for a run. Recognizing this has been instrumental in my abilities to improve as a person, runner, and coach.

Community Outreach Recap

5/18/2022

Stroller Warriors® believes community outreach is a valuable piece of its 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.

In March and April of this year, our SW chapters continued to support their communities one charitable event at a time!

Yorktown:
During March, Stroller Warriors Yorktown supported the Peninsula Food Bank (Hampton Roads Food Bank). Over the past two years, there has been an increase in the number of people that rely on food banks, such as the Peninsula Food Bank— specifically, nonperishable food items were needed. As part of the community, Stroller Warriors Yorktown organized a nonperishable food collection drive to ensure that their neighbors had food during this continued time of difficulty. Workout leaders collected nonperishable items at workouts throughout the month to accomplish this important task.

To learn more about the Peninsula Food Bank (Hampton Roads Food Bank), visit their website at https://hrfoodbank.org/

Collection of items from Stroller Warriors Yorktown!

Virginia Beach:
In March and April, Stroller Warriors Virginia Beach organized a donation drive for Evelyn’s Wildlife Refuge-- whose focus is on rehabilitating animals for release back into the wild. Animals go to a wildlife rehabilitator for many different reasons; sometimes it is due to a natural cause (like a cold snap causing an animal to be disoriented), and sometimes it's related to the actions of people (like a turtle needing medical attention after being ran over by a lawnmower). With the warmer weather comes baby animals; this tends to be a busy time for wildlife refuges with an influx of patients.

An ongoing Amazon wish-list for the organization was shared within this chapter so members could make donations directly.

To support Evelyn’s Wildlife Refuge, please view their Amazon wish list: (https://www.amazon.com/.../evelyns-wildlife.../2CCFCHJD9TFSS)

Quantico:
In April, members of Stroller Warriors Quantico supported Autism Awareness month.

April aims to celebrate and promote acceptance for this condition that occurs in one of every 54 children (this is current as of 2020 for the United States). With the autism diagnosis rate quickly increasing, members of Stroller Warriors Quantico used the month to celebrate the differences, learn more about, and empower those with autism. Stroller Warriors Quantico dedicated their miles by using the hashtag #CelebrateDifferences, thereby donating or creating a fundraiser on personal social media pages, and by providing donation options via Amazon Smile to the Autism Society of America.

Also in April, members of Stroller Warriors Quantico organized a community clean-up on base. This was a meaningful opportunity to teach their mini warriors about the importance of keeping the earth clean and the 3 R’s (reduce, reuse, recycle).

Cherry Point:
On 26 April 2022, Stroller Warriors Cherry Point started to collect new superhero toys and action figures for Project Superhero.

Project Superhero is a local organization that brings joy to kids in children’s hospitals throughout coastal North Carolina. Dedicated volunteers working with Project Superhero drove for hours to dress as superheroes and hand out superhero toys and action figures to sick and injured children.

You can support and learn more about project Superhero by visiting their website:
https://www.projectsuperhero.org/?fbclid=IwAR19wBrIC6dpy9g1CrzLuahBZzCjm5CrclkOGhwk53oYVnFERr0LFJG0hbg

Pensacola:
In March, Stroller Warriors Pensacola organized a donation drive for the Salvation Army of Pensacola, which serves both Escambia and Santa Rosa Counties. The food pantry at the Salvation Army offers meals, snacks and other essential items for homeless and low-income community neighbors. Unfortunately, demand in the area is currently very high, and the Salvation Army is having a difficult time keeping its pantry stocked

The chapter collected items throughout the entire month at SW events and arranged to pick-up items if members could not attend workouts.

A cart full of donations for the Salvation Army

Kaneohe Bay:
Stroller Warriors Kaneohe Bay organized an event to support Residential Youth Services and Empowerment (RYSE)-- a local organization that provides a 24/7 access center as part of the Kawailoa Youth and Family Wellness Center in Kailua, where disenfranchised youth are able to sleep safely at night under professional supervision. In addition, they receive: skilled medical attention, hot nutritious meals, clean clothes, laundry facilities, hot showers, personal lockers, counseling, job training and employment assistance, GED education, and nurturing by qualified, professional staff. Learn more by visiting: https://www.rysehawaii.org/

From April 1 to April 13, the chapter collected printer paper reams and ink pens, as many of the youth are studying for their GED and working on resumes.

Additionally, on April 25, chapter members gathered for an Earth Day clean-up at Fort Hase beach— keeping the area clean for all to enjoy!

A collection of supplies for RYSE

Thank you to all of our Stroller Warrior members for your continued dedication to service— to the military community, local community and beyond. Keep up the brilliant work making positive impact in the community!

Open hearts during PCS season

5/11/2022

I began joining for long runs with the SWFB group about 3 months before we PCS'd. This is the painting that I purchased during a post long run trip to the Alexandria Farmers Market with friends from SW Fort Belvoir. It was my last run before we hit the road to SC. I was so happy to run with SW friends old and new!

PCS season is officially upon us— some families packing up boxes for a new destination, while others are hanging back to say farewell. I am beginning to see the “Odes” on the Stroller Warrior chapter pages. Our family is no longer new to our current location; however, I always make a point to keep my heart open to making new friends. This past January, my daughter was thrilled to have made a new friend through a youth program on base—and I made a friend as well! I am not the best at putting myself out there when it comes to chatting with other parents during activities, so I was extremely thankful when introductions were made. I learned about the indoor activities that were finally in-person after being virtual due to COVid—the story time at the base library being one of them! My daughter and I began regularly attending story time— always catching up with our new friends! I learned that they received orders to a location where we were previously stationed. It was a bittersweet moment— I was excited for their new adventure and shared details of the things that our family loved about their upcoming duty station…Stroller Warriors® being one of them! I was ecstatic when I learned that my friend joined Stroller Warriors— when we pass through and/or visit their location for vacation- and who knows, maybe receive orders there once again- I will have a friend to run with!
I wanted to leave with advice from an earlier blog piece from our Fearless leader (read the blog entry below) — fight the urge to close off to new friendships 6 months prior to a PCS! Those friendships will lead to some great memories. And with this transient military lifestyle, there is always a possibility of being stationed together again!
https://www.strollerwarriors.com/blog/shutting-down-6-months-prior-to-a-pcs

Happy Running,
Rose 😊

Mother's Day and Father's Day gift ideas!

5/4/2022

Mother’s Day and Father’s Day are right around the corner! Looking for gift suggestions? Our Stroller Warriors® Headquarters team has come to the rescue with a list of some of their favorite items:

Running Accessories:
- Koala Clip:
https://koalaclip.com/collections/best-sellers

- Flip belt:
https://flipbelt.com/pages/shop-all

- Nox Gear vest:
https://www.noxgear.com/tracer2

- Road ID shoe tag:
https://www.roadid.com/products/sprint-stainless-velcro-id?fbclid=IwAR1l6HQ8oZunwcnX8hkHN_DXc3fpy_Sc85lxScR301MdKjQG9Gp14tUn584

- Secbolt watch band:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07CVWYKJW?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share&fbclid=IwAR2BvEG3oHKFyjJ5gLJ3wXKabFWgf6h7mYlQV_UlIFlyGMG94QD5iNPfk9U

- Trekz Aftershokz:
https://www.amazon.com/AfterShokz-Titanium-Wireless-Conduction-Headphones/dp/B018XNGO5A?th=1

- Goodr sunglasses:
https://goodr.com/collections/running-sunglasses

Helpful running cosmetics:
- Chamois Butt’r:
https://www.rei.com/product/814199/chamois-buttr-eurostyle-anti-chafe-cream-8-oz

- Joico dry shampoo:
https://www.ulta.com/p/weekend-hair-dry-shampoo-pimprod2008381?fbclid=IwAR1gbpBvTTbLw7T72gEllAK99OcAYNZQnLkf4IGtCMKGcVLe7p-NFOFKg3o

Clothing:
- Balega socks:
https://balega-socks.implus.com/

- Under Armor underwear ( for women):
https://www.underarmour.com/en-us/p/women/womens_ua_pure_stretch_sheer_hipster/1276493.html?fbclid=IwAR3KQUwcXL_p3IgzceiaxZ0bau6v3aowz9li7t-1HcmcLHWVmACaLPZU0Vc

- Fair Harbor shorts (for men):
https://www.fairharborclothing.com/?fbclid=IwAR0K8Owoi33njyOBhqnTPYEQOuqRvUC9RcrfHQu1wxXyontR6pT6vxRz8CE

- Illuminite Women’s singlet:
https://illuminite.com/pages/shop-womens-reflective-clothing

- Rainbow sandals:
https://www.rainbowsandals.com/product/301ALTSB?fbclid=IwAR23XkP0A6pK6VQYUGeiGbPNtMhGilVGCLhStSsiSl4XyD4hkOYZ9Mmhbzs

Food Items:
- Bangarang protein cups:
https://www.bangarangfoods.com/collections/all

Strength training, Post workout:
- Bowflex dumbbells:
https://www.bowflex.com/selecttech/552/100131.html?fbclid=IwAR1gbpBvTTbLw7T72gEllAK99OcAYNZQnLkf4IGtCMKGcVLe7p-NFOFKg3o

- Shiatsu Massager:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07V5GG112?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share&fbclid=IwAR01I3I6_HNq6KkaVO9lSv3UxU2VqjZdoGTAXSPbn2ysxAOpeP46Rl8XaIg&th=1

Miscellaneous:
- Legend Planner:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07MW8XRM9?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share&fbclid=IwAR0K8Owoi33njyOBhqnTPYEQOuqRvUC9RcrfHQu1wxXyontR6pT6vxRz8CE&th=1

- UVll Office Wheel chairs:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08HCM46W2/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_H4KX12M7TVB9HEN2KWZC?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1&fbclid=IwAR1gbpBvTTbLw7T72gEllAK99OcAYNZQnLkf4IGtCMKGcVLe7p-NFOFKg3o

Thank you, Stroller Warriors HQ for the list of suggestions! And don't forget- Stroller Warriors gear is always a perfect gift idea! Anything to add to the list? Please share with the Stroller Warriors community!

Happy Running!
Rose

The roots of our mini-warriors!

4/28/2022

April is the month of the military child— the month dedicated to our beloved dandelion children who plant roots at every duty station they call home. As parents, how do we find the soil where these dandelions will flourish? The answer for our family is Stroller Warriors— Stroller Warriors has been a major part of the root system for my kids.

My Stroller Warriors journey began in Germany, and it is here where I met Molly at the Stroller Warriors Ramstein Spring Kick-off in 2015. Molly and I became instant friends as did our children. From the start, our kids marched to the same drumbeat— barefoot nature-loving children making sandy mud pies with water from their water bottles, a love for running/sports, playing pretend, and learning. Our families grew together while stationed in Germany. The day that my second child was born, I was making sandwiches to pack for a Stroller Warriors pool day. Our family didn’t make it to the pool that morning as we ended up at Landstuhl Regional Medical Center expanding our family by one. As the days and weeks went on, Molly’s oldest daughter taught my oldest daughter what life is like as a big sister. Molly’s second oldest helped take care of my son at Café Schmidt (our morning spot after school drop-off, but before Stroller Warrior runs)— picking up my son’s spoon from the ground, giving him his Sophie giraffe, or rocking his car seat when he began fussing. The day that we flew from Ramstein to PCS back to the States was also a Stroller Warriors workout day. I ran with my kids to the “airplane” park, ran one final loop with the Stroller Warriors Ramstein crew, and my kids played with their mini-warrior besties 3 hours before we left for America. We have managed to reconnect with Molly and her family on several occasions since leaving Germany. Each time, our kids pick up right where they left off— it’s as if no time has passed whatsoever. Their friendship bond is strong is and enduring like a dandelion.

Second Stroller Warriors Ramstein mini-warriors reunion! My kids and Molly's kids enjoying a chocolate treat in Switerland the evening before the Jungfrau marathon!

Things started to feel real after our hullabaloo of a PCS back to the states, visiting family around the country, and settling the kids into stateside school/activities— little hearts were hurting. Enter Stroller Warriors Fort Belvoir to ease their pain with the familiarity and consistency of the Stroller Warriors family. Many memories were made at the parks and in the dirt. My kids continually recall their favorite memories from our time in Virginia— memories that include their mini-warrior friends. While Stroller Warriors members hustled during speed workouts and strength training sessions on the track, our mini warriors were busy creating childhood memories— trying to build a tree fort alongside the track, riding bikes and scooters, catching butterflies in the midfield, and sharing toys in the outside lanes. My mini warriors still wear their tie-dyed t-shirts they made during the mini-warriors program in 2018. One member even invited all the mini warriors to their child’s Star Wars themed birthday party, which is all time favorite birthday party memory!

Mini-warriors from SW Fort Belvoir working together to push an Olympic lifting bar around the field after a SW strength training session.

The kids said their farewells to their Fort Belvoir friends after enjoying frozen yogurt at the Sweet Frog on base. Two days later we headed to South Carolina for a new adventure. Unfortunately, Shaw AFB did not have a Stroller Warriors chapter. SW Fort Jackson was an hour up the road, but a bit of a hike for us to attend workouts during the school year. I transitioned into the Stroller Warriors Elsewhere chapter. I thought this would be a big adjustment, but there were Stroller Warrior connections to be found! As a member of Stroller Warriors Elsewhere, my kids found other military children that they referred to as their Stroller Warriors friends. I met Abby at our neighborhood pool one sizzling and humid South Carolina summer afternoon shortly after moving to SC. Or, I should say, Chris met Abby at the pool and called me: “come down to the pool, there is someone here from Montana and she also loves running.” Abby also had a Stroller Warriors connection— her close friend was also a member of Stroller Warriors in Monterey! Abby became one of my morning running buddies and her children were what my kids called their Stroller Warrior Elsewhere friends— often taking stroller walks and/or runs through the neighborhood or local park, meeting at the library, or completing kettle bell strength workouts on the track while the kids ran around…sometimes staying at the track a bit longer to watch the F-16s roll out. These memories of Abby and her children are often shared by my children— their roots planted at Shaw AFB.

Our family PCS’d to Charleston AFB and I immediately joined Stroller Warriors Charleston. My children were thrilled there was a Stroller Warriors chapter— it meant jumping right back into a familiar friend group/family. My older two kids began school shortly after our PCS, but my youngest was eager to attend her first Stroller Warriors event at our new home base. Chelsea, the coordinator of SW Charleston became my first friend at our new location, and her youngest daughter has become a cherished friend for my youngest daughter— often sharing stories with her two older siblings about what she and Chelsea’s daughter played during their Friday Stroller Warriors session. My daughter recently celebrated a birthday, and with spring break on the horizon, pulling together a birthday party to include all her favorite people seemed impossible, but all HER PEOPLE are her Stroller Warriors friends. We arrived at a Friday Stroller Warriors run with cupcakes and Italian cookies to celebrate her big day. My daughter hopped out of the car and ran over to Chelsea’s daughter who was holding a birthday present— together the two girls opened the present and ran to the playground to play with a book and action-figurines…taking a cookie or two along the way! After the workout we all sang happy birthday, but then my daughter wanted to sing everyone who attended the workout (as two other mini-warriors had birthdays coming up, and our dog’s birthday was just a week away)! The story of her Stroller Warriors birthday party has been shared repetitively with our family, friends or anyone that asks if she had a birthday celebration.

These mini-warrior memories (and many more) make the dandelion roots for my little dandelions— my military kids. I am forever grateful to Stroller Warriors for providing the soil for my children to flourish!

Happy Running,
Rose

25 Things

4/21/2022

Earlier Facebook days— who remembers the “25 Things About You” list in the notes function? I do! I made a list 25 bright points while I ran my neighborhood loop and exercised with my kids during spring break.

25 Things About Running the Circle

I stepped out and decided to run instead of rowing on my back porch.
My kids asked to scooter along during the run— hooray!
Time for a longer run with the kids home for spring break.
Sunshine and cool weather in Charleston, SC made for perfect running weather.
I remember to start my Garmin.
My dog heeled next to me during the entire run…even after watching birds, passing squirrels and several other furry friends.
And my dog did not try to jump up and bite the leash!
I wore the right shorts— a pair that didn’t cause chaffing.
Luckily, I spotted the dog poop (not from my dog) on the sidewalk before stepping on it!
There are many lovely gardens in my neighborhood.
Successfully worked on my 360 breathing technique while running.
I measured the loop around my neighborhood— .62 miles.
My kids loved racing each other on their scooters while I ran.
My running sneakers are still in good condition after bike riding in a rainstorm.
Runners wave exchanges with fellow runners in the neighborhood.
There were much fewer no-see-um bugs while running mid-day.
Switching gears from running with a dog running leash attached to my waist, to using our regular leather leash and holding it with my hand. The change has offered more stability while running with the dog.
Stop-look-listen-wait for me…my kids know and follow this pedestrian rule (it may seem like an obvious lesson all kids allow, but I have seen SO MANY kids in our neighborhood roll right into the road without stopping). Being able to do this makes for less stress!
A neighbor trimmed their trees along the sidewalk to form an arch to walk/run through. It’s a neat aspect when running loops around the neighborhood.
Passing my yard to grab a sip of water out of my water bottle.
Running 4 miles.
Walking with the kids while cooling down after a run and watching them find and collect “nature treasures”.
My kids convincing me to do some post run strength training in the yard, which included an obstacle course!
A new overhead squat PR.
Cheese and crackers for a post run snack!

Post workout hugs with the dog!

This was a great run/exercise session in preparation for summer break coming at the beginning of June. I may have to run the neighborhood loop or run 400 loops around the track with the kids more times than I would prefer, but I know that we will be able to make it enjoyable! And as the seasons change, I’m sure I’ll compile another “25 things” list about running my neighborhood loop. I know many Stroller Warrior members have repetitive loops/paths that they run with their kids. What are a few enjoyable aspects of these repetitive running courses?

Happy Running!

Rose :)