 And Help Feed Children In Need
Is your plate full from juggling work, family and all the “extras” the holiday season brings to our lives? Then “keep it real” with Moms on the Run, where we aim to maintain our weight this time of year, not try to drop the lbs. Get in on our supportive 2016 Healthy Holiday Challenge, while supporting our partner charity, Feed My Starving Children! This year’s fun “accountability solution" runs Nov. 28 through Dec. 30. All are welcome to join; Moms on the Run membership not required. We're proud to report that together, we donated 3,350 meals to children in need during the 2015 Healthy Holiday Challenge. You simply earn points for healthy lifestyle activities and track them. Two lucky winners will each claim a $150 merchandise package from our online store. We’ll give one to the top scorer and conduct a random drawing of all participants for the other. How Do I Participate?
How Do I Earn Points? The following are worth 1 point each:
*If you are underweight or pregnant and it is medically recommended for you to gain weight, you may still earn the 10 bonus points if your weight goes up as it should.
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 Melissa (left), hugging Hastings franchise owner Tracy Yoder, posted a PR at the season-ending 2016 Moms on the run 5K/10K, with a time of 27:09. Our November 2016 KIND Most Inspiring Member is Melissa, starting her second year with Hastings (MN) Moms on the Run. Melissa joined Moms on the Run in the fall of 2015, and at first, admits she could hardly run the 1-minute intervals. She struggled to make it through the workouts, and her nutrition consisted of Diet Mountain Dew and corn dogs. However, with a complete overhaul of her diet in January 2016, a new commitment to her workout routine, and lots of hard work and determination, Melissa has lost more than 80 pounds (to date) -- and is one of the top runners with Hastings MOTR.
Melissa before joining Moms on the Run in the fall of 2015 (left), and at the seasoon-ending Moms on the Run Celebration Banquet in August 2016 (right) with Hastings franchise owner Tracy Yoder. “We talk about what if she would have quit when it seemed so hard last fall,” says Tracy Yoder, Hastings franchise owner, “and now look at all she has accomplished! … She's transformed not only her life, but has had a tremendous impact on the health of her family too!”
Melissa says that her decision to join Moms on the Run was the first of many healthy lifestyle changes she made over the past year. As a result, her family, which includes daughters aged 4 and 7, no longer goes to the doctor every month due to illness. She credits Moms on the Run with helping to build relationships that are supportive of her new lifestyle. “Working to be healthy is so much a part of our Iives now, that I am not sure my girls even remember how sick, tired, and unhealthy we all were one year ago,” Melissa says. “I need this support of a community to keep me accountable and make my changes lifelong rather than just for a short phase.” That MOTR community support comes in many shapes and forms, according to Melissa. It’s Yoder encouraging her to push harder when she knew she was capable. It’s cheers of encouragement from her teammates during workouts, and their smiles on the days she didn’t feel like running. And right after her latest accomplishment, their texts to ask her, “What’s next?!” So, what’s on deck for Melissa next in terms of fitness goals to slay? A 10K and 10-mile race during the summer of 2017, she says. Congratulations on your inspiring journey, Melissa! ABOUT KIND Since its founding in 2004, KIND has been on a mission to make the world a little kinder one snack and one act at a time. #LiveKIND and do the kind thing for your body, your taste buds & your world.™ SPREAD THE LOVE Have a teammate or coach who inspires you through her hard work and positive attitude? Take 2 minutes to nominate her as our next KIND inspiring member of the month. The win-win when one mother runner’s community giving brings much more in return  Moms on the Run participant Heather Thoele (back right) serves as head coach for this Girls on the Run team from White Bear Lake. Registration for the Nov. 12, 2016, GOTR 5K remains open to the public. For second-year Moms on the Run participant Heather Thoele, it wasn’t enough to simply focus on her own running program and progress. This fall, she branched out to add mentoring young girls to the mix, thanks to Girls on the Run. As head coach of White Bear Lake YMCA Girls on the Run, Heather leads one of the 70-plus teams that have been meeting at Twin Cities area schools and community centers for the last 10 weeks. “I got involved [with Girls on the Run] because I know the benefits I've received from being involved in an all-female running group, and I wanted to help pass that along to younger girls and women,” says Heather. “I believe that running with a supportive group of girls or women can help boost self-esteem and confidence that so many girls and women are missing.” Girls on the Run is a curriculum-based youth development program for girls in 3rd to 8th grade. Each week, volunteer coaches like Heather inspire them to build life skills and be healthy and confident. She admits that she’s gained so much by watching her team’s growth since they first came together in September.  Heather (back left) poses with other members of the White Bear Lake YMCA Girls on the Run team following a fall 2016 practice. “I'm constantly surprised by how positive these girls are and how thoughtful and complex their answers are to difficult questions and scenarios,” says Heather. “I'm seeing them form friendships with the other girls and watching them become bolder in sharing their thoughts with the group. These are things that I'm hoping will stick, long-term.”
On Nov. 12, 2016, some 1,100 girls and their coaches will participate in the Girls on the Run 5K at Harriet Island in St. Paul. The celebratory, non-competitive 5K is also open to members of the public -- men, women and children. Participants can register as a solo runner or take their commitment one step further by signing up as a race-day “Sparkle Runner.” Sparkle Runners are women from the community willing to be paired with a girl the morning of the 5K and help celebrate her accomplishment! Registration fees support the GOTRTC program. Heather encourages MOTR and non-MOTR members alike to get an up-close look at Girls on the Run in action at the Nov. 12 event. “Both Moms on the Run and Girls on the Run are all about fitness, fun and friendships!” Heather says. “More importantly, though, both groups help participants learn more about themselves and show them that they're capable of accomplishing more than they thought possible. I love that I'm coaching girls who may become #MOTRstrong one day!” Race organizers are in need of more Sparkle Runners and race day volunteers. MOTR members are encouraged to join Team Moms on the Run when they sign up. To register and for more information, visit www.gotrtwincities.org/5ks.  Via The Linda Project Happy first day of November! Head on over to The Linda Project and check out an inspiring and motivating message from Kim Burggraaf, head coach of the Burnsville and Lakeville (MN) Moms on the Run locations. Kim shares great ideas on how to adopt a fitness program into your busy life, as well as some helpful nutrition tips. As a member of Lakeville Moms on the Run, The Linda Project founder and creator Jenna Allerson has experienced Kim’s energy and enthusiasm first-hand. Thank you, Jenna, for helping to share Kim’s enthusiasm with others! |
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