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Pinterest, What My 3 Year Old Discovered
This is not my normal post, but I had to share a funny from my three year old. My son has recently learned what Pinterest is due to me leaving my iPad open to Disney Car pins when getting a cup of coffee. He thought he was heaven. He started saying we need to “pin” this for Ho, Ho (a.k.a. Santa Claus in our house) or this is what he wants for his birthday. I think Pinterest to him is like Sears catalog shopping was to me. When I was young, my parent would go to holiday parties and hand us the big Sears catalog and say write your Christmas list. I am not sure if my parents ever bought me anything for that list, but boy did my siblings and I have fun dreaming and hoping. So, on Friday while at dinner my son was looking at Pinterest and this is what he was pinning. Yes, women’s underwear. Not just any women’s underwear, but running inspired underwear. He thought the picture was of an umbrella. I could not stop laughing and my husband was so proud that he was pinning women’s underwear. He was so upset because I was laughing, but in the end I just let him believe it was an umbrella. Heck, my son also has good taste, so I kept it on my Pinterest board, Running...
read moreContact Information: Your Most Important Asset
By Cheryl Rushing As a race director, your contact information is your most important asset. Many times while updating our Stroller Friendly Race Calendar we have run into the same problem as many participants: the race listing or website doesn’t indicate whether a race is stroller friendly and after searching there is no contact information, either. In that case, we can’t add the race to our calendar or let our readers know who to contact. Activity websites like one of the most popular sites Active.com are debuting a new look that takes the “less is more” approach. You provide the race name, location and date and they register your runners. It’s an easy way to get your race out to a wide variety of people, but what if those people have questions? How can they contact you? They can’t contact you. A race is a race is a race unless you want to bring your dog, your kids, or a friend in a wheelchair. Sometimes location information isn’t clear to an out of town guest or maybe your event listing or registration page doesn’t give the time of the race start. Having contact information to answer questions is essential to maximizing participation in your race! Contact information doesn’t just mean an address or phone number. It can happen in many ways: An email address. This can be the race director’s email or even a Gmail (or other web-mail) address set up specifically for the race. Just make sure someone checks the email address on a regular basis. A Facebook page. We love race Facebook pages. Questions and answers can be posted on your wall and other interested races have the information they need without asking the same question over and over. You can setup multiple users as admins so that questions can be answered by race staff in a timely manner. A Twitter account. We do love Twitter, but ensure if you have a Twitter account, please check and reply on a regular basis. Interested racers can “@” you with questions or Direct Message (DM) you. Include links to any or all of these contact points on your website or your event registration page to maximize exposure. If runners are asking questions and getting answers, they are more likely to attend your event and being a paying participant (and we’re more likely to list it on our calendar). So, please include your contact information in your registration description page or on your website; we want to be able to help maximize your exposure by posting your event for FREE. You can contact Run Stroller Run at info@runstrollerrun.com, Facebook and/or Twitter. Cheryl Rushing is a former insurance agent and couch potato. In 2012 her life changed radically when she became a stay at home mom and found herself chasing after a very active little girl. Cheryl never considered herself to be much of an athlete, but she began running in 2013 as a way to alleviate both her inertness and her boredom. Weight loss and energy followed. When Cheryl isn’t running (or running after Penny) she is a virtual assistant for Run Stroller Run and a freelance writer. She can be contacted at...
read morePrenatal Massage Is the Foundation for a Healthy Lifestyle
By Stephanie Maziejka Last month I introduced the idea of healthy touch and creating a foundation for a healthy lifestyle through Infant Massage, but if you want to set the groundwork, you need to begin while the baby is in utero with a prenatal massage. Newborns are just that, new! It’s up to us as parents and guardians to nurture and guide these little babies towards healthy growth and development. A baby is born with up to 40 weeks of development in the womb already behind them; therefore, Mamas treat yourself and your body to a healthy, therapeutic, and relaxing prenatal massage. Pregnancy can be a scary time, it’s a whole new world and there are a lot of physical and emotional changes that occur on a daily basis. Aside from the hormones, part of the emotional roller coaster of pregnancy comes from the utter discomfort that can be caused by our changing, growing, and leaking bodies. Pregnancy remains a wonderful and beautiful experience because of the miracle of life growing inside, HOWEVER getting to that bundle of joy is not always 9 months of sunshine and rainbows. The first trimester (and for some unfortunate individuals all three trimesters) offers retching sickness and fatigue. Trimester two is a bit of a reprieve from both sickness and fatigue and it’s when the first real positive signs of pregnancy begin, the first signs of the baby bump, the first sounds of heartbeat, the first flutter of little feet. Towards the end of the second trimester into the third trimester there is tremendous growth-of everything. As the body grows, the center of gravity changes and so that we don’t face plant every time we stand up the body’s lordotic curve increases, that lower back arch that is the perfect place to rest our hands as we support the growing belly and baby that now likes to samba at night and nestle their little butt between our ribs by day. Prenatal massage can greatly benefit the health and well being of both the mother and the baby. Physically prenatal massage can help maintain muscle tone and skeletal structural alignment. That pesky sciatica that flares up during pregnancy can be tamed and maintained through prenatal massage. Physiologically when the body is no longer in pain or discomfort individuals can relax more. Psychologically massage helps to activate the Parasympathetic Nervous System, which is responsible for decreasing stress levels and taking us out of “Fight or Flight” which many of us reside in. That which affects the mother directly affects the fetus. Stress, just like alcohol or drugs can have extremely negative effects on the weight and development of babies. In addition, a pregnant woman that has just had 60-90 minutes to herself of relaxation tends to be a much more pleasant individual, Future fathers take note. Pamper yourself or your partner with prenatal massage and have a much more relaxed pregnancy and a relaxed baby! Stephanie Maziejka is a massage enthusiast. She provides clinical massage at a gym during the week and teaches the art and science of massage therapy on the weekend at the National Massage Therapy Institute in Falls Church, VA. Believing it is never too early to begin a healthy lifestyle, she teaches infant massage and enjoys helping families to bond and...
read moreWhat is a stroller friendly race?
What is a stroller friendly race? I hear this question all the time since I started Run Stroller Run. A stroller friendly race is a running race that allows parents to walk, jog or race with a stroller. No, these races are not specific races for strollers to race one another or have specific categories for “strollers” like age group categories, but just allow running parents to participate with their child in a stroller. Most race directors I speak with are often open to stroller participants as long as the strollers start in the back. And no, they do not require you to stay in the back the entire duration of the race. For safety purposes, they want you to respect the other racers that run a faster pace or hope to do so without initial distractions. For me, I run at a slower pace with my stroller and I am not generally “racing”, I want to be able to participate in a race atmosphere and do not require a babysitter, especially since both my husband and I train for running races and triathlons. Since I started Run Stroller Run, I have discovered most race directors do not even consider or think about stroller participants until I ask them. So, when searching for a race, you most likely will not find on the race website or on their race registration page whether they allow strollers. Hence the reason, I started Run Stroller Run, so running, active parents and families could go to one resource and find all races throughout the United States that allow strollers. At Run Stroller Run, we contact all race directors and verify that strollers are allowed. If strollers are allowed, then what are their safety requirements? If you know of other races that are not listed on our site, please feel free to contact us at info@runstrollerrun.com. Run Stroller Run Partner One quick shot out to a great race director Jason Jacobson, who produces Marin Runs based in San Francisco, California. Check out their races, they are family and stroller friendly. Here is a recent article on a family who participate in the Marin 415Mile & Miracle...
read moreRacing with a Stroller – Race Day Checklist
Packing for a race is always challenging. You never want to leave home without your favorite socks, or your watch or your lucky shorts. As a parent, I have found it increasing difficult to pack for a race, especially when I am running with my jog stroller and kids. I find that I am more concerned about their needs and then inevitably I forget the essential race gear I need to race. In order to avoid forgetting crucial race gear and my kid’s necessary items, I created a Racing with a Stroller – Race Day Checklist. Now, you can pack for a stroller friendly race and feel confident you have all the essential race and children gear needed with the Racing with a Stroller – Race Day Checklist....
read moreImportance of Touch – the Benefits of Infant Massage
By Stephanie Maziejka Touch. It means something different to each of us. It is nearly impossible to live life without touch. We touch and are touched every day. We hug when we are happy and we hug when we are sad. The same action can convey very different emotions. Yet in today’s society touch is almost taboo. The media covers stories of negative touch so frequently that in our minds touch is a bad thing. Touch has the power to transfer emotion and intent and we must learn when and what kind of touch is acceptable. My mission as a Massage Therapist is to educate about touch and its amazing benefits for the mind, body, and spirit. In my monthly posts, I will be discussing touch as it relates to different demographics and giving you tips on how to use and introduce touch to your family! Infant Massage is a great place to start talking about touch since the best way to ensure a healthy lifestyle is to introduce healthy habits at a young age! Infant Massage focuses on providing nurturing touch to promote bonding and attachment between you and your baby. An Infant Massage class or session is facilitated by a Certified Educator of Infant Massage (that’s me!) with parents being the ones to administer the massage strokes to baby. The massage itself is compiled of techniques taken from Swedish massage, Indian Massage, Reflexology, and Yoga. In addition to the strokes Infant Massage teaches baby behavioral states and body cues to help parent’s better respond to their newborns. It is a lot more empowering as a parent to look at your little one and know he’s sleepy than to run through a checklist of a thousand possibilities as to why your sweet baby is now screaming bloody murder. Babies communicate by crying, it’s not because they are mad at us or because they think we are complete morons (although to be honest as a new mom I can tell you that first week I brought my son home I was convinced he wished the hospital nurses had come home with us!) they are the most confident little human beings who know what they want and when they want it – NOW. A baby whose parents respond to his or hers behavioral cues very rarely cries like an Opera singer, because they know they are safe and taken care of and even if it takes a little longer than usual the service has been 5 stars and they are not going to cause a scene due to a temporary delay. A baby whom has had his or her cues ignored learns very quickly that the only way to get immediate satisfaction is to go from silent to screaming in 3 seconds flat. Every. Single. Time. It can be overwhelming if you don’t know what to look for, Infant Massage helps guide parents to learn their baby’s cues faster so they can respond as and remain happy and sane. In addition to body cues, Infant Massage also teaches about behavioral states. Behavioral states are periods of energy and activity throughout the day. We sometimes forget that these newborn babies are just little humans and like any big human may not want to play or be touched at all hours...
read moreNew Topic: Benefits of Infant Massage
Since becoming a mom in 2010, starting this blog and Run Stroller Run (a stroller friendly race site), I’ve continually yearn to lead a healthy, happy, fit life not only for myself, but for my family. I connected with Stephanie Maziejka, a NCBTMB certified and a CEIM under Infant Massage USA and a new mom herself, to learn more about the benefits of infant massage. The more and more I learn, the more and more I like to share with other parents. On a monthly basis, Stephanie will be contributing to LaraCoffee.com and Run Stroller Run, discussing touch as it relates to different demographics and giving parents tips on how to use and introduce touch to their family. Stephanie’s first article will be the Importance of Touch; the Benefits of Infant Massage. Introducing Stephanie Maziejka Stephanie Maziejka is a massage enthusiast. She provides clinical massage at a gym during the week and teaches the art and science of massage therapy on the weekend at the National Massage Therapy Institute in Falls Church, VA. Believing it is never too early to begin a healthy lifestyle, she teaches infant massage and enjoys helping families to bond and benefit from nurturing healthy touch. Stephanie has recently become a mother herself and is getting to experience firsthand the joys and benefits of motherhood and massage. Stephanie has her BA in history and literature, her MS in Psychology and is National Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork (NCBTMB) certified and a CEIM under Infant Massage USA. She is looking forward to writing about massage and wellness as it pertains to babies and families. She would love to hear from you, contact her directly. If you live in Northern Virginia, you can also stop by the Lifetime Fitness in Sterling,VA where Stephanie works Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday from...
read moreCelebrate July 4th with a Family & Stroller Friendly Race
Before you set-up the grill, have a few beverages and watch the fireworks, start your 4th of July with a stroller friendly race. Here are family and stroller friendly races listed by State below. California Chili Chase 2013 Run San Ramon @ San Ramon Community Center Firecracker 5K/10K Greene’s Fastest 1 Mile Run & Fireworks Show Extravaganza Mayor’s 1 Mile & Firecracker 4 Mile 15% Discount Code: COFFEE Colorado Earn Your Independence 5K and 1 Mile Walk @ Boulder Reservoir USA 5K @ Bank of Colorado Georgia Firecracker 5K/10K for Henry County Special Olympics Georgia Front Runners Firecracker 5K/10K Indiana Independence Run/Walk @ Gas City Park Maryland OPA Freedom 5K @ South Gate Pond Nebraska 4th of July Fun Run 2013 New Jersey Pray For America 5K @ Cooper River Park New Mexico Smoke on the Water 5k @ 1st & Main St. North Dakota Veterans 4th of July 5K Run/Walk and 10 K Run Oregon 4th of July Fun Run-Boardman @Former Boardman Chamber of Commerce location Flat Traffic Flat Funky Foot Race and Kids Boardwalk Dash South Carolina 4th Annual Independence Day 8K/5K/1 Mile @ The Market Common 27th Annual Easley Firecracker Frolic 5k @ Old Market Square 28th Annual Hilton Head Island Firecracker 5000 @ Jarvis Creek Park BORN IN THE U.S.A. 4 miles RUN/WALK @ Forest Acres Lake Texas Christoval Volunteer Fire Dept 5K @ Main Street Firecracker 5K & Fun Run The 24th Annual Baytown Bud Heat Wave 5 Mile Run Utah Barrus Memorial 5K @ Grantsville High School Centerville Utah July 4th Freedom Run Uncle Sam 5K @ Dixie Sunbowl Virginia Independence Day 5K @ Mt. Trashmore Family YMCA Let Freedom Run 5K & Kids Dash @ Fairfax Corner Shopping Center Washington Edmonds 4th of July 5K Fun Run/Walk @ Edmonds City Park For more stroller friendly race, check out Run Stroller Run. Currently, there are more than 1000 races listed and on average we are adding 20-30 races a week. Keep Running...
read moreCelebrate Father’s Day with a Family and Stroller Friendly Race
If you are still looking for a Father’s Day race to celebrate the dad’s in your life, here is a list of family and stroller friendly races for the weekend of June 15-16, 2013. Saturday, June 15, 2013 Alabama Chick-fil-A Connect Race Series:… @ Decatur Baptist Church California Color Blast 5K Run @ San Bernardino County fairgrounds in Victorville, CA Lincoln Center Father/Son Fun Run @ Fleet Feet Stockton District of Columbia Purple Stride Washington, DC Georgia 5 Alarm 5K @ Suwanee Towne Center Park Connect Race: Warner Robins, GA @ Southside Baptist Church 9th Annual Blake Gammill 10.5K, 5K, & 1-mile Run/WALK Illinois Run For Boston 5k NHRI 5K Walk/Run @ Busse Woods Elk Grove Village Dash with Dad Louisiana Race 2 Grace 5K, 10K @ Fair Park Baptist Church Missouri Steps & Strides 5K/10K @ Frontier Park, Jaycee Stage Hero Up 2nd Annual For The Children Run Nebraska Nebraska Land Road Run Nevada Las Vegas 5K for Heroes @ Sunset Regional Park New York Saratoga For Uganda-Annual Fairw… @ McGregor Fairways Corner of Fieldstone Dr and Autumn Ct North Carolina Dash for Dad @ Pine Valley Sam’s Club Children’s Miracle Network 5K and 1/2 Mile Kids Fun Run Hope for Haiti’s Children 5K/10K… @ Statesville Soccer Complex Oklahoma Footsteps of Faith 5k @ Sequoyah State Park South Carolina Firefighter’s for Fitness 5K @ Myrtle Beach Market Commons (please note part of this course is gravel!) Texas Playtri 5K & Kids Fun Run @ Playtri North Store Smiles for Life 5K @ Nelson Park Washington Strollin’ to Fight SIDS @ Newport High School Track Sunday, June 16, 2013 – Father’s Day California Pleasanton Rotary Father’s Day Spirit Run @ Under the Arch in Downtown Pleasanton Florida I LOVE FATHER’S DAY 5K @ John Chestnut Park Great Father’s Day 5K Race @ Al Lopez Park Massachusetts The 12th Annual Brendan’s Home Run 5k @ Belmont High School track Missouri GO! St. Louis All-American 5K & Fun Run @ Kirkwood, MO near the YMCA Virginia Run with Dad @ South Lakes High School Keep Running Strong!...
read moreTop 5 Important Reads for Au Pairs & Child Care Providers
Au Pairs live in our house and care for our children and I want to ensure they are as equipped with the most knowledge to protect themselves and my children from harm’s way. In addition, I want to provide an environment that is fun, healthy and presents the best experience for the Au Pair and my children. Here are my top 5 important reads for Au Pairs & Child Care Providers. Drowning Doesn’t Look Like Drowning. Now that summer is here, most Au Pairs are frequenting the pool with their host kids. Please read this article because what you think a drowning person should do, they won’t be able to do. Child Care Emergency Check List. As an Au Pair, if you do not have this information at your finger tips, please ensure you ask for immediately. We have this information located in kitchen on the wall by the phone and phone chargers, in the diaper bag (you can put it in the kids pool or school bags), and a few more strategic places in the house. Mom, you told everyone! Kids Privacy Online. We have social media guidelines in our house. Most Au Pairs we know us Facebook to communicate with one another or another form of social media. Please ensure they know what your rules are about posting photos of your kids, home, etc. or using your children’s real names. Who Did Your Au Pair Bring Home?!?! “Sleep tight; don’t let the bedbugs bite.” This is no longer just a phrase. According to Orkin Pest Control, they have seen a 33% rise in bed bugs since 2011. As of 2012, New York (ranked 10th in the country) and Washington, DC (ranked 7th in the county), of course two of the places my Au Pair’s and their friends frequented. Typical Sleep Schedule for Infants through 12 years old. Do your children get enough sleep? The general answer is “no”. Since my kids are home all day and how well they sleep equals good or bad behavior, it is important our Au Pair and my husband and I are a team. According to the Kim West, “If your toddler wakes before 6:00am, he’s probably overtired. Overtired children don’t sleep as well, or sleep as long, as well-rested...
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