Meet Amy: January's Inspiring member

At Moms on the Run, we hear over and over that many women join to get into running, but end up staying because of so much more. For Hastings (MN) member Amy Seefeld, Moms on the Run has far exceeded all her expectations. 

"I wasn't actually sure what I was searching or hoping for when I joined," reflects Amy, "but thankfully the MOTR family surpassed anything I could have dreamed up. You all have filled me up with inspiration, support, love, friendship, motivation (and the list goes on) to carry me through to where I am today. Thank you, God, for bringing these amazing women into my life!"

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Owner Christine Hitchcock, who nominated Amy for inspiring member, said, "I have been meaning to let you all know about this amazing mom since she finished her first marathon (this year's Twin Cities Marathon). She is so modest and shy, but also a wonderful teammate that is consistently there with an infectious laugh. We joke because prior to this year, Amy absolutely hated hills. She would always have to stop to take a picture at any significant hill. After her nutritional overhaul and beginning to train for the marathon, she now bounds up those hills, encouraging everyone else!"

Friend and MOTR teammate Mandy Wessinger agrees. "Amy has been one of my favorite and most consistent running partners for multiple years. First of all she made a decision to pump up her nutrition journey; it has been awesome watching her take a dream and literally run with it. She felt that it was time to run a marathon and even though most of her running tribe felt it wasn't for them or not yet, she took the bull by the horns and just signed up. She has been working her training plan and sticking to it even when it was tough. She killed her Moms on the Run 5K with an awesome PR, shaving multiple minutes off her time. Amy is rocking this running thing and, more importantly, personal achievement in so many other areas. She is truly an inspiration and she deserves it!"

Read our conversation with Amy to see why she is January's Inspiring Member. 
​Q: When did you join Moms on the Run? What prompted you to join? 
A: "I joined Moms on the Run in Fall of 2015. I needed a healthy change in my life. A facebook post mentioned a free fall preview class. I tried it out and it felt like a safe place to begin." 

Q: Tell us a little about your running journey. What are some of the things you’ve been able to do because of MOTR?
A: "I was not a runner before MOTR. I've completed several races with distances ranging from 5Ks to a marathon. I joined a team of eight for Ragnar Trail Northwoods in WI in 2017 and we all loved it so much we came back in 2018."

Q: We heard that you ran TC marathon this year. Can you share about that?
A: "The seed was planted at MOTR banquet 2018 when the keynote speaker asked us to come up with a crazy goal, like if nothing could get in your way, what would you do? Mine was to run a marathon. (We were at a running banquet after all.) I didn’t want to do it alone, so I postponed a bit to try to find someone to train with me. Then, MOTR offered a plan to run the Twin City Marathon that lined up with our class schedules. I had already carved out that time in my schedule anyway, I just needed to add a few extra hours on the weekends to make it happen. Everything just seemed to fall in place. Our family calendar was relatively open so I shared the idea with my husband. He said, 'I think you’re crazy, but I’ll support you.'" 

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Q: How did it go?
A: "It was an amazing experience. I know it was the great MOTR training plan put together by Carrie Tollefson as well as all my team encouragers/supporters that got me to the start and through the finish, even with a little left in the tank! I couldn't have asked for a better first marathon experience."   

Q: Tell us a little about you. (Family, work inside or outside the home, hobbies, etc.)
A: My husband and I have three girls: a fourth grader and identical twin second graders. I work part time as a preschool aide and enjoy photography.

Q: Anything else you’d like us to share?
A: I’m not sure I should be listed as an ‘inspiring” member. I am more comfortable thinking of myself as an “inspired” member. I had no thoughts of ever running a marathon when I signed up for MOTR. My whole running journey has been inspired by MOTR teammates and coaches. And it's continuous! I'm very grateful for MOTR! Thank you to all the coaches and members!

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