Meet Natalie, Our December 2016 Most Inspiring Member

Above and Top Right: Natalie poses for pics with her kiddos. Bottom Right: Natalie (second from right) with some of her Burnsville MOTR teammates.

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Our December 2016 KIND Most Inspiring member is Natalie with the Burnsville (MN) location. She recently completed her third year with Moms on the Run, and what a year 2016 was!

Natalie has logged close to 1,500 miles on the year (1,488 through Dec. 19th, and counting). She also completed the 2016 Twin Cities Marathon, raising $10,000 for the nonprofit Team World Vision, to provide clean water for communities in Africa.

“The fact that Natalie ran the marathon and fundraised is just one example of the many things she does on a daily basis that inspire those around her,” says Burnsville head coach Kim Burggraaf. “She has such a heart for others, a passion for making a difference, a positive outlook on life, and is just an incredible person all around.”

Natalie came into running in 2010 and decided to train for her first marathon as part of Team World Vision in 2013. She joined Moms on the Run in 2014 to find more women to keep running with. Burggraaf invited her back as a coach in her second and third years, given her natural tendencies to motivate those around her.

But Natalie sees it differently, crediting the Burnsville team for helping her to achieve each goal:  “My MOTR teammates’ encouragement, from beginning to end, helped give me the resolve to continue working until 200 people had clean water for life through World Vision’s sustainable water projects,” she says. “They were the very first people I told when I considered taking on the challenge because I knew I would be supported and could trust their advice.”

Aside from trying to eclipse 1,500 miles by Dec. 31, Natalie plans to cross-train this winter and then prepare for the Trail Mix 25K in April 2017.

“This will be a new adventure for me as I’ve only run a few trails for fun and never done a trail race,” she says. “I’m a little nervous!”

But with her Burnsville teammates encouraging her, Natalie says she believes she’ll cross the finish line. “What I love about Moms on the Run is watching women come together and support each others’ dreams and challenges, both fitness related and in everyday life,” she says. “I love that we are from all different stages of life and yet connected by the common goal of being strong and healthy.”

If you're on Instagram, keep up with Natalie's running adventures @SeeNatalieRun.

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.™

ABOUT MOMS ON THE RUN
Founded in 2008, Moms on the Run is a structured fitness program for women of all ages and fitness levels who want to get in shape--and have fun doing so. Run your first 5K, improve your speed and endurance or stay motivated in your walking routine. We inspire and transform busy women through a healthy lifestyle of fitness, fun and friendship. To find the location nearest you, visit momsontherun.com.