Four years ago I anxiously attended my first Moms on the Run class. I had seen an online ad for the group and a new location had just started down the road from my home- it couldn't be more convenient- and yet I sincerely spent two months ruminating over whether or not to join! Now I can't believe that I even gave it a second thought. This is, in fact, a pretty common story when women join MOTR. For some reason we have a hard time believing that we deserve to carve time out for ourselves, and if that doesn't hold us back we are often fearful of not being good enough! I am an introvert and also someone who didn't start running until adulthood, so I was very intimidated, BUT I really wanted runner friends and that trumped my anxiety. In the end it was one of the best things I could have done for myself! I felt welcomed, understood and became fast friends with a great and diverse group of women. (AND after the fantastic coaching and program I became the fastest I've ever been, too!) My first season I learned that RUNNING TOGETHER BONDS YOU TOGETHER.
The next season I was so thrilled to be invited to be a coach. One of the things that I love about Moms on the Run is the opportunity to give back. I learned so much in my first season that I couldn't wait to support my fellow runners in their goals. I loved seeing women gain speed and confidence. I learned in this season that the MORE I GIVE BACK THE MORE I GAIN.
Last season was truly amazing. I took some big risks when I was called to run with Team World Vision and the Twin Cities Marathon and I couldn't have done it without Moms on the Run.
From the very beginning my MOTR crew was with me and understood what running this race really meant, from the physical strain to the importance of providing for women and children in need. My path to running with TWV was solidified at a MOTR breakfast last spring. As I told the women about World Vision, the work they do and also my own hesitations I received nothing but encouragement and positive advice. "Go for it!", they said, "You can do it!" Honestly, I would expect nothing less from this group!
Their generous support came in so many ways and without me ever having to ask for it. Every step of the way I was amazed and encouraged by my friends.
At our season end I received a gift from the group. A shoe tag that reads, "Keep Running. Hebrews 12:1" which says,
"...since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders...And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us"
Every step of my marathon and every time my legs grew heavy when I turn my head down I had my MOTR teammates with me, spurring me on to "Keep Running" this race set out before me. This season I learned to TRUST IN THE GOODNESS OF OTHERS.
This year I am running Twin Cities Marathon with Team World Vision again. I would not have the confidence to attempt this without Moms on the Run. Doing this again is hard, but I know the MOTR crew has my back! That's why I'm excited to spend more time coaching and spreading the light that was given to me. I'm thrilled that I can help women run new distances and gain confidence. I hope I can give back the belief they had in me and help them know that they are capable of more than they can imagine. If I'm able to encourage them even a fraction of what they've done for me I will be blessed! There are so many women this year taking on new distances, new challenges (hello, RAGNAR!), goals that seemed impossible, but together we will make those goals real. This is the season I'm learning that WE ARE STRONGER TOGETHER.
And because of ALL of this I'm so excited to call myself a Moms on the Run Ambassador. I can't wait to share this season, the hard and the beautiful and all the #motrstrong moments with you!
