Strength in Numbers: One Contributor’s Experience with Moms on the Run

Moms on the Run recently invited me to take part in one of their hour-long classes in Woodbury. A few times a week, across almost every city in the metro, women of all ages and fitness levels gather outdoors for what the group has coined “fitness, fun and friendship.” Walkers, beginning runners and intermediates embark on interval training for the first 30 minutes and then do strength training and stretching for the remaining time together.

On the evening that I joined class, I was impressed by the size and diversity of the group. I connected with the beginners that just weeks ago were running for 30 seconds at a time, but had now already built up endurance. Our interval for the evening was six segments that involved two minutes of running, followed by a three-minute recovery. I was nervous about keeping up, but was quickly put at ease in the first segment of our workout.

The gym and other group classes can feel so impersonal and intimidating.  But Moms on the Run is anything but that. It is truly a community of women that comes together for a variety of reasons – some of which I learned firsthand during our time together walking and running around Colby Lake.

This group is so inviting and encouraging. I remarked to the head coach and Woodbury owner, Kristina Ticknor, that I saw hardly any of the runners wearing headphones. We were quite social as we giggled about sports bras and post baby weight. Here’s another cool thing about the group – Kristina has tons of experience and educational background in personal training and kinesiology. She is so committed to the group, helping women incorporate a healthy lifestyle, sharing tips for injury prevention and seems to take a personal interest in each and every member.

So, thank you to the women of the Woodbury Moms on the Run for welcoming me so kindly to your group. Thank you for encouraging me on segments four, five and six to keep going and be proud of myself. I’ve never described myself as a runner before, but I’ve always felt like there is an athlete deep within me. I do have to say that my thigh muscles the next day were like, “HELLO, Alissa!” But this is a good thing! For me, with any new chapter or goal I have in my life, I believe that there is strength in numbers, and Moms on the Run provides you with just that – the support and teamwork needed to take your journey to the next level.

If you’re looking for motivation, support or friendship, check out their locations as classes are currently being held across the entire Twin Cities metro. Again, many thanks Kristina and gang for a fun night!