​Community outreach is an integral dynamic of the Stroller Warriors® mission.  In addition to each chapter’s local initiatives, Stroller Warriors Global organizes quarterly outreach events. 
 
In June, Stroller Warriors coordinated a month-long event in honor of K9s for Warriors— the nation’s largest provider of service dogs for disabled American Heroes.  Their training program focusses on mitigating the symptoms associated with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI), and Military Sexual Trauma (MST), with the end goal to prevent veteran suicide.  With most dogs coming from high-kill rescue shelters, this innovative program allows the K9/Warrior team to build an unwavering bond that facilitates mutual and symbiotic collective healing and recovery.
 
One wonderful aspect of the Stroller Warriors community is its connection to an incredible military spouse network— a community that guides, empowers, and encourages one another through the “ins and outs” of military life and beyond.  We often hear about how Stroller Warriors is more than a running club— a sentiment strongly emulated by one member that exemplifies the spirit and dedication of Stroller Warriors and wanting the best for our military community.  It may have been while sharing miles during a run, enjoying conversation over a cup of coffee at a No Run Fun Day meet up, or volunteering together at a Stroller Warriors outreach event, many fellow Stroller Warrior members have had the opportunity to know Mollie M.— her heart and steadfast passion to continually support the military community inspires us all.  

​For Mollie, philanthropy and running easily go hand in hand.  Almost immediately after crossing several times zones while PCSing back to the States (over 2 days of travel with kids and the family pet, then making her way to the East Coast) Mollie did not skip a beat and hit the ground running to make an impact in honor of K9s for Warriors.  Lacing up her running sneakers and heading out the door in the early morning hours, Mollie began the month with a goal to dedicate 80 miles and raise $80 for K9s for Warriors during the month of June; however, she far surpassed these goals by running 130 dedicated miles and raising more than $200 for K9s for Warriors. 
 
Mollie M. is a humble motivator and wholly represents the Stroller Warriors ethos.  She set a goal to help and support others, and she exceeded this goal in her mission to improve the world around her.  Just as Mollie is an inspiration, it was this enduring Stroller Warriors spirit of servitude that led her to do the same; I love seeing this spirit thrive in each chapter, and within both our longstanding and new members.    

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.
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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.   

​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!  

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.   
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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 

For those who knew me in high school, you know that I could barely run the mile for gym class. I've always hated running— I took the leap to join Stroller Warriors Fort Belvoir for their Couch to 5K program while living in Virginia, it was obvious how lonely and desperate I was to make friends.

I was a nervous wreck before attending my first Stroller Warriors meet-up, but thankfully I was met by some of the most amazing, encouraging, and supportive women I had ever encountered. I looked forward to going twice a week and started running on my own. A year later, and I had completed multiple 5Ks, 10Ks, and was training for a half marathon. I had fallen in love with running because of the support I had received. I was the happiest I had been in a long time and in the best shape of my life.

Then, with virtually no warning, I started to not feel well. I was shocked to be diagnosed with type 1 diabetes. I felt my running days- and in some aspects my life- were over. Fast forward a couple of years— we were living in Illinois and I had just had my second child, COVID was in full swing, I had gained a lot of weight, and I was just sitting on the couch. I was depressed and lonely again, when I saw an advertisement for the upcoming C25K program for Stroller Warriors Scott. Could I run with diabetes? Did I even want to? Well, once again, I was desperate enough to try. And once again, I was met with another group of amazing, supportive, encouraging ladies. Once again, I fell in love with running.

When my husband told me we were moving to Texas, the first thing I did was look to see if they had a Stroller Warriors chapter. And praise God, up popped Stroller Warriors Lackland! Once again, they have encouraged and supported me. And today, I finally checked a half marathon off my bucket list.
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Happy Running,
Julie O.

I have been overweight much of my adult life— always putting myself and my needs on the back burner.  For 15 years, my husband’s needs came first, Air Force spouse duties came first, my daughter’s needs came first, traveling soccer and school soccer for my daughter came first.  I was constantly in pain— foot pain, back pain, blinding headaches—pushing forward as I accepted this as my everyday life.  It’s what we do right?  I had exercised off and on for YEARS, but it never stuck.  I would establish a good exercise routine for a few months, then fall completely off the wagon, which would eventually run me over.  This was my exercise pattern, coupled with yo-yo dieting for 15 years after the birth of my daughter. 

In 2011, I had to have back surgery— I had a fusion and I had to have 2 plates and 4 screws.  The cartilage between the vertebrate was 80% gone and so I had a lot of bone rubbing on bone.  The pain was crazy.  I did physical therapy for years, steroid injections, nerve blocks, you name it, I had it.  None of it worked, so surgery it was.  Recovery and physical therapy were horrendous—something that I never want to have to do again (even though the doctors now are talking about future surgery for the vertebrate above where I now have the plates).  I was told by the doctors that being overweight for so long was crushing my spine and this was causing the pain. 

When we PCS’d from North Carolina to Georgia, I started a new job and an internship for my Master’s program— visiting clients in their home (I’m a marriage and family therapist).  One day, as I was driving to see a client, I fell asleep not once, but twice. Furthermore, while at home on my lunch break, I fell asleep sitting up and stopped breathing.  My dog noticed that my breathing had stopped and jumped into my lap to wake me up.  I realized I wasn’t breathing because as soon as I woke up, I took about 4 deep breaths.  I decided to see a doctor to find out why this was happening.  I had all the things done— EKG, MRI, C-Scan, sleep studies, and eventually seeing a neurologist…not just one, but two neurologists!  The first neurologist prescribed several medications that did not work; the second neurologist found a large mass on my brain— 2 inches down my spine and moving down my spine from the base of my skull where it connects to your spine. The mass covered the entire back side of my head and went from ear to ear.  I learned that this mass was a Chiari Malformation.  I cried in the doctor’s office and researched it like crazy.  The doctor believes that I may have had a Chiari malformation since I was about 12 years old.   Thinking back to my childhood, I remember as a 10-year old having headaches and nosebleeds, and my mom taking me to all of the doctors (she was military so we saw the base doctors)— not finding anything wrong and sending myself and my mom home with a treatment plan of Tylenol for headaches and home remedies for nose bleeds.  But this was different. Every time I strained or did anything strenuous, the headaches came— even laughing caused the headaches.  The nose bleeds came and they were bad and the headaches were so blinding that I would have to stop what I was doing until the headache passed.  I was told by my doctor that the Chiari Malformation was second largest he has ever seen and needed emergency surgery.  The surgery would not completely remove the mass, but it would make it smaller.  I still have a small mass on my brain.  The surgeons had to be careful, as not to damage my brain. 

Adding to the story, my then husband was deployed when the doctor discovered the Chiari malformation and the need for emergency surgery.  He quickly scheduled on an emergency Red Cross flight home, which took 4 days. I ended up in the ICU shortly after the surgery for 6 days, waking up after day 3.  When I woke up, my then husband told me that I need to start doing the things I want to do for ME because life is not promised.  We are not promised tomorrow.  That day I knew I had to make a change—I had to do things for me.  That was 2013. 

It took a year and a half to recover from the brain surgery and get cleared by my doctor to exercise.  In that year and a half, I engaged in physical therapy and all the things I needed to do to recover.  I also made a list of things I wanted to do for myself— lose weight and start running.  I have always thought running was cool and that people running looked like they were having an enjoyable time— I wanted a piece of that.  So what did I do?  My friends and I decided that we would sign up for the Princess Challenge at Disney in 2015.  Because why not?  I am a HUGE Disney fanatic.  The training began and boy was I wrong about running— it was not cool!  I started changing my mind about why I wanted to run.  I was like, “girl what are you thinking?”  While training, I joined several running pages on social media.  Joining the online running community is where I fell in love with running.  The running community is the best I’ve ever seen. The support is beyond amazing.  I also learned that more girls that look like me are runners— something I had never seen before.  I was always embarrassed about my pace— never wanting to talk about my pace or post a picture with my pace on it.  I’m a true back of the packer (that’s where the party’s at).  I mean I am the girl who gets a police escort across the finish line (that actually only happened once…haha).

I trained for the 19.2 miles (10K and a half) —  finishing the 10k and completing mile 11 in the half before I got swept.  I was hooked after the Disney race, and I signed up again for the Princess Half in 2017.  Again, I finished the 10k and swept at mile 9 after twisting my knee. None of this discouraged me.  I was so excited about the fact that I even had the courage to start. 

Training and running the Disney races helped me get serious about my fitness and nutrition.  I joined Beachbody (and that was an event in itself…haha…not a bad one though).  I was not too sure about working out from home.  My coach invited me for about 5-6 months before I decided to try it.  Why not? I had tried everything else.  But for some reason, this stuck.  I mean it really stuck.  It was working and to be honest, I didn’t get “serious” about the workouts and nutrition until about a year after I joined and became a coach. I was like, “working out at home? Please”.  I started one program after another after another.  The support and the community was great.  No shaming and always cheering for each other.  I began working on my nutrition by using portion fix.  The containers made sense to me— I didn’t have to starve or restrict myself.  I only had to listen to my body— making the proper adjustments and still eating what I like and choosing healthier options.  Nutrition plan started making sense and the weight came off.  To this day, I have lost 109 pounds!  Can you believe that?  Some days I can’t. I still struggle with the “girl” I see in the mirror.  Now don’t get it wrong, I still indulge from time to time.  I love pizza.  I mean, I LOVE pizza.  I will never pass it up.  And I mean real cheese, tons of pepperoni, Pizza Hut pizza with stuffed crust.  I don’t get hard on myself when I indulge or veer off of my nutrition plan.  It’s pointless and just makes me feel bad and I don’t need that in my life.  I just do better the next day. I don’t quit. I forgive myself and keep going.  It took me a minute to get there, but I’m there and it’s working for me.  I will say that I’ve learned that in the past when I restrict myself from the things I like, I lose the battle with nutrition every time. 

During this time when I was getting on track with my nutrition, 2019 to be exact, my then husband told me he wanted a divorce.  Talk about devastated.  I was floored. We had been married for 20 years and together for 26 at that point.  I lost so much during that time.  My house, my job, my mind (it felt like it at times).  My heart was broken, and I had no idea who I even was anymore.  But I will tell you this: I ran.  I ran and ran and ran.  And I prayed.  I have always been a believer in Christ.  He is my light.  He is my everything.  And has gotten me through so many things.  Running helped clear my mind. Running helped me stay positive.  Running kept me sane.  Running brought me peace.  Running let me cry it all out with no shame.  But things started turning around.  I found a new job— all the way in Washington State! I was like Washington?  What’s out there? I am a Georgia peach through and through, but I knew God was leading me to where I needed to be.  Leading me to peace.  Things started to fall in place— I got my own place to stay and brand-new SUV.  So, my 20 year-old daughter and I packed up our belongings, 3 dogs, 2 cars and a Uhaul drove 4000 miles across the country (Georgia to Washington).  The journey took us 5 days, about 1000 doggy potty breaks, pet friendly hotel stays, snow, rain, almost getting lost in Nebraska, and seeing the most beautiful sites (God’s Country).  We made it and it’s been so great and a nice change of pace.  One of the first things I did, was seek out running groups in my area and mapped out running paths (and we’re not going to talk about all the hills out here).  I joined the Black Girls Run Seattle group (1st running group I joined in the PNW) and those ladies are great and so supportive and have made me feel welcomed.  So hilarious as well.  It was here, while working on post with CYS, that I found and joined Stroller Warriors Lewis-McChord. I have gotten encouragement and tips about running on post and meet ups (even though some of the times I can’t make).  I was part of the base running group while we were stationed at Moody AFB.  I wasn’t familiar with running on post here at JBLM, but Stroller Warriors helped me with that and the mileage around the flight line. Running groups look a little different now due to Covid, but we’re still getting our miles in.  One thing I have had to adjust to, is winter running.  Man, that is a different kind of beast.  I’m slowly learning about cold weather running.  But I’m out here doing it because I am a runner!

I am currently training for the Springtime Surprise at Disney World the end of March/beginning of April.  I’m running with the American Cancer Society in honor of my grandmother who passed from cervical cancer.  It’s my first time fundraising for a race.  I’ve been more consistent with this training than before. Additionally, I won an 8-week training program with a running coach, physical therapist and mentor and it has been so great.  My coach was on the cover of Runner’s World!  I learned so much and still use the training techniques.  I would recommend a running coach.  It was something I wish I had done at the beginning of my running journey. 

I will say this, I never thought I would be that girl running.  I had every excuse: I’m too fat to run, black girls don’t run, this will ruin my hair, I have knee problems, it’s too hot, it’s too cold, it’s dark outside, I don’t want to run by myself, I don’t have the right this or that.  It was always something.  I still have those moments and days.  But it’s seriously mind over matter, and I’ve seen what running and exercise has done for me.  Not just in how I look, but so much more.  It’s made me a better person.  It’s made me stronger, and I’ve made so many friends.  The support of the running community is amazing.  I’ve found who I am, continue to grow, and I love her more than I ever have or thought I ever would.
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For those that say you can’t do this, or you’re too this or you’re too that…STOP IT!  I know it’s cliché, but if I can do it, you can too.  I promise you that you can.  I’ve tried all the diets (name it, I’ve done it… twice), I’ve had all the excuses, I’ve had all the surgeries (brain surgery, rotator cuff repair, 2 knee surgeries on the same knee, disc repair in my neck, back surgery, hernia repair, cyst removal from my wrist, I have no arch in my right foot and foot pain is constant- so  yeah I have them all).  I’ve been told that I shouldn’t run, that I will more than likely quit.  But you know what, I’ve had so much positive support and positive results that quitting is not an option anymore.  Period.  I love the person I’ve become and don’t plan on looking back. The future looks bright, and I know running and fitness will be a part of it…. Always. 

TaReesa S.
Runner

As a female runner, I hardly feel safe when running alone. There’s a little voice in the back of my head, telling me the horror stories of female runners before me. A little voice reminding me of the times I’ve been stalked, touched (I’ve had bikers assault me on a rec path) and yes, even the times I’ve had others try to abduct me while I was running. When I started running with a stroller I felt a little safer. Children in a stroller complicate things for a would be-rapist or attacker. The lone stroller would attract a lot of attention and there’d be more unknown variables with screaming kids around. My stroller was like a safety blanket and we ran everywhere, freely.

​Well, I’ve been a Stroller Warrior for 12 years now. My children are getting older and while they’re not out of the stroller entirely yet, I’ve had a lot more stroller free runs while they’re in school. I’ve begun to feel the need to learn to protect myself. What if I was attacked on a run? Would I know what to do? Would I be able to get away? I’m the kind of person who thinks of a “plan” in the event of x,y,z and if I ever was rushed and someone tried to attack me, my plan was to step wide to make a wide, firm base, and hope that they got thrown off track and I stayed stable so I could run away. That was the entirety of my plan. I had no idea what to do when/if we actually hit the ground together. Or even if we were face to face, with an attack imminent.

In preparation for a return to the States after living in Okinawa, Japan (maybe the safest place on earth? Certainly dubbed the “happiest” by most of the world!), I wanted to learn some self defense. Long ago I picked Brazilian Jiu Jitsu for my kids to do as a sport. After working for the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children, I wanted my kids to have the ability to defend themselves. I liked that Jiu Jitsu gave them muscle memory and hands-on experiences. I knew from researching that 90% of fights ended up on the ground and if you could gain or maintain ground control, you had a MUCH better chance of winning; of living. I had watched my children for years but never took any classes myself. In preparation for stroller-less running, I signed up.

​So, at 38 years-old, I entered the matted room on base and walked into an entirely new world. I’ve been training for 8 months now and have one stripe on my white belt. I’ve completed in one tournament and took home Gold, beating out two other competitors. I have learned to fight from the ground, on my back. I have learned to choke someone out with my legs (it’s called a triangle choke). Who knew you could choke with your legs?! I primarily “roll,” aka fight, male marines and I’ve learned that I’m so much stronger than I give myself credit for. My running has been an incredible asset to me, which I particularly noticed in the tournament. When I am training BJJ, I didn’t tailor my running at all. I figured if I’m going to get attacked, I’d most likely get attacked on a run. So learning to fight while tired was a goal of mine. So on Saturdays I’d do my long run at 5am, generally around 12 miles, and then go to open mat where I’d spar for 2 hours. When competition day came, my stamina was incredible. I was hardly tired while my competitor looks clearly gassed.

BJJ hasn’t been all rainbows and sunshine. I’ve injured my ribs, and continually have bruises. But in the past 8 months I also have been injured just walking down the steps! (My socks slipped). To me, an injury while learning is part of the game and I’m not afraid of it. Nothing worth fighting for is ever going to come easy, and I have a lot more to learn.

​​I’ve grown in confidence and am learning not only how to choke but how to protect from a choke. Sparing/defending yourself ignites something primal and I am learning how to breathe through that and regain my mental focus in a fight. My friend Anne and fellow runner who is blue belt in BJJ said, “my goal if attacked is always to be a big enough pain that they’ll decide I’m not worth it and go away.”


Before BJJ, had I been attacked, I think once we hit the ground I probably would have tried to talk to them, to play nice and get them to realize I’m a human, a mom. Now, I know when we hit the ground that’s when the fun really begins and I’m not stopping until you run away, I can run away or you passed out from me choking you.


If you’ve ever felt scared for your safety on a run. Consider taking some martial arts or self dense classes. There are a variety of options to choose from and all of them will help your knowledge and confidence grow.


Happy Running!
Kelly

​Running the London Marathon has been a goal of mine!  I began the application process for a London Marathon bib number even before our family received orders to come to England.  The London Marathon is one of the six world major marathons (the other five being New York, Chicago, Boston, Berlin and Tokyo), and in 2017 I made a goal to complete all of six world major marathons.
 
On cold afternoon in February 2021, 8 February to be exact, the Virgin Money London Marathon began the email notification process for ballot selections.  Many lucky applicants received fantastic congratulatory news of their entry selection to run the 41st London Marathon later in the fall. Unlike previous years where hopeful marathon applicants would receive a magazine in the mail, this year hopeful runners had to click a link in order to receive a notification if selected or not.
 
I was mid-run on the treadmill when I opened the email that read “You’re in!” I screamed with excitement, as this was my fourth attempt at trying to obtain a bib number for the London Marathon.   Several Stroller Warriors® members from SW Lakenheath also applied for bib numbers for London Marathon.  I instantly sent a message to Christina, Staci and Sarah to find out if they were selected.  After a few hours of waiting on results, it was looking as if only Sarah would be joining me.  I was thrilled that a SW friend and I both received numbers, yet disappointed that all four of us did not obtain the same news.  Staci and Christina both applied to run for charity.  After some wait time, they were both accepted to run for the Children with Cancer, UK marathon teams!  The four of us were training for and running the London Marathon!  This was our second marathon all together, with the Athens Marathon 2 years priors.  Even more exciting—, Andrea, also a member of SW Lakenheath, would be training with us as she geared up for the Manchester Marathon the week after the London Marathon! 
 
It was time to hit the ground running with training and fundraising!  Getting together for training was hard.  In true military fashion, there were many bumps and scheduling conflicts-- a deployed spouse, TDY’s, etc; however, we always tried to have a long-run partner each week.  We ran with members of Stroller Warriors Lakenheath ran during the week and it was lovely to have the company and support of fellow Stroller Warrior members.  The weeks quickly flew by, and we finally made it to the end after about 16 weeks of training.  Additionally, through posting on social media outlets and sharing our fundraising efforts with family and friends, we were able to raise over £2000 for Children with Cancer, UK! 
 
Race weekend had finally arrived.  The Saturday before the race we all took the train to London from Lakenheath to pick up our bibs, relax and run a Sunday morning victory lap! The weather was nice—with some rain mid-day during the run. The day of the race, the course was lined up the whole way with crowds of spectators cheering for us! Such an amazing experience! Never have I cried at a race until this day!   Prior to this race, I had completed 4 marathons and was always happy to finish.  But this race was different.  At around mile 8 of the London Marathon, I was overcome with joy and could not hold back the tears of happiness. So much time lost from the previous year during the hard lockdowns in the U.K. that it just felt so surreal to be running with so many people— as if life was as it should be! This marathon experience was one for the memory books!
 
London was truly amazing, if you get a chance do it! 

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​Emily L. left home of the Bay Area at 19 to join the Air Force.  After finishing a 6 year enlistment, she is now a military wife of almost 15 years. She has two girls ages 6 and 3. When not running, Emily enjoys travel, coffee and wine! Emily began running distance almost 10 years ago after getting out of the Air Force. Her favorite race distance is the half-marathon. She has completed 6 full marathons and 25 live/in person half marathons! This year she has set a goal of completing a half marathon every month! She is mid-streak of 10,000+ steps a day and 1 dedicated mile a day run or walk for over 565 days now! Emily is plans to get into the Chicago or New York marathon in 2022.  

By Doug H.

​What does Stroller Warriors mean to me (or as my 5-year-old daughter calls it “running ladies”)?
 
My first experience with Stroller Warriors was in 2016 when my family was stationed in Landstuhl, Germany.  My wife’s office was directly across from the base track. Whenever I visited, I saw a group of people running around the track with their strollers and thought it was cool!  I was (and still am) a stay-at-home dad-- the idea of having people to run alongside who also have children looked and seemed exciting.  Unfortunately, all the scheduled runs clashed with my daughter’s nap times.  About 2 months before we PCS’d back to the States, a member of SW Ramstein asked if anyone wanted to join for a long weekend run.  I gladly took part and was pleased to learn that a fellow Warrior (Kristen H.) lived only a couple houses down from me and my family. Although my time with SW Ramstein was short-lived, I was determined to participate in another SW chapter when my family and I moved back to the States. 
 
We PCS’d to the Uniformed Services University on Walter Reed’s campus in Maryland.  The closest Stroller Warriors chapter was located at Fort Meade, Maryland— about 30 minutes away without traffic. However, the traffic did not stop me from getting involved.  As soon as we arrived, I began running with the amazing Warriors at Fort Meade.  It was a group of people that I instantly befriended, as we were all military spouses with a shared love for running.
 
One memory of Stroller Warriors that I thoroughly enjoyed was the 2018 Patuxent River Trail half-marathon.  A group of us from the Stroller Warriors Fort Meade signed up to run this challenging trail race.  It was a particularly snowy year and a good part of the trail was covered in snow!  Having the support of my fellow SW running family was wonderful— we met before the race and cheered for one another as we ran.  The encouragement that came from having friends motivating each other during the race was incredible. I finished the race second overall, but running this half-marathon with fellow Stroller Warriors made a particularly hard course into an unforgettable memory. 
 
Unfortunately, my time with Stroller Warriors Fort Meade went by quickly and we soon moved to Joint Base Lewis McChord.  Again, I wanted to be a part of this amazing group and that is exactly what I did!  After joining a new chapter, I found instant friendship and bonded with fellow Warriors over the challenges of being spouses of military members— we all experienced hurdles related to military life, but it makes a world of difference when I can talk about these challenges with my running friends. 
 
I have been a part of SW for five years and have thoroughly enjoyed each chapter.  I hope to always find a chapter to join no matter where the Army sends us.  I joined SW to find friends with a common passion, but I found much more and consider each member an extension of my family. 

I started running when I was a Freshman in high school because I was bored and sad. My first “boyfriend” had just dumped me and basketball season had just ended. I was looking ahead at 3 months of no athletics. I was antsy and confused and full of teenage angst. Track practice was just starting and a friend on the distance squad asked me if I wanted to come and try it out. My first run was about 3 miles long, done in old hard court tennis shoes (miserable to run in). It was amazing. The longer I went, the stronger I felt. When I was finished, I felt mentally and emotionally cleansed. I was hooked.

Through the years that followed, Running became an entity in my head and heart. The “r” gained a capital letter status, officially designating Running as a proper noun. Running became my anchor in the midst of chaos, my sanctuary, and something that set my soul on fire.

Fast forward to my adult life as an Army wife…

There’s a word in Hebrew that I feel encompasses much of my emotional state over the past 15 years. I even have it tattooed on my wrist. “Qavah” – to wait, look for, hope, expect. Passionate patience. I have waited and hoped through 11 combat deployments over the years.  It became my habit to sign up and train for a marathon during his time away. I needed the physical intensity and cleansing power of Running to help quell my anxiety and fear, but it also became a tangible way for me to qavah. I could physically chase my running goals while my heart looked for my husband's return home. 

Even though I had the experience of 10 previous deployments under my belt, our first deployment as the parents of 2 young children introduced new anxieties and fears. When my husband left, our daughter was 4 and our son had just turned 1. I was intimate with my BOB Duallie by then, but I couldn’t see how I could continue my tradition of running a deployment marathon.

About a month into the deployment, I felt mentally adrift. I looked at the calendar and the months ahead looked like an endless march of minutes and hours to survive. Just survive.

Enter Providence. During a Stroller Warriors run, I learned that most of my running tribe was set to run the Marine Corps Marathon in October. I remember thinking “Maybe? Could I really figure this out?” Buoyed by a sense of community and support, it felt possible in that moment to train for and run the MCM that year. It felt possible to fulfill my need for a physical challenge to anchor the intangible, passionate pursuit in my heart.

​I registered. I wrote out my training schedule.  It definitely wasn’t always easy. Sometimes it was downright miserable. There were days when I questioned why I was doing it. There were nighttime long runs on the treadmill when the kids were sick, stepping on at 10pm after they finally went to sleep and finishing at midnight. The first time I ran 15 miles with the Duallie, I nearly gave up on the whole idea. It was humid, the kids were raging by mile 11 and my body felt like it was giving out. But I had 2 Running Angels with me, who, refusing to hear any argument from me, took the drenched stroller from my sweaty hands, and gave me time to recover my senses and determination. I was so blessed during the training cycle – I had an entire group of Stroller Warriors who did incredible things to help me, though each and every one would insist that it was nothing. They took the Duallie on hills, and stayed back with me when I lagged. They talked me through the inevitable melt downs of my two stroller-bound training partners, and even stayed with the kids at a playground so I could finish out the last few miles of the longest long runs stroller free. These women will never know how much they helped me, and how much they gave me what I needed.

The rhythm of the training cycle brought back the sense of focus I had been lacking through the first weeks of the deployment, and I found that I was able to do more than just survive. The Saturday morning long runs became special events for the kids and me, my daughter in particular. She would go to bed Friday night and ask if we were getting up early to “run in the night with the running ladies.”  Two and half years later, she still talks about those runs and how she misses them. 

The final Saturday long run of the cycle was a 22 mile haul. The kids heroically endured 16 miles in the stroller before escaping to the playground with an absolutely amazing fellow Warrior. As I finished that last long run, I full felt the impact of what we had accomplished.  I buckled the kids in their car seats as I felt a sob building in my chest. I turned and looked at my daughter and choked out “Thank you. Thank you for doing this with me. It means so much to me.” She, of course, didn’t quite understand my intense emotions, but replied “You’re welcome Mommy. Don’t cry, it’s ok.” 

​Because of a carefully scheduled R & R, my husband was able to be at the marathon and, as is his habit, he positioned himself and the kids exactly where I needed them most on race day.

The last mile building up to the iconic finish of the MCM is lonely – no fanfare, no shade…just a straight road that seems endless. Something to survive. That is where I saw them, waiting for me on the side of the road with the beloved Duallie, and my Soul leaped. Everything that we had pushed through, the miles, the sweat, the tears, all the minutes and hours spent waiting, hoping, pursuing…it all built to that moment. I ran to my little family, my whole world, knowing that passionate patience is not to sit by passively, idly counting seconds. It is to qavah, to actively strive toward the goal of my heart, pursuing that which sets my Soul on fire. 

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Thank you, Jamie, for sharing a piece of your running journey with the Stroller Warriors community. You are in inspiration to all!

Jamie D.  is a 23 year running veteran with 3 children (ages 7, 4 and 3 months) and has been a member of Stroller Warriors ® Fort Belvoir for 6 years- volunteering as a workout leader and leading weekly speed workouts on the track.  

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.