Mini #3 and me before running the Hope for the Warriors 5k together. “We promote a positive, comfortable environment for men or women of all ability levels to run together, beginners to marathoners. Children and strollers are not required” − Stroller Warriors Headquarters Staff.
The first time someone told me about Stroller Warriors I responded with, “I don’t run with a stroller.” At that time, I was running my way through a deployment. It was 2010 and I was pretty new to running. My kiddos were 2, 4, and 6. I had a double stroller and a single stroller but I rarely used them for running.
Fast forward to summer of 2011. A friend who had started running with Stroller Warriors Camp Lejeune encouraged me to join the face book page. I attended my first workout that September while two of my kids were at elementary school and one was at preschool. That day I became a Stroller Warrior, strollerless , but a warrior all the same.
The first time someone told me about Stroller Warriors I responded with, “I don’t run with a stroller.” At that time, I was running my way through a deployment. It was 2010 and I was pretty new to running. My kiddos were 2, 4, and 6. I had a double stroller and a single stroller but I rarely used them for running.
Fast forward to summer of 2011. A friend who had started running with Stroller Warriors Camp Lejeune encouraged me to join the face book page. I attended my first workout that September while two of my kids were at elementary school and one was at preschool. That day I became a Stroller Warrior, strollerless , but a warrior all the same.
Participating in the SWCL kids Try to Tri with Mini #2. The club was much smaller back then. SWCL was the only chapter and there were only about 200 members on the facebook page and about 25 percent of them attended workouts. But in true SW fashion, my strollerless self was welcomed with open arms. I became an active member and participated in as many events as I could. I did occasionally push a stroller, but it was generally when preschool was out or we hosted a club event on a weekend.
As a strollerless warrior, I’ve met goals I’d never imagined, with an amazing team of fellow military spouses supporting me! And, my kids, older now (8, 9, and 12) have also achieved some of their own goals, including participating in the Stroller Warriors mini miles program, several kids triathlons and a few kids sprints and 5ks as mini warriors. Even though I didn’t run with them in a stroller very much (and the few times I did they never seemed to think I went fast enough) they have benefited from Stroller Warriors in their own ways. They are included in the village, just as I was at that very first workout and are learning how to live a fun and active lifestyle…stroller or not.
As a strollerless warrior, I’ve met goals I’d never imagined, with an amazing team of fellow military spouses supporting me! And, my kids, older now (8, 9, and 12) have also achieved some of their own goals, including participating in the Stroller Warriors mini miles program, several kids triathlons and a few kids sprints and 5ks as mini warriors. Even though I didn’t run with them in a stroller very much (and the few times I did they never seemed to think I went fast enough) they have benefited from Stroller Warriors in their own ways. They are included in the village, just as I was at that very first workout and are learning how to live a fun and active lifestyle…stroller or not.
Mini's #1, #2, and #3 celebrating their mini miles. The mission of Stroller Warriors is to embrace all military spouses (strollers or not). And now that the club has grown to over 35 chapters and 10,000 members worldwide, we have many warriors who attend and do not push a stroller at workouts. Some of these are Warriors who don’t have kids yet or who don’t plan on having kids. And some are Warriors who have kids who previously attended in strollers but those same mini warriors now attend school during weekly workouts. But, no matter what your stroller status, we and we encourage you all to join us for the support that Stroller Warriors provides!
Happy running!
Deana
Happy running!
Deana
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