Most moms have so many things to juggle, it’s often hard to fit in the time to prepare for an 8k or half marathon. But it may be easier than you think!

Enter: Mother Runner

You’ve likely heard about the Mother Runner training program before. Many of our own Richmondmom.com readers have completed the program which prepared them to succeed – and they have nothing but great things to say about it!

• Have you wondered what it would be like to run or just haven’t taken the first step? Maybe you have never run before, but always wanted to try? THIS IS THE PROGRAM FOR YOU!
• Are you a recreational Mother Runner who wants to participate with other moms who are taking this important step? THIS IS THE PROGRAM FOR YOU!
• Are you a goal-oriented woman who needs the support of a customized training program, professional coaches, and other ‘mom teammates’ to motivate you to achieve your personal best? THIS IS THE PROGRAM FOR YOU!

It’s a one-of-a-kind Richmond training team comprised of women who are at varying levels of health and fitness – and they span all ages too. So every woman is eligible to train with them.

And that means YOU!

Mother Runner provides individualized race training plans that are geared especially for each woman at her level of fitness. You receive these written custom training programs which are created by certified running coaches/fitness professionals especially for you. You have the support, expertise and encouragement of professional coaches, certified professionals, motivated teammates who are also moms, special tools, valuable resources, and more.

And the best part?

These are women who know how busy you are as a mom – because they are moms too!

You Could Win a FREE Personalized Training Package

Mother Runner is now offering one Richmond mom an opportunity to train with them for FREE! That’s right – you can enter our contest for a chance to be the winner of either an 8K ($70 value) or Half Marathon Training Package ($85 value). It’s your choice what you train for and the Mother Runner staff will help you achieve your goals and do your very best.

Criteria and General Information

The following information explains the criteria and general information for contest applicants:

• To train for the 8K, you should be able to walk briskly 20 minutes with no discomfort.
• To train for the half marathon, you must be able to easily run 3 consecutive miles.
• You must be able to participate in a 13 week training program for the 8K, or a 14 week training program for the half marathon, beginning Saturday, August 17.

Included in the prize package are:

• Saturday group runs and cue sheets for all runs.
• Customized written training programs.
• Certified running coaches/fitness professionals who are also moms.
• Mentoring moms who will offer additional encouragement and support to you as a runner.
• Special social events.
• Mother Runner training t-shirt.
• Weekly newsletter with valuable tips on nutrition, running form, hydration, and other important information.

Enter Here

Now that you know what’s included, and how they can help you achieve your goal of performing at your personal best in either an 8K or Half Marathon, it’s time to get moving.

Click the link below to enter our contest – but run, don’t walk!

The contest ends on Friday, August 9, 2013 at 3pm.

Click here to enter the contest for a free Training Package from Mother Runners.

The winner will be chosen through a random drawing and notified via email. Training begins on August 17th and the winner will receive information from Mother Runners to get started.

This is an important opportunity for one Richmond mom to win a fantastic training package to support her efforts towards personal health and fitness. That mom could be YOU so enter our contest now.

Thanks to Mother Runners for making this valuable offer to our readers.

Mother Runners at Mom’s Treehouse.

It’s that time of year again – time for the Mother Runner Training at Mom’s Treehouse!

As a mom, you nurture your children to help them accomplish their milestones, but when is the last time you accomplished YOUR goals?

Are you ready to make YOU a priority? 

Join the MOTHER RUNNER program and see how far you can go. Mom’s Treehouse helps moms build the strength, endurance, and confidence to create and maintain a love of running.

REGISTER for the 10k Training Team beginning January 12, 2013!  Train for the Monument Ave 10k on April 13, and enjoy fun runs, get-togethers and great friends!

This program is for all levels of runners (first-timers, beginners, and intermediates)!

If you have questions, please email info@moms-treehouse.com.

• Are you NOT a Mother Runner (yet)? Maybe you have never run before, but always wanted to try? THIS IS THE PROGRAM FOR YOU!
• Are you a recreational Mother Runner that wants to meet more like-minded moms? THIS IS THE PROGRAM FOR YOU!
• Are you a goal-oriented Mother Runner who needs the support of a professional coach and teammates to motivate you to achieve your best? THIS IS THE PROGRAM FOR YOU!

As you can see, these programs train moms who have NEVER run before and also those moms who have some experience.  No matter what your fitness level, THIS IS THE PROGRAM FOR YOU!

Visit the website to learn more and ‘get your run on’!

Mom’s Treehouse is an advertiser on Richmondmom.com

Mom’s Treehouse is hosting a Will Run For Wine Social on July 17th at 7pm.  Join the group of supportive moms at Mom’s Treehouse for a 3 mile run followed by a wine social!  Please RSVP to grace@moms-treehouse.com if you’re able to attend.

In addition, 8K/half marathon training is only one month away!  Race training is always fun with the Mother Runners.  Details will be announced very soon, so now is the time to think about which race you want to train for. All participants will receive a Mother Runners technical shirt, weekly training plans, coach-led group runs on Saturdays, and more!

Visit the Mom’s Treehouse website for more information on memberships and events.

 Mom’s Treehouse is an advertiser on Richmondmom.com.

http://www.moms-treehouse.com/summerspecial

Huge Summer Savings at Mom’s Treehouse - but hurry because it’s only for a limited time.

HUGE SUMMER SAVINGS – Up to 40% off

Offer ends May 31, 2012!

Choose one of the following deals for this summer:

• 3-month Membership PLUS Session 1 and 2 of Body Back – $299 (normally $522) – includes buy one, get one free childcare!
• 2-month Membership PLUS Session 1 of Body Back – $200 (normally $348)
• 1-month Membership PLUS Session 2 of Body Back – $110 (normally $174)
• 3-month Membership – $215 (normally $372)
• 2-month Membership – $140 (normally $248)

This offer is valid for NEW CLIENTS.

EXISTING CLIENTS CAN TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THESE GREAT DEALS TOO!  HERE’S HOW:  Simply refer 1 new client to Mom’s Treehouse who purchases one of the above deals and you can pick a deal for yourself!!

MORE INFORMATION:

Session 1 of Body Back – June 18 – Aug 9 (8 weeks)

Session 2 of Body Back – Aug 13 – Sept 6 (4 weeks)

3-month membership runs June 1 – Aug 31, 2012

2-month membership must be activated before July 1, 2012

1-month membership must be activated before August 1, 2012

SIGN UP TODAY by emailing info@moms-treehouse.com and let us know which package you want!  We will invoice you. 

We must receive payment by May 31, 2012.

You may pay for this special in 2 payments.  50% is due at time of purchase. Remainder will be charged at half-way point.

Mom’s Treehouse is an advertiser on Richmondmom.com

We’re leaving for Sweden on Saturday – want to go?

Don’t worry – you’ll have time to enjoy the Monument 10k before you head to the Science Museum for Family Cultural Saturday.

Travel to Peru, China, Sweden, and around the world without leaving Broad Street, as the Science Museum of Virginia presents Family Cultural Saturday: Celebrating Cultural Heritage through Arts & Crafts, Saturday, March 31, noon-5 pm.

Follow handcrafted puppets from the Barefoot Puppet Theater in various journeys as they perform stories that may be new to you or old favorites you love to enjoy. Stop by China for a brush painting demonstration or workshop and Scandinavia to discover Swedish knitting known as Bohus Stickening. Meet a man who demonstrates a rare art called Popotillo, also known as little straw art.

At 1 pm, travel the Pacific Rim as the Pacific Arts Troupe demonstrates martial arts and Chinese dance. Explore crafts such as Peruvian textiles, a thumbprint tree and woodcarving. Immerse yourself in stories told by Jennie Meharg. Peruse handcrafted, fair trade, eco-friendly BBG Jewelry, and crafts from Richmond businesses, Kindred Spirit and Alternatives Boutique. Each of the crafts and experiences help to define different cultural groups.

Explore the groundbreaking exhibition RACE: Are We So Different? where you will investigate race and human variation through the framework of science. 

Family Cultural Saturday: Celebrating Cultural Heritage through Arts & Crafts and RACE: Are We So Different? are included with Museum admission. Exhibit tickets are $10 for ages 4-12 and 60+ and $11 for ages 13-59 or free for members. For more information visit the Science Museum of Virginia website or call 804.864.1400.

The Science Museum of Virginia is located at 2500 West Broad Street, Richmond VA 23220.

RACE is a project of the American Anthropological Association and is funded by the Ford Foundation & National Science Foundation. It is proudly sponsored in Richmond by Bon Secours Virginia Health System, MeadWestvaco, SUPERVALU, The Community Foundation, Wells Fargo, Capital One, Columbia Gas of Virginia, Owens & Minor, Virginia Credit Union and Virginia Foundation for the Humanities. Family Cultural Saturday is brought to you by Bon Secours Virginia Health System. Included with Museum admission or free for members.

The Science Museum of Virginia is an advertiser on Richmondmom.com

There are plenty of classes to help you get healthy, fit, and trim for Spring and Summer. Check out just some of what’s going on:

Stephanie White Smith and her son

There are lots of Richmond Rockstars who do plenty for other people. That’s why Richmondmom.com recognizes a deserving Richmond mom as a Rockstar each month for the incredible things they accomplish. Lisa nominated her friend as the January, 2012 Rockstar and we agree that Stefanie White Smith is most deserving of this honor because of her ability to turn tragedy into hope for others. Here’s what Lisa wrote.

I want to nominate Stefanie White Smith for Rockstar. She is the founder of the Jack & Abby Neonatal Foundation. Stefanie and her husband Karl had a very difficult time getting and staying pregnant. Finally, after many attempts and heart breaking losses, they found out they were expecting TWINS!

After a pretty routine first 20 weeks, things began to change. Unbeknownst to Stefanie, at 24 weeks, she had dilated to 1 cm. Her doctors admitted her to the hospital that day and hoped to keep her there on bedrest for another 15 weeks. Nine days later she gave birth to her twins, Jack and Abby — at just 25 weeks and 2 days. Stefanie loved on her twins during their stay in the NICU as much as possible and cherished every moment with them.

Sadly, on July 8, they had to say goodbye to sweet Abby as she took her last breaths and tragically just 12 days later Jack earned his angel wings. Karl and Stefanie were heart-broken. Life had dealt them pain no parent should ever have to endure. While this series of events would likely have broken a person, Stefanie used this situation to bring about help for other families facing time in the NICU. She took her pain and suffering and used it to start the Jack & Abby Neonatal Foundation, supporting families in the local NICU’s here in Richmond.

Stefanie and her husband welcomed their son Matthew just over a year ago which was a wonderful miracle in their lives. He is the light of Stefanie’s life and brings joy every day.

Stefanie also works out at Mom’s Treehouse faithfully, where she is an inspiration to all of the ladies there. Her sparkling blue eyes and beautiful broad smile are a welcome sight on Mother Runner training days. She has a warmth about her that makes you comfortable around her instantly and she is always kind and encouraging. She counts her blessings in spite of her losses and Stefanie does not allow her losses to define her life, but rather to empower her to help others and make a difference in our community.

She is a total Rockstar Mom.

We totally agree with you Lisa! Thank you for nominating this deserving Richmond mom – she totally rocks! We’re treating Stefanie to a one-hour massage at Massage Envy Spa in Richmond; enjoy!

Whatever the reason, you should consider joining the Mother Runner program at Mom’s Treehouse.

Why?

Moms have special needs when it comes to running.  Whether you had your children 6 months or 16 years ago, moms’ bodies have experienced major physiological changes that should be considered in all aspects of a training program such as running schedules, education, and evaluation during runs. Also, all coaches at group runs are certified fitness professionals (not volunteers) with extra training in pre and post-natal fitness and have extensive running experience.  You will receive personalized attention during every run with lots of great information and all the answers to your questions.  They keep the runner-to-coach ratio very small, anywhere from 5:1 to 10:1.

Join our runners!

Finally, let’s face it, moms crave the social interaction with other moms!  So they have incredibly fun group runs, monthly socials, a chat board, and a running program designed just for YOU!

And if you’re an “older mom” or even a grandmother, this program is the perfect solution to get you moving and grooving  again!

Mother Runner programs train moms and grandmoms who have NEVER run before and also those moms or grandmoms who have some experience.  No matter what your fitness level, THIS IS THE PROGRAM FOR YOU!

Sign up for the Monument 10k training program and let Mom’s Treehouse help you prepare. Training begins January 21, 2012 so there’s still plenty of time to register. Best of all, it doesn’t matter what fitness level you’re at. All levels are welcome and can succeed! They offer either online or paper registration.

Mother Runners enjoy running and participating in other fitness activities so much, most of them do it every day! You’ll find this program inspirational, instructional, motivational, and FUN!.

If you get tangled up in the stress and anxiety of holidays, then you’ll want to check out the Mom’s Treehouse remedy!

More to do for less

You can join Mom’s Treehouse for a 6-week Winter Session and provide yourself with the tools you need to celebrate a HEALTHY holiday and a healthier YOU! There are 10 different fitness programs for moms and 9 different enrichment classes for kids. That makes it easy to participate. And there are great savings opportunities too.

With a variety of participation options, including individual class registration, drop-in, or membership, there’s something for everyone. The monthly membership model is only $99/month and it’s a great way to learn more about Mom’s Treehouse and what they have to offer.

What’s new?

Some of the new and exciting things happening at Mom’s Treehouse include:

• Pilates for Moms on Wednesday at 10:30 a.m.
• Barre Class on Thursday at 9:30 a.m. (the latest in health and fitness)
• Juggling and Magic for kids ages 7 and up – taught by Jonathan the Juggler!
• Movin’ To the Beat for ages 0-5 with fun and educational music.

The classics

In addition to the above, all of the old favorites are still here:

• Body Back
• Stroller Strides
• Fit4Baby
• Nia Expressive Dance
• Zumba
• Kickboxing
• Friday Booty Blast

And for kids:

• Lil’ Kickers (ages 18mos – 4 years)
• Eco-Art (ages 1-2)
• Martial Arts (ages 3 and up)
• Irish Dance (ages 5 and up)
• Creative Movement (ages 3-5)
• Family Yoga (ages 3 and up)
• Baby Signs Sign Language (ages 6-18mos)
• Friday Playgroups

There are plenty of reasons to check out Mom’s Treehouse during the holidays – and especially because moms need to have fun too!

Visit Mom’s Treehouse to learn more and stop by to see what you and your child(ren) are missing – take care of you for a change.

It’s a great gift to give yourself.

Join us on race day, October 8.

Get ready….get set….go!

It’s the Children’s Hospital Foundation 5K/10K Walk/Run & Kids Mascot Mile sponsored by American Family Fitness. The event is Saturday, October 8, 2011 at Children’s Hospital of Richmond, 2924 Brook Road, Richmond, VA. Sponsored by American Family Fitness, this year’s event is filled with lots of family-friendly activities and fun.

The race starts and finishes at Children’s Hospital and music is provided throughout the race course. There’s even a post-race breakfast, health fair, kid’s festival, decorated stroller contest, live music, and more.

There will be water stations, medical teams and emergency phones, and other safety measures taken to ensure a fun and safe event.

Decorate a Stroller

Decorate your stroller and you could win one of three great prizes. Judging takes place at the American Family Fitness tent just before the start of the race at 8:45 a.m.

The Mascot Mile starts at 8:30 a.m. for children 5-10 years old. At 9:00 a.m., the 10K starts and then the 5K starts at 9:15 a.m.

Register Early to Save

Visit the website to learn more. If you register before October 1, it’s just $10 for the Mascot Mile, $25 for the 5K/10K. After October 1, prices are $15, and $35 respectively. Register online here. Or stop by any American Family Fitness location and drop off a completed registration form that can be downloaded from the website.

Start planning now for a great day on October 8th and help support the Children’s Hospital Foundation.