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Running Back Home

4/14/2016

3 Comments

 
PictureMy "big kids" running with me in Lejeune
by Bailey F.
​

​We moved to Camp Lejeune in the summer of 2012. I didn't know anyone there and decided to join the Couch 2 5K group that Stroller Warriors® was offering.
 I had very little desire to run and had very little miles under my belt, but I wanted to make friends and connections with other women. It was through Stroller Warriors Camp Lejeune that I made life long friends. It's SW that makes me teary-eyed thinking about sweet memories with my little ones out on those trails. Like this memory my friend, Amy, posted to the FB page the other day:

Picture
Those were some of my favorite days, too.
PictureSW CL C25K Graduates, 2012
It was through that club that I ran many more miles and races after that 5K and made countless other memories. It became about so much more than running. I remember my dance coach in college saying that our dance team was more than the dance. Meaning that it was deeper, more important than just dance. Stroller Warriors was that for me. It meant so much more, and I hated to leave it. 

We moved to Beaufort in the summer of 2015. I didn't know anyone here and yet I waited to join Stroller Warriors. Part of it was just life with four little ones and busy schedules but also me trying to find my way in a new place. This duty station comes with many challenges for me, and I've spent the last nine months trying to get settled both physically and emotionally. While I've been trying to call a new place (with new challenges) home, I've also been running exactly zero miles. I knew I would be starting all over.... if I ever did decide to run again. 

And this week I decided to. I joined Stroller Warriors Parris Island's facebook page and within minutes I had warm greetings and friend requests. I am convinced Stroller Warriors are the friendliest group of people in the world, no matter the chapter. I jumped into their Couch to 5K group and had Adam dust off and air up the old BOB, my double jogging stroller. I took it out for a test run a few days ago and it felt good. And by good I mean it felt hellacious, because Dear Jesus, I haven't run in over a year. 

PictureMy new little running buddies. Their big brother and sis joined me there, they get to join me here.
Yesterday morning I dressed the girls up cute, laced up my running shoes, and went to my first Stroller Warriors meet. I was greeted with smiles, hugs, and nice conversations. The twins played, and I pushed them all over the neighborhood with other moms. I'm running with women who know what it's like to have to start over...both in running and in life. They know what it's like to have to find your way. Its nice to have someone next to you telling you to keep going and that you're doing a good job...both in running and in life. It's so much more than running, and it feels good to be back home. 

Picture
Stroller Warriors Parris Island, taken yesterday at our meet. There's always a bit of silliness and randomness to Stroller Warriors. Just the way we like it.
3 Comments
Kathryn Marcantel
4/14/2016 08:54:10 am

Love this. Thank you for sharing your story. Moving this summer and looking to join my 3rd Stroller Warrior chapter :)

Reply
KK Scheuter
4/14/2016 09:42:43 am

So beautifully written! It is such a wonderful feeling to be part of such a welcoming group when you move somewhere new! And yes we are extremely silly! (Another mother runner and I trying to form a heart in that pic ;)

Reply
Arlene Allen
4/14/2016 10:40:25 am

Warms my heart. I couldn't agree more now that I am a part of my 3rd Stroller Warrior chapter. I instantly made amazing friends after my first workout. Enjoy your time in Beaufort, SC we loved it there and miss all those motivating and silly girls!

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