MOMS ON THE RUN

  • Home
  • About
    • Our Program >
      • Signature Training Program
      • Strength and Cardio Boot Camp Program
      • Full and Half Marathon Training Plans >
        • Grandma's Marathon Training
        • Twin Cities Marathon Training
    • Giving Back
    • Our Story
    • FAQ
    • Meet Our Founder
    • CORE VALUES
    • Ways to Join our Community
    • Kids on the Run
    • RunBuck$
    • Careers
  • Join
    • Ambassador
    • Coaches
    • Polar Run Club
    • Participants
    • National Classes >
      • Virtual Pilates
      • Virtual Yoga
    • Newsletter
    • Nutrition and Wellness Challenges
    • Testimonials
  • Locations
  • Franchising
  • Sponsors
  • Events
    • Celebrate Moms Fun Run 5K
    • Moms on the Run 5K/10K >
      • Race Information
      • Virtual Run
      • Kids Run
    • Destination Race: Run Arizona >
      • Run Arizona Schedule of Events
    • Stride into Spring
    • Partner Races
  • Challenges
    • MOTRvate28
    • Month of Miles
    • Fourth of July
    • MOVE-ember
    • Healthy Holiday Challenge
  • Blog
  • Shop
  • Contact
  • Home
  • About
    • Our Program >
      • Signature Training Program
      • Strength and Cardio Boot Camp Program
      • Full and Half Marathon Training Plans >
        • Grandma's Marathon Training
        • Twin Cities Marathon Training
    • Giving Back
    • Our Story
    • FAQ
    • Meet Our Founder
    • CORE VALUES
    • Ways to Join our Community
    • Kids on the Run
    • RunBuck$
    • Careers
  • Join
    • Ambassador
    • Coaches
    • Polar Run Club
    • Participants
    • National Classes >
      • Virtual Pilates
      • Virtual Yoga
    • Newsletter
    • Nutrition and Wellness Challenges
    • Testimonials
  • Locations
  • Franchising
  • Sponsors
  • Events
    • Celebrate Moms Fun Run 5K
    • Moms on the Run 5K/10K >
      • Race Information
      • Virtual Run
      • Kids Run
    • Destination Race: Run Arizona >
      • Run Arizona Schedule of Events
    • Stride into Spring
    • Partner Races
  • Challenges
    • MOTRvate28
    • Month of Miles
    • Fourth of July
    • MOVE-ember
    • Healthy Holiday Challenge
  • Blog
  • Shop
  • Contact

OUR Latest + GREATEST

Read more on our Blog

Meet Karin: January's Inspiring Member

1/4/2021

0 Comments

 
Karin MunksgaardKarin and her daughter after her first end-of-season race in 2017.
Four years ago, Karin Munksgaard, a member of Apple Valley (MN) Moms on the Run, chose to challenge herself with running — something she thought she could never do. Not only is it something she learned how to do, but it's helped her thrive with new friendships, confidence, motivation and, despite a pandemic, her first half marathon.

Read our conversation with Karin and learn why she's an inspiring member. 

​Q: When did you join MOTR? Were you always a runner or was this a step outside your comfort zone?
A: I joined MOTR's Apple Valley chapter in 2017. I joined because I was in a place in my life where my friendships were changing and because of that, I was starting to feel lonely and sorry for myself. So I promised myself that instead of giving into that feeling, I was going to do something I never thought I could do. Becoming a runner was the thing I chose. It was the craziest, most challenging idea I could imagine at the time because I generally avoided running at all costs. Even a mile at that time seemed daunting. 
PictureKarin, far left, with her Apple Valley team
Q: Tell us a little about your journey. We heard you ran your first half marathon on Halloween. Congrats! (I heard you were supposed to run this at Disney?)
A: I immediately took to MOTR because there were people of all abilities and levels. My fellow runners were encouraging and supportive no matter how short or long, fast or slow you could run. My first and longest-standing coach, Margarita Shmakova-Nadeau, always made it a positive experience for me and always reminded me "if you are here, you are a runner." I started to develop new friendships through MOTR and I learned to even enjoy running in the winter! (Being outside in the winter had previously ranked just above running on my list of least favorite activities.) 

Pretty soon I was increasing my distances from 5Ks to 10Ks to a 10-mile run. I thought that was the longest I could ever possibly go, but then my husband (who unlike me, had always been a runner) talked me into a half marathon with the incentive that we could do it at Disney World. It became our New Year's Resolution for 2020. 

Karin Munksgaard
Three days after registration for the half marathon, COVID lockdowns started and one by one, all of our training races were cancelled. But MOTR kept me running  — even when we were only gathering virtually. In October, my husband and I decided to move forward with our race even though Disney had cancelled their in-person event. I mentioned our plans to Margarita and before I knew it, she had recruited my other coaches and a number of the MOTR runners to join us along our route for support and encouragement.  We did it on Halloween, dressed up in costumes and ran around the chain of lakes in Minneapolis. My coach Brandy Watkinson and her husband stuck it out with us for the full 13.1, helping me stay positive, keeping me supplied with energy (snacks!), playing and supporting me as I pushed to cross the finish line.

MOTR has been a key to not only helping me discover something in myself I didn't know I had, but also introducing me to some amazing people whom I now call friends.

Q: Any surprises along the way regarding your training, etc?
A: Just COVID : -)
 
Q: Tell us a little about yourself. (Family, job, hobbies). 
A: I'm a VP of Human Resources for a global information and software business. My husband and I have a blended family with four kids (16, 15, 14 and 5 -- she's the one pictured with me.) For hobbies, I'm proud to say running now. 
​​

0 Comments

Your comment will be posted after it is approved.


Leave a Reply.

    RSS Feed

    Archives

    March 2023
    February 2023
    January 2023
    December 2022
    November 2022
    October 2022
    September 2022
    August 2022
    July 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2013
    March 2013
    January 2013
    October 2012
    July 2012
    April 2012
    March 2012
    February 2012

    topics

    All
    Brand
    Challenges
    Contests
    COVID 19
    COVID-19
    Education Topics
    Events
    Exercises-using-stability-ball
    Fitness
    Foam Rolling
    Franchising
    Friendship
    Fun
    Healthy Moms
    Injury Prevention
    Inspiration
    Instagram Challenge
    Merchandise
    Most Inspiring Member
    MOTRcares
    #MOTRstrong
    MOTRwell
    News & Media
    Nutrition
    Partnerships
    Pilates
    Running
    Safety
    Self Care
    Sponsors
    Strength-exercises
    Stretching
    Team
    Training Tips
    Video

    RSS Feed

Moms on the Run Logo

Company Info

About
Contact Us
Privacy + Terms
Moms on the Run Store Policies
Franchise Opportunities

Join Us

Join Us
​Find a Location
​Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Let's Get Social