ConnectingMoms: Where are you located?

Manassas, VA – just outside D.C.

I polled members to find women interested in becoming Board Members – then chose them based on qualifications, enthusiasm, and ideas. Some Board Members came through building business connections with other mom-owned organizations.

I launched seeMOMMYrun in July 2004, just a few days after my daughter was born. I had been working on developing the web site for about 6 months prior to the birth of my daughter.

I provide moms the freedom and access to find or build a local neighborhood network of other moms. Because this is a free service – any and every mom has access.

I was new to VA and knew not a single soul. I was worried about finding other new moms with similar interests, especially those motivated to run. I built the site for completely selfish reason – to meet a handful of women with whom I could run during the weekdays. It grew purely by accident into a business/non-profit driven by requests from moms everywhere in the same situation as me.

I always played soccer (which involves a lot of sprinting). However, I never ran track after middle school. I developed a passion for running in my early twenties as a way to relieve stress and stay fit. Gyms bored me and I injured my knee playing adult women’s soccer. So running was the perfect choice for me to strengthen my knee and set new goals. My parents were not involved in sports or any type of physical activities other than yardwork. I am the first adult "athlete" in my family. – Although I have since then inspired my mother to begin working out and my twin brother to start running.

Because I never envisioned building the site into a business, I never had any doubt that I should complete the site. Web design is a hobby and I enjoyed the process immensely.

During the daytime I concentrate on spending time with my daughter and entertaining her. I work on seeMOMMYrun early mornings, during my daughter’s nap times, and in the evenings when daddy takes over for a bit. I am lucky to have found a way to balance my work, family, and hobbies. My daughter is also very good at entertaining herself if I have a conference call, lunch meeting, etc. For a 2-year old, she is extremely mature, smart, patient, and well-behaved.

I do!! I have a PC in the playroom and a laptop in other part of the house. Although I am also very lucky to have some family nearby to watch my daughter at least 1 day every couple of weeks while I take a full work day.

My daughter is my ongoing inspiration. I watch her and many of the other mom runner’s children playing "seeMOMMYrun" and strapping their stuffed animals into jogging strollers and it makes me smile inside and out. Also, I receive many emails and calls from women whose lives have been changed through the web site. Stories range from simply connecting with great local moms, to entire families becoming inseparable, to women meeting new goals. It has been amazing.

The site grows mostly through word-of-mouth, although I also try very hard to get articles printed in newspapers across the country and in a few major magazines. Yes, any mom can start a group. Group Leaders are volunteers who post runs or walks on their group home pages and try to rally local moms to join them.

Any mom can join no matter what her fitness abilities, age, or stage of motherhood. Members range in ages from 18 to 50. Some members work full-time, part-time or stay at home with their children. Some members have grown children others are first-time new moms. Best of all, the site has running groups of all paces and distances, as well as walking groups.

I think the stroller workout companies are a fantastic away to motivate new moms to get themselves back in shape safely with motivation from other moms. I work with several of the stroller workout companies to cross-market our organizations. There is no better way to get fit fast than by combining strength training (like these stroller workout programs) with weekly cardio outings like running or walking with a seeMOMMYrun group. And as babies get older, moms can still stay involved with seeMOMMYrun while fitting in strength training on their own.

I work with many women’s fitness trainers and nutritionists to supply articles and tips for members on how to lose weight while gaining strength and energy. I have also recently becoming an IFPA-certified Women’s Fitness Specialist in order to give advice to women during pregnancy, post-partum and into menopause.

What is the most inspiring story you have heard from a mom who has joined on of your seeMommyrun groups?I have met a woman who began running to get through a messy divorce – she began participating in a seeMOMMYrun group to get her kids involved as well. I have met many women who found friendships as new moms through seeMOMMYrun which helped them fight post-partum depression. The coolest story I’ve heard was a mom who found her 2 daughters (age 3 and 5) running in circles in the living room pushing their strollers. When she asked why they were running in the house (normally taboo) they said they were "playing seeMOMMYrun."

We just launched seeMOMMYrun Canada (http://www.seemommyrun.ca/). Other than that, I am now concentrating on fundraising for the non-profit activities that I have been building over the past year. These activities include after-school run/walk programs for elementary school children and building family fitness days at local parks. I also recently launched shopMOMMYshop blog to help women like me find comfortable, affordable, and fun workout gear, children’s clothing, nursing wear, and more for REAL moms!

I worked for 15 years in corporate marketing – including advertising, marketing communications, and public relations. Upon moving to Virginia I decided to make a career change and am now pursuing my Masters of Science in Gerontology in order to help aging Americans enjoy a higher quality of life in their later years.

Parents today need to build strong, open relationships with our children that infuse them with trust, honesty, and stability. An open relationship will help them face life’s many challenges and pressures while knowing that they can come to us for help.

On one hand you have children from upper class families who are pressured to be perfect. Often children from lower to middle class families are faced with pressure to grow up too fast – sex, drugs, or leading a life of crime. In either case, if we can interest children in sports and education at a very young age, we can help keep them out of trouble.

I never planned to be a mother. I remained single until after I turned 30 years old and had every intention of living a selfish, single life – focusing on my career and hobbies. When I met my husband he had all of the attributes I did not – love of family, need for stability, and, most of all, patience and contentment. He showed me the importance of building a family and everything else fell into place.

I have a 2 year old daughter and am due any day to give birth to daughter number two. Two is all I plan to have.

I want to teach my children to be passionate in all pursuits, enjoy every minute of life, and the importance of family above all else.

My daughter is still too young for me to have a favorite memory so far. Every day is exciting and new.

It’s all about time management. You cannot be Super Mom 24/7 while you launch a business. Focus on your children when you have one-on-one time without trying to multi-task or you will frustrate yourself and feel like a bad mother. Allot certain hours of the day to work – find a sitter to help during these hours. Or plan to launch your business when your children have started school. Do not try to be homeroom mother, scout leader, playgroup host, and June Cleaver all at once.

I have a huge circle of mommy friends now thanks to seeMOMMYrun.com. I have met my nearest and dearest friends through the web site. We all have common interests and goals, namely our fitness goals. We run together, enter races together, have playgroups and outings to museums or kids shows, our children and husbands are friends, and we have a moms night out at least once per month. Our moms nights out typically revolve around dinner and a movie or a wine party at one of our homes. My favorite event so far was a New Years Day family run in a local park – ending in a toast with non-alcoholic champagne (since it was just after a long run) – perfect way to start the new year.

Again, my family is so new – I have been married only 3 years and have a 2-year old daughter. We have yet to make incredible memories!

Enjoy every minute of your new baby’s first year because it flies by. Take advantage of "mommy movies" where you can bring your baby, babysitting offers from family and friends, and nap while the baby naps. Also, don’t let your life revolve around nap times! Your baby will nap while you are out running around. Don’t lock yourself down into your home and never get out! These are all things you are afraid to take advantage of as a brand new mom. But, boy, will you need them and look back regretting not doing them!